The 2nd Annual MFF: Recap!

We can’t believe it’s over!  During the many months of planning and preparation it seemed like the 2nd Annual Motorcycle Film Festival would never arrive, and just like that, it’s a wrap!  We are so happy to report that the event blew away our expectations, and we sincerely hope that all in attendance would agree.  Here’s a recap of the event, along with pictures if you weren’t able to take part in the action:

photo by Drury Lab

Wednesday afternoon saw our tireless MFF Pit Crew Volunteers get to work setting up for the evening’s opening Pre Party Art Show, hosted at Genuine Motorworks, curated by judge Stacie B. London.  A chance for VIPs, Judges, and Staff to meet and mingle before the first screening of the week, we had exhibits and pieces on display from the MFF family, including Paul Cox, Paul d’Orleans, Ultan Guilfoyle, JP, Chris Logsdon, Lorenzo Eroticolor, Amos Poe, Buz Ras, and our very own founder Corinna Mantlo.

photo by Drury Lab

After perusing the excellent works and enjoying tasty libations from our friends at Sailor Jerry & PBR, the party shifted venues right across the street to The Gutter, where the week’s screenings and after parties would be held.  

 

photo by Drury Lab

Screened in front of a sold out, standing room only audience (a theme that would run through the weekend), Take it to the Limit (1981) officially kicked off the the films, with director Peter Starr on hand to answer questions and regale us with stories.

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Thursday afternoon found the founders and Judges brunching at Park Luncheonette (a much loved MFF tradition after working so closely together for months by phone). Meanwhile, attendees from all over the world enjoyed the beautiful weather and local surroundings.

photo by Drury Lab

Thursday’s Screenings began at 6:00pm and were once again shown to full house audiences! Thursday featured the Best of Festival winner in Daniel Rintz’s Somewhere Else Tomorrow.

photo by Drury Lab

Friday began with a fun brunch for all our VIPs hosted by Bar Matchless, allowing another opportunity for the judges, filmmakers, staff, friends, and family to get to know each other a little better.  With visitors from Italy and South America, and Australia, as well as a couple who rode their Honda Trail 90s from Oregon (you really DO meet the nicest people on a Honda…follow their travels HERE, and Anna Grechishkina who found out about the MFF just that morning from a friend in Chicago, while on her travels all the way from the Ukraine on a KTM (check out her story HERE), not to mention the dozens of filmmakers who traveled from all over the world to be here with us. brunch was a great way to spread the motorcycle love!  

photo by Drury Lab

Screenings began at 2:30 and closed with the North American Premiere of On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter.  

Julia Haltigan photo by Drury Lab

The lights came up for a brief set-change, then back down for the after party, featuring DJ Nosebleed, followed by the seductive and flirtatious music of vintage Triumph riding Julia Haltigan and the musically eclectic Dr. Sick.  We highly recommend checking them all out!

Saturday was an beautiful day on N14st. The Ride & Repeat was set to get your very own bike portrait taken by Ryan Handt Photography, and the delicious pizza from Park Luncheonette never stopped. The entire block was lined with bikes and it was a blast. It was also our heaviest day for screenings, the first block including Drue Pennella’s The Badger: Made in Trenton, winner of this year’s People’s Choice Award and then the Judge’s Pick for Feature Narrative for Shooter & Whitley by Laura Stewart.

photo by Drury Lab

The early evening screening block of Shorts featured two more winners: Django by Jim Demuth and Posy Dixon took the win for Experimental Pick and Vincent Black Lighting, a delightful animation in the shadow puppet style by Cat Bruce won for Short Narrative.  

photo by Drury Lab

Our final screening block of the weekend was to feature two more Judge’s Picks in the short No Ordinary Passenger by Cabell Hopkins for Short Documentary followed by Todd Huffman’s Penton: The John Penton Story for Feature Documentary.

photo by Drury Lab

Riding the tide of excitement following our final screening, we segued directly into our Awards Ceremony.  Speeches, applause, and tears were doled out, as were the trophies (made this year by our own co-founder Corinna Mantlo of Via Meccanica, and Buz Ras of Seattle Speedometers) and beers for everyone else!  

 

photo by Drury Lab

Saturday night’s after party featured the musical stylings of DJ Sommer Santoro, the soulful, heavy, psychedelic boogie band The Golden Grass, and roots and blues rock high-energy Daddy Long Legs.  

photo by Drury Lab

The screenings a wrap, Sunday marked the final day of the event and the Closing Party hosted by Lady Jay’s.  Beverages, BBQ, handshakes, stories and swapped contact information was in abundance as the weekend winded down.  

photo by Drury Lab

To perfectly cap the weekend, Kate Morris provided a live reading from her script for the upcoming Michael Schmidt film Going to Fugle, in which she shares her own journey as a young female journalist riding cross country with an outlaw MC.  It should be noted that Kate went from a self proclaimed “20 mile a day rider” to piloting a Harley Davidson 48 with some hard-core fellows from LA to XXX.  The reading from her script perfectly describes the freedom of the road, and all the emotions that can go along with it.  We can’t wait to see more from this project!

photo by Drury Lab

And just like that, it was over.  New friends and family from as close as the next block to as far as over oceans shook hands, exchanged hugs and went their separate ways.  We hope to keep in touch and see you all again.  Spread the word and watch this space, because we have more in store, as NY is only the first stop for the MFF this year.  Keep those wheels and cameras rolling.

photo by Drury Lab

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, especially Honda Powersports, for their support.  Without Honda and our other sponsors, this would not have been possible. 

photo by Drury Creative Lab

And finally, we want to thank all of you. It is only because of the films made and submitted by you, watched by you, and loved by you that there is an MFF at all. You are the MFF. Thank you.

-Matt ‘Howl On Wheels’ Howell and The MFF Crew