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Three filmmakers from the Big Apple were in the Hub City on Friday to show their romantic comedy, “Twenty Million People,” at the Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown.
New Yorkers Michael Ferrell, Devin Sanchez and Chris Prine said during a reception at the Academy Theatre off East Washington Street that they attend film festivals not only to get exposure for their pictures, but to trade techniques with other filmmakers.
“You exchange war stories and tips, and we stay in touch with people when we go to other festivals,” Ferrell said.
The film evolves around “Brian,” who enlists the help of a broken-hearted best friend and imaginary characters to search for his girlfriend, who has disappeared.
The trio said the film was shot over a 12-day period in Jersey City, N.J.
“It’s was a lot of work,” Ferrell said. “It was a passion project.”
Thomas B. Riford, president of the film festival's board of directors, said 54 films from 12 countries will be shown at the three-day festival.
“It will be exciting to see how some of these local films stack up against award winners from other places,” he said.
Canadian filmmaker André Gaumond said “UN FILS - A Son,” his short film about child suicide, has received 15 awards this year at festivals in Europe and North America.
He said winning awards helps filmmakers get recognition, which opens the door for bigger projects.
Gaumond said he was pleasantly surprised by this year’s event in Hagerstown.
“This festival is nicer than others,” said Gaumond, who has competed in other film festivals in Belgrade, Chicago, New York City and Paris. “It’s a nice surprise. I was expecting something really small.”
The opening of the festival Thursday was highlighted by a showing of “Argo,” winner of the 2013 Academy Award for Best Picture. The event was attended by Tony Mendez, a former CIA agent whose work to free six Americans from Iran during the 1979 Hostage Crisis provided the movie’s storyline.
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