#GIFF2016 – Opening Night Party Highlights

ONP events

After months of preparation and anticipation, the Greenwich International Film Festival kicked off Thursday with 15 screenings and our Opening Night Party, held at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich.

Uber Brand Ambassadors stand next to their charging station, a total necessity at Opening Night Party.
Uber Brand Ambassadors stand next to their charging station, a total necessity at Opening Night Party.

After the two opening night films, festival guests arrived to our incredible venue via Uber, the official transportation partner of GIFF.

Guests enjoying a selection of Sugarfina candies at our Opening Night Party.

Guests walked the red carpet and then were ushered to the party and met by GIFF’s sponsors and local businesses showcasing amazing food and beverages. Sugarfina treated our guests with unlimited candy, adding oomph to an already energized room.

NEBCO

Our NEBCO VIP Lounge guests had the pleasure to meet John Popper and Kristin Davis while enjoying our signature cocktail, the #gifftini, provided by Absolute Elyx.

Dar Williams performing a set at the Opening Night party, after attending the screening of The Anthropologist.
Dar Williams performing a set at the Opening Night party, after attending the screening of The Anthropologist.

Dar Williams’ music was featured in our Opening Night Documentay Feature Film THE ANTHROPOLOGIST, so it was truly amazing that she was able to then share it with us at the party.

John Popper performing during the 2016 Opening Night Party.
John Popper performing during the 2016 Opening Night Party.

John Popper got everyone singing along as he performed some classic Blues Traveler hits as well as some original songs. In true John Popper fashion, he absolutely killed his performance.

Festival Producer Sebastian Dostmann, COO Ginger Stickel, Founder and Chairman of the Board Wendy Reyes, Founder and Director of Programming Colleen deVeer and Programmer Rachel Langus introduce the Jury for the 2016 Festival.
Festival Producer Sebastian Dostmann, COO Ginger Stickel, Founder and Chairman of the Board Wendy Reyes, Founder and Director of Programming Colleen deVeer and Programmer Rachel Langus introduce the Jury for the 2016 Festival.

About halfway through the night, GIFF Founders Colleen deVeer and Wendy Reyes and GIFF Programmer Rachel Langus introduced COO Ginger Stickel and the panel of Jurors. After everyone lined up on the stage, Kristen Davis, famously known for her role as Charlotte in Sex in the City and the festival’s Head of Social Impact Jury, came on stage to speak about the importance of filmmakers using their voice to create social changes through film.

KRISTIN

Kristen Davis, Head of the Social Impact Jury, joined GIFF’s founders Colleen deVeer and Wendy Reyes on stage to present the 2016 Social Impact award recipient, HOOLIGAN SPARROW.

The recipients of the 2016 festival prizes were announced at the Opening Night Party. GIFF is proud to present the following winners with cash prizes. Thank you to the Bill and Ann Bresnan Foundation for generously underwriting the Best Social Impact Film Award. Thank you to Kate and Jim Clark for generously underwriting the Best Documentary Short and Best Narrative Short Awards.

– Best Social Impact- HOOLIGAN SPARROW
– Best Narrative Feature- LITTLE MEN
– Best Documentary Feature- HOOLIGAN SPARROW
– Best Narrative Short- BEFORE THE BOMB
– Best Documentary Short- ANOTHER KIND OF GIRL

Betteridge supplied some extra entertainment with a live demonstration of diamond cutting.
Betteridge demonstrating the art of diamond cutting.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for the Opening Night Party including Betteridge, Stella Artois, WhoSay, NEBCO, Moffly Media, Hollywood Pop, Absolut Elyx, Sugarfina, and Uber.

Thank you to our restaurant partners: Barcelona, Bartaco, DeCicco & Sons Events & Cuisine, Donut Crazy, Fortina, HooDoo Brown Barbeque, and Match.

About the author

Lindsey Hascher has spent her whole life in Fairfield County. After spending 8 years at Convent of the Sacred Heart on King Street, Greenwich has been her home away from home. She is currently a senior at Quinnipiac University studying Mass Communications with a minor in Computer Science and Digital Media. After volunteering for the inaugural festival in 2015, she wanted to get more involved with the year-long process surrounding the festival. In her spare time, she works part-time at SoulCycle Greenwich and tries to see as many films as possible.

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