FilmColumbia 2023

Scenes from the FilmColumbia
2023 Kick-Off Party

Honoring Killer Films Producers
Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler

and

Benefitting the Crandell Theatre’s
Year-Round Programs

Over 100 attendees celebrated producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, the founders of Killer Films, on Saturday, October 21, at the Kick-Off Party for the Crandell Theatre’s FilmColumbia festival held at Jack Shear’s home in Spencertown, NY. Guests feasted on a full buffet from Bimi’s Canteen inspired by Killer Films titles: Hedwig’s Beets, Boys Don’t Cry Chicken, I Short Andy Warhol’s Pig. Award-winning filmmaker and Crandell Board Member James Schamus introduced Vachon and Koffler, who had participated in a Q&A, following the showing of their highly regarded 2023 film May December. Funds raised from the film festival and Kick-Off Party support the year-round programs of the Crandell Theatre.

On behalf of the board and the staff of the Crandell, I thank you for your generous support.

Viki Sand
Chair of the Host Committee

Click on a photo below to launch
the full-resolution slide show.

Photos by John Shea

Filmmaker James Shamus; party host Crandell Benefactor and President of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Jack Shear; Host Committee Chair and Board Member Viki Sand; and Killer Films' Co-Founders and FC23 Honorees Pam Koffler and Christine Vachon

FilmColumbia Co-Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director Laurence Kardish

Host Jack Shear

Board members and Capital Campaign Chairs Nick Van Alstine and Lael Locke.

Honorees Vachon and Koffler have produced 150 films.

Vachon and Koffler

Koffler and Vachon received locally handcrafted porcelain plates by ceramicist Mary Ann Davis of Davistudio.

Jack Shear, FilmColumbia Director Calliope Nicholas, and Sand

Board Member Ian Hooper, Madeline Hooper and Shear.

Albany's ABC affiliate News10 filming Board President Lydia Kukoff for the evening news.

Board member James Schamus on camera with News10.

The crowd inside the tent at the home of Jack Shear.

Chatham-based Bimi's Canteen provided a delicious spread of dishes inspired by Killer Films movie titles.

Actors Stephen Lang and Scott Cohen.

Crandell Theatre Executive Director Annie Brody (right).

Nichole Saland, SVP of Research Operations at Wolfe Research Securities and a Development Committee member of the Shaker Museum

Hilary Dunne Ferrone, director of development at the Norman Rockwell Museum, and Chris Ferrone

Author Joshua Jelly-Schapiro and filmmaker Mirissa Neff, founder and curator of Crandell Kid Flicks.

Crandell Theatre staff Ingrid Turner, Beth Marchant and Dawn Steward

The Mountains Media founder and CEO and Publisher Alan Katz and Board Member Andrew Goetz, co-founder of Malin+Goetz

Emily McCully, Bella Meyer and DeWayne Powell, William Pitt realtor

Bonnie Mackay, Jack Shear, film editor Bob Eisenhardt, Beth Marchant and Laurence Kardish

Bernie Kukoff (right)

Director Deborah Reinisch and Stephen and Tina Lang

Emily McCully (left)

Bridget Foley, J.D. Weinberg and Matthew Malin, co-founder of Malin+ Goetz

Emily McCully and Roberta Bernstein

Tina Lang and Ramiro Davaro-Comas, co-owner with Grace Lang of Super-Stories, a storytelling nonprofit in Kinderhook.

Spencertown Academy's Eve Zatt, left, and Madaline Sparks, center, speaking with Lois Saland

Q+As with Filmmakers

FC23 welcomed actors, producers and directors with films in the festival, including Ruth Reichl, May December producers Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler, Al Roker, Scott Cohen and Walton Goggins.

A screening of FARM AND COUNTY, featuring Ruth Reichl, at FilmColumbia23. Photo by John Shea.

Ruth Reichl's film FARM AND COUNTY

Ruth Reichl Q+A

Festival Director Calliope Nicholas and Ruth Reichl

Laurence Kardish with Killer Films producers Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler after a screening of three of their films, including MAY DECEMBER

Vachon

Koffler

Kardish

CALL ME DANCER Producer Diana Holtzberg

CALL ME DANCER Producer Cynthia Kane

JOAN BAEZ: I AM A NOISE Co-Director Miri Navasky

Co-Executive Director and Co-Curator Peter Biskind

Director and animater Signe Baumane after a screening of MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE

Baumane

Actor Scott Cohen and Kardish after the screening of THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED

Cohen and an actor during the two-day Screenwriting Wokshop

Director Anastasia Traina during the workshop.

Children's International Shorts Program Curator Patti Greaney receiving a locally handcrafted porcelain plate by ceramicist Mary Ann Davis of Davistudio. 2023 was the 20th anniversary of the free Saturday program during the festival.

Director Greta Schiller discusses her documentary THE FIVE DEMANDS

GAINING GROUND Producer Al Roker

Roker and Board member Ian Hooper

Deborah Roberts and Al Roker outside the theater

Walton Goggins discusses DREAMIN' WILD

Goggins

Goggins and Biskind

Goggins

Goggins and fans