9th Annual MountainTop Film Festival:

"I still have a dream: I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed" - MLK speech at civil rights march on Washington, August 28, 1963

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., the 9th annual MountainTop Film Festival will once again offer a diverse program of documentary and dramatic films, addressing social and environmental issues from around the world. The festival takes place at the Big Picture Theater in Waitsfield, Vermont January 13-19, 2012. Opening Night will feature a Vermont film - “Little House in The Big House” - about incarcerated women and the house they built in prison. Also highlighting the opening night are films about the civil rights struggle “Black Power Mix Tape” and the acclaimed biography of singer/activist Harry Belafonte “Sing Your Song”. From 6-8pm there will be an opening reception with live music (Damian Paone & Friends). Besides the screenings of films from all over the world, the festival is known to provide a forum for discussion, direct action and an opportunity to meet filmmakers, authors, pundits and activists. This year’s guests will include Filmmakers Kim Brittenham (Little House in the Big House), Sam Cullman (If A Tree Falls), Eugene Jarecki (“Why We Fight”, “Reagan”, “Move your Money” – presenting a new work in progress) and a very special Q&A via Skype with Harry Belafonte. Also present at the festival will be Tracy Tresher and Larry Bissonette – two men with autism who traveled the world with their film “Wretches & Jabberers”

The festival program is comprised of 13 films from Denmark. Germany, Sweden, India, The UK, Iran and the US. The MountainTop Film Festival strives to use film to tell human stories that have the power to move and educate. MountainTop offers an educational outreach program to area high schools and makes free daytime screenings available for interested students and teachers. Students with a valid ID get to attend all films at the festival for free. This year the festival is proud to host 8 students from Burlington College who are goin to immerse themselves in the festival for four days to see films, speak with audiences and filmmakers and to contribute some short films and slideshows for an “Occupy Cinema” action during wich they will project their material onto public buildings around the Madriver Valley.

Some of the festival highlights are:
* “Sing Your Song” – a moving look at the life of activist/singer Harry Belafonte – Q&A w Belafonte via Skype after the 6pm screening Monday, Jan 16 2012

* A special community screening of Eugene Jarecki’s newest work in progress – Q&A w filmmaker to follow – Sunday Jan 1, 8pm

* “Into Eternity” – a film about our race against nuclear waste – Q&A w members of Beyond Nuclear – Tuesday, Jan 17, 6pm

* “If A Tree Falls” – Do crimes against property in which no one is killed or injured constitute acts of terrorism? That is one of two nagging questions that run through Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman’s thoughtful documentary- the other has to do with the efficacy of traditional forms of peaceful protest. – Q&A w filmmaker Sam Cullman – Dec 14, 8pm

* “Little House In The Big House” takes the audience inside the gates of the state women’s prison where over a year, Vermont Works for Women helps inmates build a single family home from start to finish – Q&A w filmmaker Kim Brittenham – Dec 16, 4pm

* "Wretches and Jabberers” - Two men with autism embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence – Q&A w Tracy & Larry – Wednesday, January 17, 6pm

The festival starts Friday, January 13 and will host an opening reception with live music and light refreshments at 6pm in the lounge. Films and events will run in both theaters - please note length of films to ensure your desired schedule! Tickets and festival passes will be available at the box office at the Big Picture Theater, 48 Carroll Road, Waitsfield VT. Tickets are $8 per screening unless otherwise noted. Tickets are available for pre-sale at the Big Picture Theater for film screenings and special events.

For more information call 802.496.8994.

For further press related info call Festival Director Claudia Becker.