Thank You

To all:

Thank You

The 2011 Women’s Film Festival celebrated its 20th Year in March. We raised just over $15,000 for the Women’s Freedom Center while enlightening and entertaining 2,700 film goers. Our venues, Latchis Theater and New England Youth Theatre were wonderful partners and helped the festival to run smoothly, and we would like to thank Darren Goldsmith, Ned Phoenix, Ben & Jerry Stockman for being responsive to our every need.

We are an entirely volunteer-organized event, and some folks, notably Steering Committee and Film Selection Committees work all year-round to make this festival what it is. We would like to acknowledge all of the volunteers, donors and sponsors, who helped make this our best year yet.
We would like to acknowledge and thank our organizing committees: Steering Committee: Marilyn Buhlmann, Kevin Burke, Gail Haines, Lissa Weinmann; Film Selection Committee: Merry Elder, Liz Hanson, Michele Immler, Donna Faith K-Brooks, Diane Laverdi;Fundraising: Ruth Austin, Marilyn Buhlmann, Lisa Jane Clarke, Robbie Paley; Banner: Siri Peterson; Best-in-Festival Coordinators: Mal Herbert & Nita Harrison; Bookkeeper/Finance/Festival Accounts: Jaki Reis & Marilyn Buhlmann; Data Compilation: Pat Halloran & Jaki Reis; Designer (Website, Program, Flyer & other print media) Kevin Burke of Pawblo, LLC & Lynn Zimmerman of Lucky Dog Design; Pass Design: Harry Saxman; Pass Distribution: Sandy Brodsky; Film Submissions: Kam Adhikary, Marilyn Buhlmann, Gail Haines, Guy Wood; Film Trackers: Gail Haines, Jaki Reis, Beth Spicer; Hospitality: Brenda Davis, Sarah Hagedorn, Lerna, Meg Lyons, Beth McKinney; Receptions: Katherine Barrett, Marilyn Chiarello, Brenda Davis, Jerry Ann Jacobs, Sherri Leining, Linda Moyse, Judith Thomas (chair), Women’s Freedom Center Board; Proofreaders: Gail Haines, Eve Ness, Rochelle Garfinkle; Program Ad Sales: Marilyn Buhlmann, Liz Kenton, Quinn Maguire Cartelli; Public Relations, Publicity, Marketing & Special Events ( Print, Radio, TV and Web Media): Robin Antepara, Mellisa Cain, Arlene Distler, Karen Henry, Nina Karp, Liz Kenton, Diane Laverdi, Louise LeGouis, Paige Martin, Linda Moyse, Michel Moyse, Anne Newsmith, Robbie Paley, Lissa Weinmann (Chair); Volunteer Coordinators (box office): Pat Halloran, Liz Kenton, Leigh Pumilia; Show Volunteers: Hannah Aleshnick, Ellice Amanna, Katherine Barratt, Hollis Carlisle, Craig Divis, Alissa Feller, Moriah Floyd, Eka Gabelia, Emma Gardner, Amanda Graff, Lyn Haas, Gail Haines, Pat Halloran, Liz Kenton, Anna Knecht, Lerna, Louise LeGouis, Sherri Leining, Tiffin Mabry, Sue Madrigan, Paige Martin, David Mischke, Susan Pelis, Jeanette Pfeifer, Pamela Reagan, Jaki, Reis, Beth Spicer, Bonnie Stearns, Kathy Urffer, Shea Witzberger, and Ellen Woodbury.

Special Events speakers & panelists and film directors & subjects: Montana Berg, Charlene & Jeffrey Chapman, Susan Edwards, Cynthia Fujikawa, VT Senator Peter Galbraith, Kate Gillespie, Liz Kenton, Dolores Klaich, Mary Murphy, Robynn Murray, Sara Nesson, Toni Ortner, Robin Rieske of Know Media, Ann Stanton of Union Institute & University, Nancy Storrow, and Meredith Wade.

Many businesses and individuals contribute financially to the festival. Our major sponsors this year were: Platinum Sponsors: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, The Kates Foundation & Latchis Theater/Brattleboro Arts Initiative; Silver Sponsors: Key Bank & Meadowlark Inn; Bronze Sponsor: Brattleboro Savings & Loan; Patrons: Bernstein & Fisk Psychotherapy Associates; Crosby House Bed & Breakfast, Dr. Elizabeth McLarney, Park Place Financial Advisors, Dr. Janet Zinter; Supporters: Brattelboro Area Farmers’ Market, Cheryl Wilfong. A special thank you to Kris McDermet who made a beautiful hooked rug based on the WFF poster of a couple of years ago and donated the proceeds of the sale.

Our community partners this year, who helped in many ways to promote the festival and bring audiences to the movies were: AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, Austine School for the Deaf, Brattleboro Retreat PTSD program personnel, Center for Digital Art, Union Institute & University & the Vermont Commission on Women who sponsored a listening forum where area women could speak out about issues that affect them here in Southern Vermont.
We also are grateful to the businesses that provided goods and services for our receptions, our special events and hospitality services for our visiting filmmakers and directors: Amy’s Bakery Arts Café, Back Side Café, Brattleboro Food Coop, Coffee Country, Elliot Street Café, Experienced Goods, Fireworks Restaurant, Flat Street Brew Pub, Front Porch Café, Grafton Village Cheese Company, Hannaford Supermarket, Landmark College Food Service, Latchis Hotel, Meadowlark Inn, New England House, Ninety Nine Restaurant, North Country Natural, Pepsi Bottling Group, Price Chopper, Putney Diner, Putney Food Coop, The Tavern Restaurant, Thai Bamboo, Three Stones Restaurant, Twilight Tea Lounge, and Vermont Country Deli.

We live in an incredibly generous community! Thank you everyone. We apologize for anyone who we left off this list. And we look forward to having additional volunteers for 2012. Please visit our webite womensfilmfestival.org and click on the volunteer link.

Thank you,
Marilyn Buhlmann & the Women’s Film Festival Steering Committee