BMI Supports 15th Annual Woodstock Film Festival in New York

Broadcast Music, Inc. attended the 15th annual Woodstock Film Festival in support of its diverse selection of fiercely independent films, world-class concerts, workshops, celebrity panels and Maverick Awards ceremony. On October 17, 2014 at the Kleinert James Art Center in Woodstock, New York, BMI’s VP Film/TV Relations, Doreen Ringer-Ross, moderated a panel, “Music as the Unifying Force,” with filmmaker Michael Lessac and BMI composer and legendary musician Hugh Masekela. The two collaborated on the documentary A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake, for which Masekela composed original music onscreen.

Also premiering at the festival was East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem, which featured the work of BMI songwriter and renowned Israeli musician David Broza. Broza’s music is rich with converging sounds of Israeli, Palestinian and American musicians, as the film demonstrates how music has the power to bridge cultural divides and render hope. Broza and collaborator-producer Steve Earle performed live at The Woodstock Playhouse after the premiere.

Ringer-Ross also hosted an intimate dinner for festival VIPs and special guests to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the film festival and the 45th anniversary of the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair, with a special BMI citation of appreciation presented to Michael Lang, the fair’s producer.

The festival’s Maverick Awards Ceremony included the festival’s first Fiercely Independent Award presented to actor-director-writer-producer and BMI songwriter Mark Duplass. The annual Maverick Award was presented to director Darren Aronofsky by actresses Jennifer Connelly and Natalie Portman.