Inaugural Greenwich Film Festival Kicks Into High Gear

GREENWICH, Conn. -- The celebrities are out in Greenwich, with more famous faces attending events later this week.

Left to right: Ginger Stickel, Wendy Stapleton Reyes, Doug Ellin, Maddie Diehl, Colleen deVeer and Carina Crain at the screening of Entourage.
Photo Credit: *Andrew H. Walker/WireImage*

The crowd outside the Greenwich Film Festival screening of Entourage.
Photo Credit: *Andrew H. Walker/WireImage*

Left to right: Keith Fleischman and Entourage creator and GIFF Board Member Doug Ellin attend the Greenwich Film Festival special screening.
Photo Credit: *Andrew H. Walker/WireImag*

Kelly Rohrbach attends the Greenwich Film Festival screening of Entourage.
Photo Credit: *Andrew H. Walker/WireImage*

Left to right: Carina Crain, Ginger Stickel, Wendy Stapleton Reyes and Colleen deVeer at the GIFF screening of Entourage.
Photo Credit: *Andrew H. Walker/WireImage*

Jeanne Muchnick

06/02/2015 4:00 a.m.

It's all part of the Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) running Thursday, June 4 to Sunday, June 7.

Kick-offs and behind the scenes work are already in full gear with a special screening of "Entourage" at Bow Tie Cinemas last week, including an afterparty at Greenwich's Gabriele’s Steakhouse.

Attendees at the May 26 event included "Entourage" creator and writer/director Doug Ellin, model/actress Kelly Rohrbach and GIFF Founders/Greenwich residents Carina Crain, Colleen deVeer and Wendy Stapleton Reyes.

On the agenda this week: Thought-provoking panel discussions and film debuts, including three involving area residents (go here for recent Daily Voice story on Darien resident; check tomorrow for one on former Wilton resident and later in the week on Greenwich resident).

Expect a total of 31 films, consisting of five narrative shorts, four documentary shorts, 10 narrative features, five documentary features, and six special screenings.

Additionally, the Festival will offer a series of panels covering television, sports, female filmmaking and film finance with names such as Mark Teixeira, Alysia Reiner, Allan Houston, producer Cary Woods, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, Producer Rachel Winter and Terence Winter (creator of “Boardwalk Empire”).

Opening night on Friday, June 5 includes a screening at Bow Tie of the Colin Hanks' film, "All Things Must Pass," which tracks the meteoric rise and tragic fall of the Tower Records empire. The party continues at Restoration Hardware where Jenna Bush Hager will emcee. Expected guests include Barbara Bush, Allan Houston, Tamara Houston, and Kelly Rohrbach.

Saturday brings more star power with the Changemaker Honoree Gala honoring actors Harry Belafonte and Mia Farrow for their philanthropic work. Kathie Lee Gifford will emcee.

“We are so proud of our Year One slate," said GIFF founders Carina Crain, Colleen deVeer and Wendy Reyes. “The diversity of the films and filmmakers really illustrate what we are trying to do with GIFF-- bringing in as many perspectives as possible and sharing those with our community.”

Go to www.greenwichfilm.org/ for details and ticket information.

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