Margie Young and her son, Fred Fitz, enjoy the Dietrich’s Fall Film Festival Opening Night Gala – a 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Dietrich’s Film Festivals.
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It was like old times last Friday at Fall Festival Opening Night.
For the first time since the pandemic, the Evans Theater was packed. Everyone seemed so happy to take time off from the cares of the world to be treated to pasta and meatballs from Samario’s, beef tenderloin and pumpkin bread from the Fireplace Restaurant, BBQ pork from Ma Geenley’s BBQ, lobster bisque from Tioga Bistro, and potstickers from Twigs. Beer and wine from Nimble Hill and desserts from T & C Grille/bakery 420 made the evening sparkle.
Hildy Morgan, Executive Director Emeritus, was introduced by Erica before the first film, to tell the tale of the first film festival at the Dietrich in 2003. This was our 20th anniversary of that film festival and only Hildy could make that evening come back to life for all of us. We were at the learning stage in 2003. Would we have an audience for foreign and independent films? Would we ever have another film festival?
Her description telling about the role of movie buyer Jeffrey Jacobs, of the Paris Theater in New York, who proposed the idea, to the role of Ronnie Harvey, our present Movie Booker, who along with Erica Rogler have expanded our film festivals to one for each season, is a beautiful success story. Enthusiastic applause at the end of her tale, as only Hildy can tell it, signaled Dietrich Film Festivals are here to stay.
It is only the end of the first week of the three week festival, but I have already seen six of the films. The one that I keep thinking about is Mending the Line, the story of a Vietnam vet recovering from the trauma of war by learning fly fishing from another vet. Wonderful acting and a beautiful story – a film for us all. But my friend Sarah and I are going to see as many of the 21 films as we can, because Erica has asked us to facilitate the Post Film Festival Discussion on October 13 at 1:00 p.m. It is only because Ronnie will be in London. Sarah and I are so excited to see all of you there with your questions and observations, and Glenda just may bring a box of Krispy Kreme donuts!
There are so may October happenings at the Dietrich to tell you about. First of all, you are invited to come to the Dietrich on Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 a.m. for the ceremony to dedicate the new American flag on the corner of Tioga and Bridge Streets to all Veterans, present, past, and future. Thank you to Jim Rosengrant for his dedication to acquire and install this flag, a proper reminder of the service of so many veterans. Everyone is welcome and invited to be there.
Back to perform is our favorite classical guitarist, Jay Steveskey, with a program on Sunday, October 8 at 3:00 p.m. Jay entitles the concert Autumn Odyssey. As the leaves begin to turn colors, Jay will take us on a musical autumn odyssey with a Latin American, Spanish, Italian and contemporary American guitar repertoire. The concert is free for everyone, sponsored by John Keker in memory of Jessie Reppy Keker. Call the number below for your free tickets. Tickets are available at the door as long as they last.
On Sunday, October 15 at 3:00 p.m., Dr. Katherine Faull will present Places of Peace: Moravian Missions on the North Branch 1769-1772, sponsored by the Endless Mountains Heritage Region. What were the Moravian missions trying to achieve on the Susquehanna at this time? How did they relate to the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy? Call for free reservations at 570-836-1022 x3, tickets available at the door as long as they last.
As I write this column, I am in awe of all the opportunities that are right here on our doorstep to be entertained and opportunities to keep learning. I just heard this morning on TV that one of the best ways to keep from developing dementia is to keep learning something new. What will bring you through our doors to learn something new? A presentation on the early history of our region? New music from a country far away? A film about another culture or land? A class where you create a new object? It is all right here. The Dietrich is open 365 days of the year just for you.
