- ALEXIS NEOPHYTIDES WINS a VTeddy for directing the documentary “Fire Through Dry Grass” about disabled minority artists in a nursing home during the COVID pandemic; it won the Hernandez/Bayliss prize for Triumph of the Human Spirit. Independent photo/Steve James
- JOHN SLATTERY, BEST known for his gig in front of the camera on the show “Mad Men,” is also quite talented behind the camera. The ninth annual Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, which wrapped up on Sunday, screened two of his films, the new feature “Maggie Moore(s)” starring Jon Hamm and Tina Fey, and “God’s Pocket” featuring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John Turturro and Christina Hendricks. Slattery, shown holding his VTeddy award, had a nice engagement with the audience at Sunday’s awards ceremony. Independent photo/Steve James
- FILMMAKERS JOHN SLATTERY, Bess O’Brien and Jay Craven, who is also MNFF artistic director, hang out. Independent photo/Steve James
- ‘WHITMORE BROOK’ DIRECTOR Ben Silberfarb of Norwich accepts a VTeddy award for the best Vermont-made film. Independent photo/Steve James
- NOVELIST JAY PARINI (right) interviews Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Payne after a screening of his movie “About Schmidt.” Independent photo/Steve James
- BRITISH-AFGHAN FILMMAKER Makez Rikweda is interviewed about her film “Fat Girl” by Middlebury Magazine’s Matt Jennings at the MNFF studio set up in the former stationary store on Main Street. Independent photo/Steve James
- MOVIEGOERS STREAM INTO the Marquis Theater, one of five MNFF venues, last week. Independent photo/Steve James
- FORMER MNFF INTERNS Siena Caddle, director of the short film “Hormonal,” and Annika Ellis, who made the film “Life in This Body,” arrive at Town Hall Theater as bona fide filmmakers. Independent photo/Steve James
- VERMONT PHOTOGRAPHER JIM Westphalen (right) poses with Cornwall farmer Jack Watts, who was featured in Westphalen’s documentary “Vanish.” Independent photo/Steve James
- MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE PRESIDENT Laurie Patton is surrounded by MNFF interns and Middlebury students Rachel Peck, John McCulloch and Lauren Sayula. Independent photo/Steve James