Michael O'Malley, Tommy Chong Coming to NH Film Festival

The New Hampshire Film Festival will be hosting stars of many stripes this year.  Actor and writer Mike O’Malley, actor and director Tommy Chong, and novelist and memoirist Joyce Maynard will all be part of the 12th year of this premiere New Hampshire cultural event.  

“We are so excited to be welcoming such a diverse and talented group of guests to the New Hampshire Film Festival this year,” said Festival Executive Director Nicole Gregg. “They all have special connections to New Hampshire, and we’re so glad that they’re going to join us for this amazing weekend of films, panels and parties.”

The 12th annual New Hampshire Festival will take place on October 11-14 at venues throughout historic downtown Portsmouth.

O’Malley was born in Boston, raised in New Hampshire, and attended the University of New Hampshire. He has appeared in the CBS sitcom “Yes, Dear”, Fox’s “Glee”, and in movies including “Leatherheads”, “Eat Pray Love” and “Cedar Rapids”. He has made guest appearances on “Parenthood”, “My Name is Earl”, and “Parks and Recreation”.  He is also a published playwright, and is currently a writer on the third season of the hit Showtime show “Shameless”.  He will be at the New Hampshire Film Festival promoting his film “Certainty”.  O’Malley wrote and co-produced the film.

“Certainty” is about a twenty-something couple, Dom and Deb, who are finally getting married after a long relationship. But before they can tie the knot, they must participate in a "Pre Cana" retreat, the mandatory course for couples looking to be married by the Catholic Church. While Dom may be unsure of the retreat's affect, it may just prove to be the hardest test this relationship has faced yet.

“Certainty” will open theatrically in New York on November 30th and will be available on Movies on Demand, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video,YouTube Rentals, Cinemanow, Playstation, XBOX, and Vudu, starting on Nov 27.

“Certainty” will be screened during the New Hampshire Film Festival’s New Hampshire Night, Thursday Oct. 11.  Stay tuned to www.nhfilmfestival.com for scheduling information.

More Festival Guests

Tommy Chong is a Canadian-American actor and director, most famous for being one half of the stoner comedy duo Cheech and Chong, alongside Cheech Marin, and for playing Leo on “That 70s Show”.  He was a guest of the festival last year, and his daughter, actress Rae Dawn Chong, is a member of the NHFF board. Chong is promoting his latest film, “Cheech and Chong’s Animated Movie”.

Joyce Maynard is a native of Durham, NH, and a longtime resident of Hillsboro and Keene, NH. Maynard is the author of fourteen books, including the best-selling memoir, At Home in the World and the novel To Die For, which was adapted into a film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Nicole Kidman. Maynard’s novel Labor Day, set in New Hampshire, was adapted for the screen by Jason Reitman, who is also directing the film, which stars Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet. Maynard will be judging the NHFF Screenplay Contest.

Preparations are in full swing for 12th annual The New Hampshire Film Festival, one of the most popular and anticipated cultural events in New Hampshire. The festival will take place October 11-14 at venues throughout historic downtown Portsmouth.  

“We have a record number of submissions [over 750] this year, and we have an incredible line-up of local downtown venues and restaurants for our films, parties and events,” said Gregg. “And there’s so many exciting announcements still to come—it’s going to be an amazing year for the festival.”

The after parties for the festival will be held at restaurants around Portsmouth. On Thursday, the NHPTV New Hampshire Night party will be hosted at Flatbread Co. restaurant, on Friday Absolut Vodka will be sponsoring the after party at The Portsmouth Gaslight Nightclub, and the Saturday night Moet & Chandon party will be hosted by Martingale Wharf, the newest addition to Portsmouth’s waterfront dining scene. The VIP brunch (VIP pass holders only) will be held at the 100 Club.

The NHFF trailer will debut at the Kickoff Party at The District on October 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. This is an opportunity for filmmakers, the local film community and NHFF sponsors to meet, mingle and enjoy food provided by The District and a cash bar. Members of the press are also invited to come enjoy the party and pick up their press passes for the festival.

The NHFF board is thrilled to announce that the 2012 festival will be sponsored by these headlining sponsors: Francis Ford Coppola Wines, Moet & Chandon, Absolut Vodka, Access Sports Medicine, KBW Financial, The Provident Bank, Avery Insurance, Stella Artois, Olde Port Properties and US Trust. Over 60 in-kind and advertising sponsors are also supporting NHFF this year.

The venues for films this season are all Portsmouth landmarks in the heart of downtown: The Music Hall, The Music Hall Loft, The Moffatt-Ladd House, and the Seacoast Repertory Theater. In addition, the NHFF 2012 panels and workshops will take place at the Discover Portsmouth Center.

“We’re so grateful to have such incredible support from our sponsors and the Portsmouth community,” said Nicole Gregg. “The festival depends on our generous sponsors, and of course these historical venues and amazing after party venues are one of the things that make the NHFF such a distinctive experience.”

About the New Hampshire Film Festival

Founded in 2001, NHFF began as a small, grassroots organization to support local, regional and student filmmakers. It now holds a place as a viable and recognized festival that showcases the brightest talent on the international film festival scene. For the latest updates from the NHFF team, visit www.nhfilmfestival.com , like their page on Facebook at facebook.com/NHFilmFestival or follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/NHFF

Submitted by Ellen Stuart, Vital Design, Portsmouth