Five Films Feature Mermaids, Wrestlers, and a Pregnant Olympic Hopeful
By Sally Deering
Filmmaker Delaney Buffett took a film crew to Florida to interview ‘mermaids’ swishing their tales in underwater ballets at the Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid theater for her documentary THE SPRING. This award-winning documentary short can be seen — along with four other shorts by women filmmakers — at Hudson County Community College’s first-ever Indie Film Festival on Thurs, Mar. 15, Thurs, Apr. 12, Tues, Apr. 17, and Sat, Apr. 28.
Along with Delaney Buffett, the filmmakers are all up-and-comers, many of them grads from local films schools who have had their films screened at the Tribecca Film Festival and other competitions. Every day of the HCCC festival, all five films will be shown. They are: First Match, directed by Olivia Newman about a determined 14-year-old wrestler who prepares for her first co-ed match. Kid Warrior, directed by Vanessa Black, which follows a teen activist who has taken on major oil companies in the fight against climate change.
New Deep South: Kayla, directed by Rosie Haber – a series that explores the LGBTQ culture emerging in the American South; Run Mama Run, directed by Daniele Anastasion about an elite track athlete who continues to train for the Olympic trials while pregnant; and, Delaney Buffett’s The Spring, about the women of Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid theater.
Filmmaker Delaney Buffett
“I’m from South Florida, I grew up there,†Delaney Buffett says. “My parents told me about Weeki Wachee Springs when I was a kid. I remember I was discussing it with my dad. (Delaney’s father is Jimmy Buffett of “Margaritaville†fame.) I didn’t believe him at first. I went on their website and talked to a couple of friends who made films. We were breaking out, making short-form content and short-form documentaries. My best friend Katie Corwin, and then my other friend, my roommate Chloe Corner and the rest of the crew of women went down there with me and we shot it there.†Continue reading LIGHTS! CAMERAS! WOMEN! HCCC Celebrates Women’s History Month with Women’s Film Festival
Local actress Tammy Blanchard graced the red carpet at New York’s Zigfield Theater last night for the opening of “Into The Woods” starring Meryl Streep, Johnny Dep, Â Anna Kendricks, Christine Baranski, Billy Magnussen, Tammy Blanchard and others.
