WAMG Talks To Shira Dubrovner : MAMMOTH LAKES FILM FESTIVAL

The first annual MAMMOTH LAKES FILM FESTIVAL will make it’s debut this week. Set in the scenic and majestic setting of Mammoth Lakes, California, and will take place May 27-31, and will open with acclaimed Academy Award winning filmmaker Alex Gibney’s new documentary STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE.

The festival will present sixteen films in Narrative and Documentary Competition. I recently spoke with Artistic Director/Director Shira Dubrovner about choosing the films for the festival. She said:

“[The films] have a common thread. The one thing I did with this festival is give the full power to Paul Sbrizzi, who is a veteran at programming. He’s been programming for Slamdance for the past fifteen years, he programs for LA film fest and many other film festivals in the country. I knew his artistic taste, and I know that he also has an eye for talent. He discovered Benh Zeitlin and Lena Dunham from ‘Girls’ when they were putting out their shorts for festivals. It didn’t get into sundance and he thought ‘This is brilliant! We need to put it into Slamdance!’ so, he definitely has the eye. What I think is the common denominator with all the films is, is that the directors themselves have a unique storytelling talent. I think that’s what Paul really specializes in. We definitely wanted to have an element of the human story, and an honesty, and a truth in the execution of these stories. I think that’s where the common denominator lies. Sometimes it’s not pretty. Sometimes it’s an ugly thing to watch, but they all come from an incredibly honest and truthful human, universal point of view. Whether it’s narrative or documentary, they all have that essence.”

The festival will also feature over 30 short films, presented in 3 different blocks, a panel on women in filmmaking featuring producer Allison Amon (THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES), actress Kristanna Loken actress (TERMINATOR 3) and other guests. There will also be an opening night gala, a chance to mingle with the filmmakers at the Filmmakers Happy Hour, a bash with psychedelic and acid western rock band Spindrift and a closing night awards party.

The festival takes filmgoers away from their busy city lives, and transports them to a beautiful mountain town. I asked Shira Dubrovner why she feels Mammoth Lakes is the perfect destination for a film festival, and she replied:

“The landscape itself is amazing. The eastern Sierras are on the outside of Yosemite park. Mono Lake is a twenty minute drive from here. It’s a ski resort, so it’s very mountainous. There are many lakes, and we’re at high elevation. So, the landscape itself is a very inspiring area. John Weir walked through all of the back woods of here, and Mono Lake – Mark Twain wrote about. The landscape itself evokes inspiration. Whether you’re an artist or an athlete, or even if you just want to live in an area that is beautiful and gives you a quality of life.

I think the art form of filmmaking gives you that same kind of feeling. It’s thought provoking. It makes you think. When people come here, I think, they’re going to be away from the city and they can focus on the film festival, and enjoy it in a way that they wouldn’t have been able to being in a big city with all of the bustling, and cell phones ringing. I think it puts you in a different state of mind when you get here, so I think the two together will just be a great combination.”

The festival will present a diverse collection of feature films – from world premieres to film festival favorites, short film screenings and Q&As over five days.  The festival will also include nightly gala events that celebrate the excitement and discovery of visionary filmmaking.

Festival passes are available now, and individual tickets are on sale now.

Ticket sales and additional festival information can be found at: www.MammothLakesFilmFestival.com

Discounted lodging through the festival’s lodging partner Sierra Nevada Resort & Spa can be purchased at http://thesierranevadaresort.com/

All screenings and special events will take place in a variety of venues in Mammoth Lakes, including Edison Theatre and the Forest Service Visitor’s Center Theater.