Now in its fifth year, the Putnam County International Film Festival will be returning this fall to the Taconic Outdoor Education Center on the weekend of October 1 & 2, 2005. The doors will open both days at 11:00am. On Saturday the films in various categories will screen continuously until Midnight, interrupted only by the traditional Q&A sessions with the filmmakers if they are present. On Sunday at 6pm the filmmakers will find out who won special recognition and awards at the Awards Banquet, and they will each have a clip shown from their film, Academy Award style. A special screening of the Academy Award winning documentary "Born Into Brothels" will continue afterwards at 7:30pm and the festival ends Sunday at 10pm. That film has just become available on DVD as of September 20, 2005 and we will be giving away free DVD's of it during the weekend as door prizes as a special promotion by Lions Gate Entertainment.

The Taconic Outdoor Education Center is a unique large-span building which allows a casual atmosphere for viewing films. Tables and chairs are available for snacks and popcorn while patrons can view the high resolution projected picture on a large screen. Sometimes the filmmakers themselves are seeing their film on a large screen for the first time, and are amazed at the power of their larger-than-life images.

This year there will be two outstanding films dealing with 9/11. Peter Josyph's "Liberty Street: Alive at Ground Zero" is a new documentary which will debut at the Putnam County festival which features footage which has not yet been seen by anyone. In fact, there was a ban on photography at the time. There will also be a reprise of last year's Best of Fest: Paul Pillitteri's "The Book Of What Remains", a unique narrative feature which he wrote and directed, and financed with his own money. It follows the stories of several people who have trouble coping with the 9/11 tragedy. The film's emotional power is staggering, yet oddly it has not yet gained the notice it should have, except outside of New York City.

There are approximately 28 other films which will be shown at the festival over the two days at the modest fee of $5 per day. A screening schedule and film synopses are available online at www.putnamvalleyarts.com as well as directions to the festival (Taconic Parkway to Route 301 West, go 5 miles, Left onto Dennytown & look for signs). One of the films, a narrative short entitled “The Basement� was shot locally in Brewster with local actors by director Ayzha Wolf, a New York City resident. "Taking Back the Block: Stories of Community Renaissance" by Producer Steven Anderson includes fascinating historical footage chronicling the urban revival of Beacon and the South Bronx.

The festival will also be honoring "The End of Suburbia" a controversial documentary about how the depletion of oil resources may kill the American Dream as we know it. After the effect of gas prices following Katrina, this film has a newfound resonance. Ken Kimmelman's "Hot Afternoons Have Been In Montana" is a beautiful poetic montage that makes the film difficult to classify, but has a magic all its own. There are other films using computer animation, experimental methods, student films, music video, local cable shows, comedy and a Saturday night horror feature entitled "Shadow: Dead Riot". Whatever your pleasure, there is something of interest at this year's festival. And if you like food prepared by a Culinary Institute of America chef, you might try the awards banquet. Seating is limited, but you can get reserved tickets online through PayPal, or at the door until Saturday Oct 1 for $20 per person. The Awards ceremonies take place on October 2 from 6pm-7:30pm.

The festival is supported by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered by the Putnam Arts Council and a grant from the Irma & Arthur Miller Family Foundation. Snacks are available all day, and patrons can come and go as they please. Filmmakers, writers, artists, musicians, actors, crews and artists of all types find it a great place to meet each other, promote their works and see great films. For those that want to talk and network, we have a video feed going into the lobby so you won't miss anything. For more information, call Festival Director Maryann Arrien at 845-528-7420 or check out www.putnamvalleyarts.com. No reservations are necessary if you just want to come and see the screenings.