Irvington Town Hall Theater to Host All Shorts Irvington Film Festival This Fall

The second season of the All Shorts Irvington Film Festival (As iFF) will be presented at the Irvington Town Hall Theater (85 Main Street) in two parts: Fall 2016 and Spring 2017.

The fall program on Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 pm will feature 10 outstanding shorts (ranging from 3 to 22 minutes in length) from countries including Afghanistan, Denmark, England, Germany, Iran, Poland, and the United States.

As iFF received over 200 submissions for the fall festival; entries were judged, selected, and curated by an esteemed jury of film professionals. Audience members will vote for the top winners at the end of the evening.

The selected films reflect diversity in subject matter as well as genre. The audience will recognize familiar faces and names, such as Reed Birney who costars in "Shy Guys," the film directorial debut of character actor Fredric Lehne. Birney, who portrays Vice President Donald Blythe on the popular Netflix show "House of Cards," also won a 2016 Best Actor Tony Award for "The Humans."

Viewers will be captivated by the unforgettable performances of 12-year-old twins Charlotte and Madeleine Ruley (nieces of Irvington residents Meg Ruley and David Lovett) in "Quantified Self," directed by award-winning filmmaker Gleb Osatinksi.

The festival will present one United States premiere, "Beyond Oneself," an animated short from Polish director Karolina Specht, and two New York premieres: Denmark director Jack Larsen's Spaghetti-Western satire, "Enter the Cowboy" and "How Many Farts Measure a Life?" directed by Brooklyn-based comedy writer Nate Dern.

Following the screening, there will be a Q & A with filmmakers and actors. All audience members are then invited to an in-theater after-party premiering "Short Shots at All Shorts" - featuring Slovenia Vodka, compliments of My Sherry&more Inc (129 Main Street, Irvington). This award-winning vodka is a project of celebrities Bill Murray, Mikhail Baryshnikov and restaurateur, Peter Kelly (Xaviar Restaurant Group). Light refreshments will also be served.

Festival director Laurie Chock said, "As iFF received an outpouring of spectacular short film submissions from around the world. With each festival, as more and more films come in, the selection process grows increasingly competitive. The originality, artistry and quality of filmmaking that we are seeing has shown us that As iFF is recognized internationally as a sought-after festival by both acclaimed and up-and-coming filmmakers. It is very exciting for us to bring this high level of cinema to Irvington."

As iFF tickets are $15 for general seating and $30 for "Above the Line" tickets (which include reserved seating and "special As iFF swag") if purchased in advance online. There is a $3 surcharge if purchased at the door. This year As iFF is offering a special "Above the Line" package: $50 for both fall and spring festival evenings. (Processing fees apply for all ITHT tickets). Tickets can be purchased at: www.irvingtontheater.com.

Last year, nearly 1,000 people attended As iFF. Noted Chock, "We were thrilled at the audience response and proud that the Irvington Town Hall Theater has become a 'must go to' venue to view top-of-the-line international short films in the greater metropolitan area." For more information, visit asiffestival.com.

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