Brookfield Film Festival Opens Friday

BROOKFIELD, CT — The 11th annual Brookfield Film Festival will start unspooling this Friday.

Curated and presented by the Brookfield Arts Commission and The Friends of the Arts, this year's fest is titled "Shorts and to the Point." Screenings will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Brookfield Theatre for the Arts located at 184 Whisconier Road.

This year’s selection of shorts range thematically from characters breaking the fourth wall to familial relationships, the memory journeys of someone with Alzheimer’s, race relations, gender identity, and the joys of a community band. The shorts featured may be under five minutes, to over 15 minutes long, and include both live action and a variety of animation styles. Two of the films were Oscar nominated, and one, "Bao," won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Animated Short.

"Brookfield Theatre for the Arts is happy to welcome the Brookfield Film Festival," said its president, Lou Okell, in a release. "This is a great opportunity to support Brookfield students and arts in our community through this important cultural and fundraising event."

The film festival donations are raised in support of the Brookfield Friends of the Arts Student Scholarship for graduating Brookfield seniors who will be pursuing a college education in the visual or performing arts. Scholarship applications will be available at the performances as well as at the local schools and town hall.

"Collectively our commission has viewed countless shorts. I am excited about the thought-provoking and entertaining films we have chosen," said Catherine Malek, chair of the Brookfield Arts Commission.

Tickets are a suggested donation of $15 and include a beverage ticket and light hors d’oeuvres during the intermission. This is an adult program and anyone under 17 years of age will need to be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be reserved via email at BACReservations@gmail.com or by telephone at 203-740-2034.