The inaugural GlobeDocs Film Festival will premiere on October 7 celebrating documentary films and filmmakers and inspiring audiences to experience all that Boston has to offer as a cornerstone of documentary filmmaking in the United States. The five-day documentary film festival is a signature event of HUBweek, a week-long celebration of the integration of art, science and technology, taking place in Boston October 3-10.
Over five days, the GlobeDocs Film Festival will include screenings of twelve thought-provoking new feature-length films and a program of shorts, as well as insightful post-screening conversations with the filmmakers, knowledgeable experts, and top journalists. Screenings will be held at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, the Kendall Square Cinema and the Bright Family Screening Room at the Paramount Center at Emerson College.
Lisa Viola, director of programming for the GlobeDocs Film Festival, is curating the festival. She brings exceptional experience to the role, having served for many years as a programmer at the Provincetown International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival.
“Documentary films and filmmakers play an incredibly important role in our society, allowing us to explore issues, showcase experiences, and take audiences on a journey,” said Viola. “At the GlobeDocs Film Festival, we’ll feature some of the best documentaries produced recently, both from Boston and across the nation. We want people to view films they might not otherwise see, and consider ideas that can expand their thinking.”
The festival will kick-off with a screening of Most Likely to Succeed at the Coolidge Corner Theatre followed by an opening-night reception. The festival will close with a screening of Fastball on October 10. Tickets for the reception are sold separately and can be purchased at BostonGlobe.com/filmfest.
The first-ever recipient of the newly launched Boston Globe Filmmakers Fund Award will be announced during the festival. This award was established by The Boston Globe in 2014 and supports up-and-coming filmmakers with an annual grant while furthering Boston’s role as an epicenter of documentary film. Individuals who attend GlobeDocs events throughout the year are given the opportunity to donate to the fund.
“There are so many reasons why Boston is a natural home for a documentary film festival,” said Linda Henry, managing director of The Boston Globe. “We have some of the top documentary programs shaping and pushing the boundaries of filmmaking at universities here. We have a smart and engaged population that is interested in the deep, thoughtful and thought-provoking storytelling that documentaries excel at delivering. We have many of the leading lights of documentary film living in our midst. Local producers such as WGBH are the largest producers of public television nationally.” Linda continued, “The Boston Globe is proud to serve as a catalytic convener locally and nationally of this vibrant documentary community. “
The 2015 GlobeDocs Film Festival has partnered with ArtsBoston, a local nonprofit organization with a mission to support and grow the arts and cultural sector of Greater Boston. ArtsBoston provides public outreach, market knowledge and guidance to more than 175 arts and cultural organizations and is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2015.
Ticket packages and patron passes as well as individual show tickets are now on sale. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit BostonGlobe.com/filmfest.