Page 3 - 2025 WHFF Program

The 34TH
WOODS HOLE Saturday

July 26 -
Saturday
FILM FESTIVAL August 2,

2025

Welcome to the 34th Woods Hole Film Festival! Programming a Festival with original style and independent
spirit is a year-round labor of love. We are profoundly grateful
We’re thrilled to welcome you—whether you’re a longtime to our dedicated team of over 150 staff and volunteers, as
attendee or joining us for the first time. Each year, even well as our local partners in Woods Hole and Falmouth.
before the final credits roll, we begin imagining what the This Festival would not be possible without the tireless
next edition might look like. And while we can never efforts, generosity, and creativity of so many.
predict every detail, one thing is certain: for eight vibrant
days in July and August, the village of Woods Hole will So—enjoy the 34th Woods Hole Film Festival! See
once again become a dynamic gathering place for film- remarkable films. Meet passionate filmmakers. Recon-
makers, screenwriters, musicians, and audiences who nect with old friends, and make a few new ones, too.
share a passion for the art of storytelling on film. With appreciation,
This year has brought us both exciting milestones and Judy Laster
unavoidable challenges. We received a record-breaking
number of submissions from talented filmmakers and screen- Festival Founder & Director
writers across the globe, and our programming team has curated
a powerful lineup showcasing the very best in emerging independent
cinema. Our year-round screenings saw record attendance, reaffirming I love what I do, and each and every single one of the
the appetite for independent film and deepening our confidence that eleven years I’ve been at the Woods Hole Festival I have
this summer’s Festival will be one of the most memorable yet. grown to love and appreciate it more. I am so impressed
Of course, external circumstances have presented their share of hurdles. and so proud of all the stories we will be sharing with you,
A few selected films were ultimately unable to participate this year—but and the filmmakers who made them. They continue to in-
we hope to include them in future programming. Additionally, shifts spire and remind me why we do the work we do and why
in public funding have made us even more grateful for the support of this film festival universe we are a part of is so important,
our donors, grant funders, sponsors, and members, whose generosity and maybe more important than ever right now. Thank
sustains us and ensures our continued growth. If you are a Festival at- you to all the filmmakers and screenwriters
tendee, please consider supporting us with a donation or by becoming
a member. Your support matters greatly. for sharing your hard work with us. We
can’t wait to share it with everyone in
Throughout the year, we’ve remained busy with our signature year- Woods Hole.
round series: Dinner & A Movie, Best of the Fest at Cotuit Center for
the Arts, and curated screenings at the MIT Museum in Cambridge.
These events not only showcase incredible work but also help us build
a broader, more engaged community of film lovers. We’re already plan-
ning for a dynamic 2025–2026 series. John Gamache, Associate Director
As the longest-running film festival on Cape Cod and the Islands—and
one of the oldest in New England—we’ve long championed indepen-
dent filmmakers, especially those with ties to the region. This year’s pro-
gram, selected from nearly 1,000 submissions, includes 48 features and
67 short films—dramas, comedies, documentaries, and animations— CONTENTS
from 14 countries. We’re proud to present 7 world premieres, 5 North Director’s Note ............................................................................................... 3
American, 2 U.S., 48 New England, and 12 Massachusetts premieres. Grant Funders ................................................................................................4
Beyond screenings, the Festival also features workshops, panel discus- Support the Festival ................................................................................... 5
sions, live music, and parties that bring artists and audiences together How to Festival ...............................................................................................7
in conversation and celebration. Cast and Crew ................................................................................................9
New this year: we’re delighted to introduce the Brickyard VFX Filmmak- Special Guests .............................................................................................10
er Lounge, open daily from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Captain Kidd. This Festival Sponsors .........................................................................................12
relaxed space—complete with coffee from Plymouth Coffee Compa- Panels, Master Class, Workshops .....................................................13
ny—is the perfect spot for filmmakers and filmgoers to connect, reflect, Music at the Festival..................................................................................15
and continue conversations sparked by the films and Festival events.
Schedule Matrix ...........................................................................................17
Documentary Feature Films .......................................................18-20
Narrative Feature Films ...................................................................21-22
Copyright 2025, Woods Hole Film Festival, Inc. PO Box 624, Woods Hole, Short Film Programs ....................................................................... 23-26
MA 02543. All rights reserved. Copyrights of individual films, logos and Filmmakers & Screenwriters..............................................................30
images are held by individual owners and used here with permission. Audience Award ...........................................................................................31
No part of this program may be reproduced or used in any manner Jury 2025 ..........................................................................................................32
without prior written permission from the Woods Hole Film Festival. Film & Science Initiative........................................................................ 36
Print sources may be requested from the Woods Hole Film Festival.
Email info@woodsholefilmfestival.org. Festival Merchandise ..............................................................................42