It's A Wrap: MFI Honors Chazz Palminteri; Stars Fete Film Program

GREENPORT, NY — The crowd was jubilant, cheering in solidarity as scores packed the Greenport Theatre Sunday for a showing of 26 films created in two weeks by students in the Manhattan Film Institute's 2019 summer program. Students were beaming as they watched the films they created, forever bonded by the experience of watching dreams blossom into reality.

According to its website, "MFI is a film school that nurtures aspirations while enriching careers for both budding and established artists. We provide passionate, individualized instruction in our acting and directing courses, to inspire all filmmakers in a supportive, challenging and safe environment. Whether acting, writing, shooting, editing or directing, students work side-by-side with a faculty of industry professionals as distinguished for their accomplishments as they are for their dedication to teaching future generations of visual storytellers."

The two week program culminated Sunday with the heralded 8th Annual MFI North Fork Film Festival — and this year, for the first time, an international short film competition was added to the free screenings and programs offered.

Students in the program have spoken with Patch about the life-altering, transformational experience as they immersed themselves in the experience and emerged forever enriched.

This year's MFI festival consisted of the first-ever International Short Film Competition, the Sunday Morning Showcase for MFI's Gold Program student films, filmmaker seminars, workshops, celebrity screenings, and a live performance and awards ceremony.

Celebrities who hosted MFI workshops this year include Academy Award- winning director Chris Wedge ("Ice Age"), two-time Emmy winning writer Bill Finkelstein ("The Good Fight"), and inspirational actor Geoffrey Owens ("The Cosby Show"), culminating with the screening of "Bullets Over Broadway", with celebrated Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri.

(Isabella Sheppard-Pantoliano)

Students had the opportunity to learn from professionals with extensive film and television credentials, including Bob Krakower, Palminteri, Wendy Makkena, Finkelstein, Shannon Goldman, MFI founder Tony Spiridakis and co-founder Lisa Gillooly.

On Saturday night, at the awards ceremony, Palminteri was not only honored with an award presenteed by David Burke —an acclaimed screenwriter and longtime friend and colleague who traveled from Palm Springs for the event — but he also performed a segment of his iconic one-man show, "A Bronx Tale."

Also honored at the ceremony was Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, as well as the winners of the first International Short Film Competition.

"It was a surprise. I was stunned when Tony [Spiridakis] told me I was going to be honored for my work in support of this organization," Russell said. "I do make hard decisions as supervisor but once in awhile I get pitched a softball. The easiest decision I ever made was to get behind this effort. The thanks belongs not to me but to all the people that work so hard to make it happen."

Speaking of the benefits of MFI, Russell said the program enhances the culture of Southold Town and improves the quality of life for all, as well as providing an economic boon. "But more important than anything else," he said, "it allows us to showcase Southold Town. . . Have you ever expected to see a town like Southold on Long Island?"

Palminteri, before performing, had the crowd rapt with stories of his childhood, upon which "A Bronx Tale" was based, as well as the bidding war that evolved over the adaptation of his work into a film.

Throughout his life, his father's words echoed, Palminteri said: "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent."

And from the start, when Palminteri joined Spiridakis and Goldman and began teaching eight years ago, those words have held great meaning, a veritable mantra he shares will all those who work tirelessly to create the MFI experience. As he was honored with his award, Palminteri said: "I want to thank Tony and Shannon and all the people that work at MFI, so many people, the crew — they just really believe that the saddest thing in life is wasted talent, just like my father used to say."

(Isabella Sheppard-Pantoliano)

At MFI, Palminteri said, the goal is to procure real teachers, consummate professionals dedicated to their craft. "There are so many charlatans out there that just want young kids' money, because everyone is so desperate to learn," Palminteri said. "But here at MFI, Tony and Shannon and Lisa really try to educate and prepare these young filmmakers, actors and producers to make good, quality films. A lot of people think they know how to make it but not many people know how to light a spark. Here at MFI, they light a spark."

(Isabella Sheppard-Pantoliano)

Winners of the first ever international short film competition were awarded, with "Ari" getting the nod for Best Short Film, "Eli" for Best Animated Short, Katy Wright-Mead for Best Actress in her work in "Sometimes, I Think About Dying," Jaxon Graham-Wilson, who took home the Best Actor honor for "Ar." The Best MFI Spirit Award was given to"East of the River."

Owens said the MFI experience confirmed that kids need guidance. "Older role models are vital to young people and in addition to having fun, at MFI they have a sense of community and family that Lisa and Tony have created on so many levels. It's so important. You can't get enough of that as a young person. So many kids have too little of it."

(Isabella Sheppard-Pantoliano)

One lesson Owens tried to share with his students at MFI was that even as an adult, working actor, learning is a lifelong evolution; he sat in on Palminteri's workshop to continue to grow as an artist.

At his workshop, Finkelstein spoke with passion about writing, sharing examples from authors and journalists. "It's about the voice," he said. "It's about what you can do to craft something that people haven't necessarily seen before. It requires an alchemy of inspiration and craft. . . Part of what Steven Bochco taught me is there was a place for a certain recklessness. . . Sometimes a bad idea, an idea that has no commercial viability, is one that you are sustained by."

(Isabella Sheppard-Pantoliano)

Reflecting on MFI, Wedge said he became involved because Spiridakis is an old friend. MFI, he said, "is one of those things where we can combine the love of filmmaking, working with young people, and living on the North Fork. Tony, Lisa and Shannon have done a beautiful job of organizing a focused program where people can write three pages for two characters in one place and make a short film in two weeks amidst all the locations available to us in July."

Watching the students, Wedge said: "The faces in that audience are just bubbling with enthusiasm at the end of the two weeks. No one wants it to end. They've all made lots of great friends and they've all learned a lot. Filmmaking is a collaborative experience," he said, infused with ideas and ambition "and everyone joining in to work together. It's one of the greatest things you can do with your life professionally."

(Isabella Sheppard-Pantoliano)

As the 2019 summer session wrapped, Spiridakis opened his heart about the journey: "Since our launch in 2012 MFI has had directors, actors and writers from all over the world come to the North Fork to make films. What made the 8th Annual MFI North Fork Film Festival so special was adding an International Short Film Competition. Watching Australian director Alex Murawski on stage in the Greenport Theatre, accepting two awards from Academy Award Nominee Chazz Palminteri for his brilliant short film 'Ari' made 2019 our best year ever."