The 2021 Bridgeport Film Fest
IN-PERSON TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! THE BRIDGEPORT FILM FESTIVAL is proud to call The Klein Memorial Auditorium our home for our inaugural year. CLICK HERE to take you to their official website where you can buy your festival passes! Ticket Prices: Single-Day Pass: $12 Three-Day Pass: $25 We will be screening seven short film blocks including "The Future is Female", "Black Stories Matter", "The Lockdown Diaries" and "You Are Who You Are: Queer Stories" among others! Making it’s Bridgeport premiere is the director Liz Ortiz’s feature-length documentary “AND....SEEN”, which challenges mainstream assumptions of disability through the perspective of actress/wheelchair dancer Jamie Petrone, a Connecticut native. Then on Sunday July 25, we will be screening the Disney animated film "Moana" for children of all ages. We will also feature filmmaker panels, workshops, food trucks, live music, a red carpet and more! VIRTUAL TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! As a way to be more inclusive and accessible to guests of the BRIDGEPORT FILM FESTIVAL we are using the Film Festival Plus Platform to bring all of the indie films to your homes and streaming devices! Films, workshops and panels will be available from Friday July 23 through Friday July 30! CLICK HERE to take you to their official website where you can buy your festival passes! Ticket Prices: Virtual Pass: $20 |
*save 25% off your virtual tickets by using the discount code: FFP25
GET YOUR VIRTUAL TICKETS HERE! |
2021 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, July 23
4:00pm-5:30pm: Filmmaker Networking Hour/Red Carpet
5:00pm-5:55pm: General Admission Red Carpet
6:00pm-6:10pm: Welcome to the Film Fest
6:10pm-7:50pm: Film Block 1: "Family Ties"
8:15pm-10:00pm: Film Block 2: "Dark Night of the Soul"
Saturday, July 24
12:00pm-1:00pm: Filmmaker Networking Hour & Live DJ
12:00pm-5:00pm: Filmmaking Mini Workshops with Matthew Dunivan
1:00pm-2:45pm: "And Seen" Documentary & Discussion. This feature-length documentary challenges mainstream assumptions of disability through the perspective of actress/wheelchair dancer Jamie Petrone, a Connecticut native. Both Jamie Petrone and director Liz Ortiz will give a talk back with the audience after the screening.
3:15pm-4:30pm: Panel: Women in Film & TV
5:00pm-6:30pm: Film Block 3: "The Future Is Female"
6:50pm-8:20pm: Film Block 4: "Black Stories Matter"
8:45pm-10:15pm: Film Block 5: "You Are Who You Are: Queer Stories"
Sunday, July 25
10:30am-11:30am: Bridgeport Gives Back Event
12pm-1pm: Panel: Indie Filmmaking in Connecticut and Beyond
1:30pm-3:30pm: Animated Shorts & Community Film
4:00pm-5:30pm: Film Block 6: "The Lockdown Diaries"
6:00pm-7:30pm: Film Block 7: "Webseries & TV"
8pm-9pm: Awards and Closing Night Party
Afterparty will be held every night after the festival at the:
Holiday Inn Martini Bar
1070 Main St, Bridgeport, CT 06604
4:00pm-5:30pm: Filmmaker Networking Hour/Red Carpet
5:00pm-5:55pm: General Admission Red Carpet
6:00pm-6:10pm: Welcome to the Film Fest
6:10pm-7:50pm: Film Block 1: "Family Ties"
8:15pm-10:00pm: Film Block 2: "Dark Night of the Soul"
Saturday, July 24
12:00pm-1:00pm: Filmmaker Networking Hour & Live DJ
12:00pm-5:00pm: Filmmaking Mini Workshops with Matthew Dunivan
1:00pm-2:45pm: "And Seen" Documentary & Discussion. This feature-length documentary challenges mainstream assumptions of disability through the perspective of actress/wheelchair dancer Jamie Petrone, a Connecticut native. Both Jamie Petrone and director Liz Ortiz will give a talk back with the audience after the screening.
3:15pm-4:30pm: Panel: Women in Film & TV
5:00pm-6:30pm: Film Block 3: "The Future Is Female"
6:50pm-8:20pm: Film Block 4: "Black Stories Matter"
8:45pm-10:15pm: Film Block 5: "You Are Who You Are: Queer Stories"
Sunday, July 25
10:30am-11:30am: Bridgeport Gives Back Event
12pm-1pm: Panel: Indie Filmmaking in Connecticut and Beyond
1:30pm-3:30pm: Animated Shorts & Community Film
4:00pm-5:30pm: Film Block 6: "The Lockdown Diaries"
6:00pm-7:30pm: Film Block 7: "Webseries & TV"
8pm-9pm: Awards and Closing Night Party
Afterparty will be held every night after the festival at the:
Holiday Inn Martini Bar
1070 Main St, Bridgeport, CT 06604
2021 FESTIVAL PROGRAM
SPECIAL EVENTS

OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET EVENT
Friday July 23, 2021 | 4:00pm-6:00pm
Join us on our mini red carpet for a filmmaking network event and film festival kick off! DJ Eric Otero will be playing a superb mix to set the vibes right!
Friday July 23, 2021 | 4:00pm-6:00pm
Join us on our mini red carpet for a filmmaking network event and film festival kick off! DJ Eric Otero will be playing a superb mix to set the vibes right!

LIVE ART EXHIBIT
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 12:00pm-6:00pm
Local artist Luis Felipe Lopez is an Uruguayan Artist/Graphic Designer based in Stratford Ct whose work revolves mainly around realism with a focus on portraits and will be doing a live painting of the late great actor, Chadwick Boseman. The film fest will have a silent auction for someone to take home his beautiful piece after it is complete!
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 12:00pm-6:00pm
Local artist Luis Felipe Lopez is an Uruguayan Artist/Graphic Designer based in Stratford Ct whose work revolves mainly around realism with a focus on portraits and will be doing a live painting of the late great actor, Chadwick Boseman. The film fest will have a silent auction for someone to take home his beautiful piece after it is complete!

NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR EVENT
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 12:00pm-1:00pm
Join us on our mini red carpet for a networking event with DJ Eric Otero spinning some epic EDM and House tunes!
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 12:00pm-1:00pm
Join us on our mini red carpet for a networking event with DJ Eric Otero spinning some epic EDM and House tunes!

And...Seen
Directed by Liz Ortiz
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 1:00pm
Documentary Feature | 74 min. | 2018
And...Seen, challenges mainstream perceptions of disability through the perspective of actress and wheelchair dancer Jamie Petrone as she explores the possibility of walking again with the help of technology and alternative medicine.
Both Liz Ortiz and Jamie Petrone will give a talk back with live audiences after the screening!
Directed by Liz Ortiz
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 1:00pm
Documentary Feature | 74 min. | 2018
And...Seen, challenges mainstream perceptions of disability through the perspective of actress and wheelchair dancer Jamie Petrone as she explores the possibility of walking again with the help of technology and alternative medicine.
Both Liz Ortiz and Jamie Petrone will give a talk back with live audiences after the screening!
Moana
Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker Sunday July 25, 2021 | 1:30pm Animated Feature | 113 min. | 2016 Free event but registration required. Register HERE! In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right. |
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PANELS & WORKSHOPS

"CELL PHONE FILMMAKING FOR BEGINNERS" WORKSHOP
Instructed by Matthew Dunivan
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 12pm, 12:30pm, 2:45pm, 4:30pm
Register Here!
All are welcome!
NYC photographer and actor Matthew Dunivan will lead 4 twenty-five minute workshops on how we can use our cellphones to tell our own stories through filmmaking and photography.
About The Instructor
Matthew Dunivan (he/him) is a filmmaker, photographer and actor based in New York City. He holds an MFA in acting from Columbia University. Matthew’s films include Happy Birthday, D****weed, and A Place for Sad Face. He received an award at the New Jersey Film Festival for his VFX work in Blackbox Production’s webseries Nerd Love. Other Director of Photography work includes The Mystical Jungle and Luminescence City (Superhero Clubhouse), & A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Apocalyptic Theater Ensemble). Matthew is also a teaching artist through several theater companies throughout the NYC public school system focusing on Shakespeare literacy. www.matthewdunivanphoto.com.

