Academy-Nominated Filmmaker to Give Keynote Speech at Local Film Festival

Academy-nominated director/producer/journalist David France will be the keynote speaker at the Catskill Mountains Film Festival this May. 

Mr. France’s film How to Survive A Plague was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at last year’s Academy Awards. There will be a screening of Mr. France's critically acclaimed film at the festival.

Said Mr. France, “There is room in the world of film for everyone who is passionate about telling stories. I only began as a filmmaker recently – it’s never too late. I hope that my career and my story will be an inspiration to my neighbors in the Catskills and budding filmmakers everywhere.”

Jessica Vecchione, Chairperson for the CMFM, said: “We are beyond honored to welcome David France as our keynote speaker for the festival this year. Mr. France’s storied career as a journalist and now a filmmaker will be an inspiration to all the attendees at the festival.”

The film festival will be held at SUNY Delhi on May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of this year. The festival program will include Mr. France’s keynote, a welcome dinner, meet-ups, networking opportunities, and many screenings of submitted films. The deadline for submissions in all categories is March 21st.

The festival is being jointly jointly sponsored by the State University of New York at Delhi and the Greater Delhi Area Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the festival is to promote the film business in New York State, to showcase local talent, and to develop a new generation of local filmmakers.

Actor Bill Pullman was recently added as Honorary Chairperson of the film festival.