I was truly honored to be part of Roger.Ebert.com’s Women Writers Week, March 9-March 13, 2020. My article highlighted a new Film Festival helmed my Women — Film Fest 919.
Women Hold Key Positions in Chapel Hill’s Film Fest 919
What do remarkably accomplished women in the film and entertainment industry pursue to further their aspirations of promoting the arts? For Randi Emerman (Vice President of Marketing of Silver Spot Cinemas and former CEO of the Palm Beach International Film Festival), Carol Marshall (CEO and publicist of Carol Marshall Public Relations, Inc. and former overseer of talent and publicity for both the Santa Barbara and Palm Beach International Film Festivals), and Claudia Puig (a nationally recognized film journalist and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.) the answer was simple—take on the challenge of creating a new film festival.
Film Fest 919, named for the North Carolina Triangle, and located in Chapel Hill, began with Emerman and Marshall. Shortly after inception, they brought on Claudia Puig as Programming Director. The trio’s vision—to create a film festival that focuses on films that would be talked about and be recognized during awards season. In addition, Film Fest 919 would become part of the filmmakers’ journey while also giving the community an opportunity to see these films early, talk about them, and help support their awards platforms.
Speaking directly to each of the founders, filmmakers, and talent who were invited to participate enabled a professional yet relaxed atmosphere that allowed for repeat conversations throughout the five-days. Catching a casual one-to-one or group breakfast, lunch, dinner, or cocktails with filmmakers, talent, staff, and volunteers aided in congregating information from varied perspectives.
Sarah Knight Adamson,(Film Critic, Festival Guest) Randi Emerman, (Co-Founder) Lynn Roth, (Writer/Director), “Shepherd the Story of a Jewish Dog” attending a Film Fest 919 Brunch.Chris Bergoch, (Writer “The Florida Project”) Sarah Knight Adamson (Film Critic Guest) having fun on the Red Carpet Film Fest 919The beautiful, Silver-Spot Cinema Theater, Film Fest 919, Oct. 2019Anthony McCarten writer of “The Two Popes” with Sarah Knight Adamson after our interview in the lobby of Silver Spot Cinema, Chapel Hill, NC Film Fest 919
🎬 Dates for the 2020 Film Fest 919, are October 14 –18 🎬
My Bio on RogerEbert.com:
Sarah Knight Adamson is an entertainment and film freelance writer, and the weekly radio film critic for the nationally syndicated radio show Hollywood 360 Radio Network; she’s heard on 80 Salem Radio Network News/Talk stations, including WNYM-New York, KRLA-Los Angeles, and WWRC-Washington DC. As the former weekly Regional Arts and Entertainment columnist for the TribLocal newspaper, a Chicago Tribune subsidiary, her interview with Roger Ebert appeared in print. She’s also written for Chicago magazines. You can find additional information on her website: www.SarahsBackstagePass.com.
As a former teacher, Sarah’s taught a film criticism class in Chicago at Facets Cinémathèque for children and has served two years on the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival jury; and has served on other Film Festival juries in California and Tenn. Community interests include serving as a Chicago Public Library film panel participant, serving on the Executive Board for Variety Children’s Charity of Illinois, and conducting monthly film Q&As at local cinemas.
Member of the Chicago Film Critics Assoc., Alliance of Women Film Critics, NY, and the Critics’ Choice Assoc., LA. Twitter: @SarahsBackstage Facebook: @SarahsBackstage
