William Wegman, ‘Hardly Boys’
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – The first-ever nationally touring Dog Film Festival stops at the Mahaiwe on Sunday, August 14, for a family oriented screening at 11am and a different program at 1:30pm. The festival celebrates the remarkable bond between dogs and their people and will benefit Berkshire Humane Society with 50% of net proceeds and a 10,000-bowl donation of natural pet food from festival sponsors.
The festival, perfect for dog lovers of all ages, is comprised of two separate programs of entirely different canine-themed films. Each screening includes documentary, animated and live-action shorts that illuminate the human-canine bond, submitted by dog-loving filmmakers from around the world. Each screening is approximately 90 minutes long.
The first program at 11am features a medley of lighthearted, animated, and narrative shorts, perfect for children and families. Renowned photographer William Wegman’s 30-minute film, “The Hardly Boys in Hardly Gold,” starring four of his own Weimaraners in costume, will be highlighted at the first screening. Other fun and uplifting feature films include “The Lewis Lectures,” a hilarious depiction of what dogs are actually thinking; “Beta,” a delightful tale that answers many questions we’ve all had about dogs; and “Useful Dog Tricks,” an inspirational short about the myriad ways a dog can help around the house.
‘David and Goliath’
The second screening, at 1:30pm, features a more sophisticated program that includes a series of short documentaries, narratives, and subtitled narrative films. This screening is also appropriate for all ages – however subtitles may challenge younger viewers. Films in this screening include “Dog Years,” a witty voice-over of a dog who questions his relationship with his frequently absent owner; “Second Chances,” a PBS film about dogs who are paired with incarcerated women, who train them to become service dogs; and “David & Goliath,” a period film based on a true story of a Jewish resistance fighter fleeing from the Nazis, who takes refuge in a dog house where a German Shepherd saves his life.
Berkshire Humane Society, which will receive half of net festival proceeds, will have adoptable dogs on hand, looking for their forever homes and a chance to get photos on the Green Carpet alongside moviegoers.
“This is such a unique event and the fact that it benefits humane societies nationwide is fantastic,” said John Perreault, executive director of Berkshire Humane Society. “We are honored to be selected as the beneficiary here in Great Barrington.”
The festival is a way for founder and animal wellness advocate Tracie Hotchner to share her love for dogs and give back to organizations working hard for pets in need.
“We are excited to bring animal lovers together to experience the many ways our lives are enriched by dogs and to honor the animal welfare groups that bring them together,” Hotchner said.
Tickets for the Dog Film Festival are $15 per screening and can be purchased online or at the door.
‘Le Sauvetage’
About the Dog Film Festival
In 2014, the first Dog Film Festival grew out of Tracie Hotchner’s desire, as a pet wellness advocate, to expand her Radio Pet Lady Network’s outreach to educate the public about adoption, pet wellness issues and philosophical aspects of pets in our lives. The festival is a unique way of honoring dogs as true family members by bringing together like-minded people to experience and celebrate the remarkable human-canine bond. The Dog Film Festival shares proceeds from its ticket sales with local shelters and rescue partners wherever it travels.
Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) is a private, non-profit organization in operation since 1992. BHS, an open-admission animal shelter, receives no public funds from local, state, or federal sources. The welfare of our companion animals and the future of our organization depend on the compassion and generosity of our community.
Since our beginning, BHS has sheltered over 43,000 homeless animals who are cared for and made available for adoption. We’re proud that we were able to rehome 100% of all our healthy, adoptable dogs, cats, small mammals, and birds.
Although BHS is primarily known as a place to surrender pets and adopt a new family member, we also provide numerous services and programs to people as well as their animals.
Festival cities include:
Los Angeles – June 5
(Special VIP kick off party June 4)
Seattle – June 26
Rochester – July 17
East Hampton, N.Y. – August 2
(Special VIP party July31)
Great Barrington, Mass. – August 14
Chicago – September 11
San Diego – September 25
New York City – October 15
Sacramento – October 30
San Antonio – November 13
Kansas City – April 2, 2017