There are many ways to stimulate cultural change—top among them, conversation. And what medium has stimulated spirited conversation again and again for hundreds of years? The arts.
This was the impetus for the Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF), now in its seventh year. Local Teaneck citizens conceived of the festival in 2005 with the intent of encouraging cross-cultural connections, bringing attention to local filmmakers and attracting business to the area. TIFF features both American and international feature-length films, documentaries and shorts.
The first festival (in 2006) attracted 1,200 moviegoers. It now draws more than 3,000 people each year and operates under the recurring theme “Activism: Making Change.”
Many local businesses and civic associations have pulled together to make the Teaneck International Film Festival possible. And Benzel-Busch, who supports the arts through its ongoing partnership with the Bergen Performing Arts Center, is proud to be a major sponsor several years running.
“The involvement of businesses such as Benzel-Busch enables us to show an outstanding selection of independent features, documentaries, and shorts that deal with important topics of the day, spark discussion and debate, and—we hope— inspire efforts to make the world a better place for populations that are forgotten or ignored,” says TIFF co-founder Judy Distler.
The seventh annual Teaneck International Film Festival will launch for the first time this year with a red-carpeted opening party featuring performances by two acclaimed New York-based musicians, Vivian Sessoms and Clinton Daniel. The opening party will be held on November 8th at the Glenpointe Marriott, with the actual Film Festival held from November 9th to 11th. The Festival is also hosting tons of actors, filmmakers, producers, and dignitaries this year, including Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson; Gina Belafonte (daughter of Harry Belafonte); HBO Boardwalk Empire actor Anthony Laciura; State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg; acclaimed German pianist Markus Horn; Israeli filmmaker Chanoc Ze'evi; and the list goes on. There will be guests coming from as far as Israel and Germany, and there is even speculation that Vincent D'Onofrio and Governor Christie may be attending.
To get tickets to the opening party and this year’s eclectic lineup of films, visit www.teaneckfilmfestival.org.