Welcome

There’s always something brewing at the Connecticut Film Festival. Whether it’s a storm of new filmmakers or CTFF’s “24 Hour Cup O’ Joe” filmmaking competition, festival planners work hard to keep it fresh and bring you the best in cutting edge film exhibition, music performances, education and of course, PARTIES!

The City of Danbury will be the second stop of the 2012 season and promises to be Danbury’s Best CT Film Fest yet. More than 75 films will be screened during the 4-day and night festival accompanied by more than a dozen film and new media workshops and panel discussions.

Opening Night is Thursday, April 26th at the iconic Palace Theatre in downtown Danbury, where stars, industry professionals and festival guests will stroll the red carpet before the press and paparazzi to the waiting VIP reception prior to the opening night film. Then, after a brief Q&A with the filmmakers, The Melissa Mulligan Band will rock the house at our annual Danbury Opening Night Party in The Palace Theatre’s Grand Lobby featuring the totally excellent epicurean styling’s of executive chef Michael Bick’s: “Somethings Fishy Catering” and the best beers of Connecticut's very own independent and innovative brewery; Thomas Hooker Beer.

Friday Morning, wake up and amortize that All Access Pass with the first screenings of the day. Start out with a hardy breakfast at any number of downtown Danbury’s cafes and bistros and then catch the first show at 9:00AM. If your hardcore enough, you’ll make it through the day without a break for the Friday night film and party hosted by Neal Thomassen’s and his famous "Film Industry Mixer".

Saturday, you’re just getting started. You’ll have an extra hour to sleep before you join Film, New Media, Writing and Acting professionals, amateurs and armchair filmmakers who will gather to hone their skills and participate in more than a dozen workshops and panels that focus not only on the creative, but also the business and marketing side of “the business”.

If it’s Saturday films you’re looking for, the doors open at 11am for features, shorts, documentaries, student films, comedy and animations. Whether your looking for a strong social message, a good laugh or a good cry, CTFF will help you achieve all three in one day.
 

The Saturday Closing Night Industry Bash (open to everyone) is an opportunity to rub elbows with writers, actors, directors and producers looking to cast their next picture, hire a cinematographer or ink their distribution deal. CTFF has helped introduce numerous business deals and start the conversations with many creative collaborations. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the next big flick and then eat, drink and by merry with great music and great people.

Sunday’s always a surprise. We won't let the cat out of the bag just yet. Screenings start at 11am and wrap with a low-key reception at 8pm.

Whether you’re a professional or a Cinephile, after Danbury, you’ll leave inspired, excited and hopefully with a new outlook. You’ll carry the conversation to your friends and family, and spread the word at the water cooler. The planners of The Connecticut Film Festival are driven to inspire, get filmmaker to be passionate and take chances and most of all, affect your life in a way that it has never been affected and inspire you to take action in some profound way that you never thought of before.

This sounds like a pretty big mesaage, but film and moving images have the power to create change.

We look forward to seeing you June 28 - July 1 at The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook CT.