9 Photos
Kevin Miserocchi, right, director of the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation, presented the HDF Art & Inspiration Award to Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein, directors of “Musica!” before its screening at Sag Harbor Cinema on December 5. The film went on to win the HDF 2024 Audience Award. JIM LENNON
Q&A for “Merchant Ivory,” the festival's opening night film on December 5 at Sag Harbor Cinema. From left, director Stephen Soucy and James Ivory, being interviewed by Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein. JIM LENNON
A discussion followed “Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue” which screened at Sag Harbor Cinema on December 6. Cinematographer Gregory Gerhard, model Christie Brinkley and director Jill Campbell were interviewed by Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein. JIM LENNON
HDF executive director Jacqui Lofaro, left and Susan Lacy, right, presented the HDF Impact Award to Paulina Suarez, the Ford Foundation’s Program Officer for their JustFilms funding of social impact films, before the screening of “Union” at Sag Harbor Cinema on December 6. JIM LENNON
Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker’s partner and film co-director, presented the HDF Pennebaker Career Achievement Award to filmmaker Michael Moore at a gala at Bay Street Theater on December 7. Moore unfortunately came down with COVID-19, so had to attend on Zoom. JIM LENNON
Heading this year’s 17th annual Hamptons Doc Fest were associate director Jackie Leopold, founder/executive director Jacqui Lofaro and festival manager Gillian Coyne. JIM LENNON
Before the December 8 Shorts & Breakfast Bites program at Bay Street Theater, HDF education director Stephanie Anarumo and HDF associate director Jackie Leopold, presented prizes to winners of the Hometown Heroes student film contest. From left, first place winner, Sag Harbor Pierson H.S. ninth grader Zachary Browngardt, second place Peggy DiSunno, third place Ollie Dianora-Brondal, fourth place Finny Dianora-Brondal, Honorable Mention Leo Dekleva Hawker. JIM LENNON
Cynthia Lopez, CEO of NYWIFT (NY Women in Film & Television), left, and HDF executive director Jacqui Lofaro, right, presented the festival’s first Breakthrough Director Award to Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, directors of “Daughters,” which screened at Sag Harbor Cinema on December 8. JIM LENNON
Andrew Botsford interviewed Ziya Tong, science journalist and co-director of “Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics,” which screened on December 9 at Bay Street Theater and won this year’s HDF Environmental Award. JIM LENNON
Jacqui Lofaro, founder and executive director of Hamptons Doc Fest, which celebrated its 17th year from December 5 to 11 with screenings at Sag Harbor Cinema and Bay Street Theater, has announced that the winner of the 2024 Brown Harris Stevens Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature is the uplifting film “Música!,” which was the first film to play on opening day, December 5.
“There’s always a bit of intrigue in guessing what film will win the Audience Award,” says Lofaro, “but when the tallies are in, we all say ‘of course that was the one.’ This year’s film program of 32 films was star-studded, so I congratulate directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman on their outstanding documentary and well-deserved award. And we thank Brown Harris Stevens for their continuing support of our mission and documentary film festival.”
The film had also been selected as the recipient of the Hamptons Doc Fest’s 2024 Art & Inspiration Award, sponsored by the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation. Full of music, it follows several passionate young Cuban musicians, including a pianist, a double bass player and a trumpeter, as they work to find success and fulfillment, whether in Cuba or abroad.
The directors, who both attended the festival and the Q&A at the Sag Harbor Cinema, had earlier won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature with the film “Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt.” Bob Epstein had also won an Oscar for “The Times of Harvey Milk.” They had also won a Grammy for Best Music Film for “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice.”
“It’s been a joy to see how ‘Música!’ resonates with audiences,” said Epstein and Friedman. “Receiving the Hamptons Documentary Festival Audience Award is a wonderful affirmation of that connection.”
For those interested in seeing the Q&A where Andrew Botsford interviews the directors, all of the Q&As from Hamptons Doc Fest’s 17th festival can be viewed on the website at hamptonsdocfest.com.
Staff Writer on Dec 16, 2024