I am listening to Ned introduce the first film screening at the Brattle as part of this year’s Independent Film Festival of Boston. Ned and I, well all of us here at the Brattle, are big festival fans. They are incredibly important to the film industry by presenting films that may not be shown during a theatrical release, getting the filmgoing audience excited about seeing movies that they don’t know much about, and generally upping the good movie vibe that is so important to the exhibition industry.

Not only do we host festivals here at the Brattle but Ned and I try to attend a number of festivals throughout the year. I also work two film festivals each year. I have an uncanny love for print traffic—the effort involved in getting all of the films for a festival shipped in and out. I got the taste for it when I was Operations Manager here at the Brattle in the 90s and have kept working for festivals to get a small taste a couple times of year.

Since year two of IFFB I have been their print trafficker. (Gabe our current Operations Manager works with me on this since I am also juggling it with my full-time job at the Brattle.) Ned volunteers for the festival as house manager at the Brattle during the festival, doing the introductions, helping incorporate their ticketing system into our box office, and all of the other logistical nuances involved with hosting the festival.

This year my goal is to try to see some movies during the festival in addition to just working it. I am planning on seeing THE PARKING LOT MOVIE later on tonight, PHILLIP THE FOSSIL, and hopefully CONVENTION and STRANGE POWERS on Sunday.

I will see you all in Harvard Square or Davis as I move prints and watch movies. I will try to grab some behind the screen shots in my travels as well.

Have a great festival week!

http://iffboston.bside.com/2010/schedule/week

ivy