BELLOWS FALLS — This year's No Film Film Festival (NFFF) contestants are ready to strut their stuff at the premiere of nine NFFF films on June 28 at 6 p.m. at the Bellows Falls Opera House.
For the third year in a row, with 11 contestants signed up, the NFFF had nine contestants successfully complete brief film remakes - this year featuring one of three “third-string” actors picked by the NFFF board.
Entrants chose from one of the 10 films from the careers of bit actors John C. McGinley, Steve Buscemi, and Luis Guzmán. Contestants were challenged to take the bit part from one of their films and make it the main story.
The result, according to Station Director Jacob Stradling: “This is the best year so far in quality storytelling. […] The films this year are truly astounding. All the films have heart and a lot of laughs. Each of the filmmakers should be very proud of themselves.”
Three films “really stood out,” Stradling said:
Thumbs Up Productions from Putney, composed of the Byron Morse family, really got into making “The Riley Short Movie,” according to Stradling.
Choosing John C. McGinley's bit role as a convention official in “Born on the Fourth of July,” the Morse family pulled together an amusing story described as, “an epic adventure spinoff about a wheelchair pusher's quest to push Ron Kovic onstage at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. This movie has a lot of heart, and a lot of laughs.”
The Broad Brothers, also of Putney, took Steve Buscemi's role of Donny in “The Big Lebowski” to reprise in “The Bowl Off,” which asks, What if the Dude was only a side story, and Donny was the main story? In this epic spinoff, Donny is the hero who saves the day, “and the irony of it all is nobody wants to hear about [it],” the description reads.
Irvine, Calif., entrants The Carbon Kids chose Steve Buscemi's role as Mr. Pink in “Reservoir Dogs.” “Mr. Pink's Very Bad Day” is “a must-see for Tarantino fans,” according to Stradling.
A panel of judges will watch the films and combine their votes with those of audience members to decide the winners. First place gets $1,000; second place gets $500, and third place gets $250.
Winners will be announced at the award ceremony the next day, June 29, at Popolo on The Square. The time is to be announced.