The Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange is returning to The Linda, for the second year in a row, to present the international Filmmakers Lab. The lab gives learning filmmakers the world over, the chance to work directly with a veteran filmmakers, directors, and other experts in the field.
"The lab is designed to surround filmmakers with individual attention to help sharpen their story and increase marketability at an early stage," said Mike Camoin at a news conference announcing the schedule, which was held Jan. 16. Camoin is the found of the CCCE and co-founder of the Upstate Independent Filmmakers Network.
Albany County Film Commissioner Debby Goedeke also spoke at the event, saying, "Film is alive and well in the Capital Region."
The forum will offer a mix of workshops, panel discussions, and of course, films. Many of these films feature rarely told stories, in the form of documentaries, comedies, and short films. Topics include women’s hardships in Costa Rica, a documentary about Albany pianist Lee Shaw, a sci-fi comedy about the insects that wreak havoc on the population in the wake of a space crash, and a heartfelt feature-length film about a banker that was given another chance to relive his life in 1969.
There were 9 film projects chosen to participate in this year’s international Filmmakers Lab, including Bug Hunt, Hugs from God, Lee’s 88, Life on the Run, Rockwell, The Coffee Dance, The Highwayman, The Universal, and Upstate Grounds.
Along with the evening screenings of the films, the filmmakers/writers also talk with industry professionals about how to overcome the different obstacles with selling films to different audiences, budgeting and financing, marketing, and how to produce a big crowd.
The event is another example of the exceptional events being held on Central Avenue, which has become a destination for canny, one-of-a-kind entertainment options. The street offers great live music performances in intimate settings, outstanding international cuisine, and it also opens its doors to a wide array of active local artists, including the Albany Poets, Urban Guerilla Theatre, Upstate Independent Filmmakers Network, Tsehaya and Company dance theater, and the Pine Hills Review. These groups produce a refreshing array of engaging entertainment, including Albany Word Fest, Sunday Fundays readings at the Low Beat, Nitty Gritty Slams, and the Food for Thought film series at The Linda.
Much of the headway that's been made on this front can be ascribed to the curatorial talents of Howard Glassman, Graeme McKenna, and John Mancini, proprietors of The Low Beat, The Linda, and Pauly's Hotel, respectively, who have worked tirelessly to seek out and promote local talent.
Much of the headway that's been made on this front can be ascribed to the curatorial talents of Howard Glassman, Graeme McKenna, and John Mancini, proprietors of The Low Beat, The Linda, and Pauly's Hotel, respectively, who have worked tirelessly to seek out and promote local talent.
"We're always trying to be that community for artists," says McKenna, who is the general manager of The Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio. "It's a reflection of the station's goals. Our interest is to reach out to local groups seeking greater exposure, seeking an audience for something they want to say." By supporting groups like CCCE, and providing them with access and support that they might not otherwise get, the Linda, and other local venues, are nurturing talent that could pay big dividends for the surrounding community, where customer crossover is not only hoped for, it's expected. They are also laying the groundwork for a thriving creative economy, right here on our little strip.
