Local Film Festival Hopes to Bring in the Community

For Tim Mattson, this year’s Mohegan Lake Film Festival is about more than just entertaining audiences.

Mattson said the festival, which kicks off July 22, will allow aspiring filmmakers the chance to showcase their work before a large audience without having to worry about pricy entrance fees that they usually have to pay to participate.

"My goal is to put on festivals with no entry fee for filmmakers," he said.

"As a filmmaker myself, I’ve made a lot of short films and have entered multiple festivals and I’ve noticed that a lot of festivals have exorbitant entry fees, and they don’t even guarantee anything," said Mattson, who is head coordinator of this year’s event.

Mattson, 37, and his wife Carmela, 33, who is also serving as coordinator, are hoping that the no-cost entry will bring in more participants. The event venue, MHPOA Beach in Mohegan Lake, will likely help that cause.

"It's like a drive-in movie without the cars," Carmela said.

The event begins at 7 p.m., but since the screen is only visible at night, the 30 short films will begin at 8:30 p.m., with live entertainment and audience participation activities filling in the time gap. 

"We have a really good collection of films, so I’m really happy in regards to the submission process," Tim said, adding that the film genres range from friendly-family to more serious.

The participating filmmakers are as young as 18 and are both local and international. 

Andy Milkis, 37, a participating filmmaker, is excited to show his film at the festival.

"The fact that it’s small and community-driven is what really makes it great," he said. "It’s an environment where you can see a movie and talk to the person who made it."

Milkis graduated from New York University with a degree in film and television and has made documentaries and short films that have won awards at other film festivals. Originally from N.J., Milkis has lived in Cortlandt Manor for the past 12 years. 

Although he has some big-time experience as a special effects supervisor, he believes that the intimacy of a local film festival is the best environment for a filmmaker.

"The best experiences I've had as a filmmaker have been at community film festivals," Milkis said. 

Tim and Carmela have been spreading the word about the event as much as possible. They have a corporate sponsorship from Freshpet, and four local sponsors: JV Hot Bagels I and II, The Peekskill Coffee House, and Mohegan Beer and Soda.

Admission for the festival is $10. Tickets can be bought at the door or purchased at one of the sponsoring businesses.

Carmela said organizers have gotten a good amount of local support for the festival.

"It's like a circle. You support your community; they in turn support you," she said.

She realizes the struggle that her husband has had as filmmaker and believes the festival will help others just like him.  

"I fully support him, so that’s why I’m behind it and I truly think it’s something that the community can benefit from," she said.

Tim said the Mohegan Lake Film Festival might already be leading to more in the area. The Jefferson Valley Mall is considering hosting a film festival in the fall, he said.

He is happy to be sharing his passion with his community, but is mostly looking to encourage and support other filmmakers. 

"For me as a filmmaker, it's important to give back,” he said. “I feel with a film festival, where you’re not charging an entry fee for the filmmaker to submit their film, is a good start.”

Details: 

Where: MHPOA Beach, 3414 Mohegan Ave, Lake Mohegan, NY, 10547

(2nd Beach off of Mohegan Ave.)

When: Friday, July 22, 7 p.m. to 11:30p.m.

For more information: http://filmtriathlon.com/