The Nyack International Film Festival returns next month with shorts, documentaries and feature films from around the globe.
Now in its 12th year, the festival will take place at Hotel Nyack from April 1 through April 6 and will feature awards in 20 categories.
Following an opening night party, each evening will showcase shorts and features and include a question-and-answer session.
“Jimi Hendrix: The Documentary,” opens and closes the festival. David Kramer, the director, spent 25 years interviewing 400 people — including Joe Cocker, Stephen Stills, and Noel Redding — for the film.
Several features by local filmmakers will also premier throughout the week.
Delilah Rose is written and directed by Ric Pantale, a Piermont native who graduated from The Actors’ Studio and worked with Jimmy Stewart and in numerous Abbott & Costello films. Mercedes Kent, also of Piermont, leads the cast. Paul Borghese, who has appeared in “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Sopranos” and “Third Watch,” plays Delilah’s cousin who works as a cook at her restaurant. Sadly, Ric passed away in January, but production is continuing to seek distribution for a wider audience.
Local director Peter O’Brien of Visually Hidden Films spent 16 years documenting a forgotten Speed Metal Band Riphouse, to create “Coulda Beens & Wannanbes.” The film includes 90 minutes of archival footage, images and interviews.
“The story of a band that didn’t make it is universal,” O’Brien said. “In that regard, Riphouse represents every band that didn’t make it to the big time. I tried to parallel their story with testimonials from their contemporaries who endured and continue to tour.”
Filmmakers Bryce and Rob Harrow, who grew up in Suffern but now live in Los Angeles, where they helm Brick Stanley Productions, will be in attendance. Their award-winning “El Banditos” was screened at Cannes Film Festival.
Funding from a Nyack Tourism Grant, Visit Nyack, enabled organizers to expand this year’s festival from five evenings to seven.
For more information, visit the festival’s website here.
