MIDDLEBURY — There’s a great line-up of films at this year’s Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (Aug. 24-27) produced by Vermont residents, members of Middlebury College and international filmmakers.
“We’re seeing an increasing number of strong films by emerging Vermont filmmakers,” said MNFF artistic director Jay Craven; “including fascinating and deeply committed films by high-school filmmakers through the Freedom and Unity and Conversations from the Open Roads projects.”
Vermont filmmaker Jesse Kreitzer, who won last year’s inaugural award from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO), will preview a portion of his new film “Caregivers” with a live performance of its musical score-in-progress by a select group of VSO members on Sunday, Aug. 27, 1 p.m., at Robinson Hall in the Mahaney Center for the Arts at Middlebury College.
The international filmmakers hail from Switzerland, Iran, Finland, Mexico, Poland, Australia, France, Canada, Lebanon, India and beyond. Among them are comedies, tragedies, satires, animated works and even a feature film shot in one astonishing extended take.
“We’re quite excited to have a strong selections of international films,” said Craven.
Film screening times and locations are available at middfilmfest.org.
VERMONT FILMS
• Gathering Time, by Corey Hendrickson
An 8-minute documentary about sugaring in the Northeast Kingdom, by a Middlebury resident.
• It’s Criminal, by Signe Taylor
A powerful critique inequities as seen through the lens of women prisoners in a rural jail. 
• Sunlight Man, by Joel Gardner
The son of acclaimed author John Gardner struggles to reconcile his father’s genius and love with his innate darkness. Joel Gardner attended UVM.
• Death in the Wilderness, by Kevin Thornton
A film exploring an 1865 letter found in the Brandon Town Library about a woman whose husband died in the Civil War.
• Three Red Sweaters, Martha Gregory
This short film takes footage from Gregory’s grandfather’s collection of films, from the 1950s through the 1970s.
• Dad’s 50th Surprise Party, Matt Lennon
A dark comedy that will have you nervous about family outings in the woods.
• The “F” Word, by Sasha Whittle
A short documentary exploring failure in traditional academic institutions.
• Good Funk ,  by Adam Kritzer
The Vt. premiere of a feature that follows three generations of Brooklyn neighbors.
• 32 Pills: My Sister’s Suicide, by Beth Levison
This powerful documentary explores the immense impact of a sister’s suicide on the surviving sibling.
• Freedom & Unity / Conversations From the Open Road Showcase
A diverse line-up of short films made by Vermont teens, selected from the winners of the Freedom & Unity Youth Film Competition and Conversations from the Open Road.
• Caregivers, by Jesse Kreitzer
An exclusive first look at this documentary hybrid about eldercare in Vermont.
INTERNATIONAL FILMS
The Sun At Midnight  (Canada)
Sisak (India)
A Pact Among Angels (Canada)
Untitled (France)
Unnatural Selection (France)
The Intentions of F. Scott Fitzgerald (Australia)
Julia’s Piece (Mexico)
An Autobiography (Finland)
Immortality (Iran)
Light Sight (Iran)
The Owl and the Lemming (Nanavut)
Farewell (Switzerland)
8 Borders, 8 Days (Lebanon)
I Shot Einstein (UK)
Death By A Thousand Cuts (Dominican Republic/Haiti)
833 (UK)