WOMEN IN FILM & TV PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderated by Francesca Andre
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 3:15pm
All are welcome!
The unofficial theme of the Bridgeport Film Fest is "changing the narrative" and what a wonderful way to honor that by inviting a panel of amazing women in entertainment the opportunity to discuss the changes that need to be made for female identifying creatives in the film industry! Featuring:
Aizzah Fatima Actor | Writer| Producer
Jaclyn Blythe Actor | Writer | Director
LaTrice Strong Actor | Writer | Producer
Kristin Dodson Actor | Writer| Producer
Makeba L. Ross Writer | Director
Mariana Trevino-Stafford Writer | Producer
Sahar Al-Sawaf Documentarian | Photographer
Trish Clark Producer| President of the Nutmeg Institute| 48 Hour Film Project New Haven
Moderated by Francesca Andre
Saturday July 24, 2021 | 3:15pm
All are welcome!
The unofficial theme of the Bridgeport Film Fest is "changing the narrative" and what a wonderful way to honor that by inviting a panel of amazing women in entertainment the opportunity to discuss the changes that need to be made for female identifying creatives in the film industry! Featuring:
Aizzah Fatima Actor | Writer| Producer
Jaclyn Blythe Actor | Writer | Director
LaTrice Strong Actor | Writer | Producer
Kristin Dodson Actor | Writer| Producer
Makeba L. Ross Writer | Director
Mariana Trevino-Stafford Writer | Producer
Sahar Al-Sawaf Documentarian | Photographer
Trish Clark Producer| President of the Nutmeg Institute| 48 Hour Film Project New Haven

BRIDGEPORT GIVES BACK PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderated by Dr. Shannon Fairley-Pittman
Sunday July 25, 2021 | 10:30am
All are welcome!
Art saves lives. What a wonderful way to celebrate Bridgeport and the Arts by bringing together a panel of Creatives that grew up in Bridgeport or currently live here now to speak about their artistic journey! Featuring:
Alana Cauthen Actor | Vocalist
Edward Figueroa Musician | Filmmaker
Jason A. Coombs Bridgeport Film Fest Artistic Director | Actor | Filmmaker
Joel Oramas Actor
Joel Roman Actor | Filmmaker
LaNeshe Miller- White Theatre in the X Artistic Director | Actor
T. Ashley Author | Actor
Moderated by Dr. Shannon Fairley-Pittman
Sunday July 25, 2021 | 10:30am
All are welcome!
Art saves lives. What a wonderful way to celebrate Bridgeport and the Arts by bringing together a panel of Creatives that grew up in Bridgeport or currently live here now to speak about their artistic journey! Featuring:
Alana Cauthen Actor | Vocalist
Edward Figueroa Musician | Filmmaker
Jason A. Coombs Bridgeport Film Fest Artistic Director | Actor | Filmmaker
Joel Oramas Actor
Joel Roman Actor | Filmmaker
LaNeshe Miller- White Theatre in the X Artistic Director | Actor
T. Ashley Author | Actor

INDIE FILMMAKING IN CONNECTICUT AND BEYOND PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderated by Trish Clark
Sunday July 25, 2021 | 12:00pm
All are welcome!
Interested in shooting an independent film? Join us for an amazing panel of filmmakers, writers, actors and producers who will share tips and answer questions on how to create original content! Featuring:
Adamako Aman Writer | Actor | Director
Chris Ruggiero Emmy Nominated Composer
Edward Figueroa Musician | Filmmaker
Edwin Escobar Filmmaker
Gordon Olivea Filmmaker
Joel Roman Actor | Filmmaker
John Gray Writer | Filmmaker
Lisa Marie Tedesco Writer | Filmmaker
Margaret Costa Artistic Director of the Norwalk Film Festival | Filmmaker
Moderated by Trish Clark
Sunday July 25, 2021 | 12:00pm
All are welcome!
Interested in shooting an independent film? Join us for an amazing panel of filmmakers, writers, actors and producers who will share tips and answer questions on how to create original content! Featuring:
Adamako Aman Writer | Actor | Director
Chris Ruggiero Emmy Nominated Composer
Edward Figueroa Musician | Filmmaker
Edwin Escobar Filmmaker
Gordon Olivea Filmmaker
Joel Roman Actor | Filmmaker
John Gray Writer | Filmmaker
Lisa Marie Tedesco Writer | Filmmaker
Margaret Costa Artistic Director of the Norwalk Film Festival | Filmmaker
A note regarding the 2021 Bridgeport Film Fest & the COVID-19 Pandemic:
We understand the nationwide and global impact of COVID-19 has put a hindrance on our fellow filmmakers and content creators. The Bridgeport Film Fest aims to hold a safe space and we are planning a hybrid festival with in person events happening July 23-25, 2021. However, we will be following all federal and Connecticut state policies and regulations! We promise to keep everyone who submits up to date on how we proceed throughout this global crises.
We understand the nationwide and global impact of COVID-19 has put a hindrance on our fellow filmmakers and content creators. The Bridgeport Film Fest aims to hold a safe space and we are planning a hybrid festival with in person events happening July 23-25, 2021. However, we will be following all federal and Connecticut state policies and regulations! We promise to keep everyone who submits up to date on how we proceed throughout this global crises.