The 5th Annual Wellington Film Festival
An Interview with Festival Director Jean Michel Millien
By Krista Martinelli
With the Wellington Film Festival coming up November 5-7 and November 12-14, I had the opportunity to sit down with Film Festival Director Jean Michel Millien. With 35 films and 12 hours of programming, Millien has quite an offering of independent films this year, the 5th year of the Wellington Film Festival.
“It’s diverse from the standpoint of different genres of film. Also we received films from a 9th grader at Wellington High School, a film student from Brooklyn, NY and several others – both students and experienced film makers. We have films that bring to light the issue of violence against women in a few of the films this year. In addition to local entries, the festival has managed to be quite international. We have had entries from many far-away places including Germany, Iran, U.K., Australia and Syria.” He also says that the festival is diverse in the help he’s received and he’s very thankful for that support.
According to Millien, some of the highlights include a film called “Irumbu,” a Title Nine story and a film called “April 10th.” the fact that there are so many new people coming in, the excitement that builds around that. He says, “Irumbu reminds me of Slum Dog Millionaire in the way that it’s raw, but it also introduces us to people who are trying to find fairness for women in their indigenous society. It’s all about opposing the mistreatment of women.”
With three sisters, Millien considers himself a feminist. “Anything that furthers the cause of women, I’m all for it.” He also points out that a film about Title Nine is very enlightening.
And the film April 10th is “an amazing film about a little girl who’s taking care of a neighbor who has Covid. Without really any words, it’s such a nice expression of love.”
In addition there are a few films dealing with suicide prevention and the ability to help those in need with a simple phone call. “We are our brothers’ keepers. There’s so much good we can do,” says Millien. One particular film on this subject is called “The Call for Help” by 9th grade Wellington High School film maker Ellie Symons.
Another local highlight is “The Blob Blob Fish: A Journey Through Obesity” by Wellington film director Andrew Mossop, featuring the wellness work of local doctors Dr. Vincent Apicella and Dr. Mariaclara Bago and their work with three patients.
On a lighter note, there’s a film about stickball in Wellington, “The Wycliffe Stiffs” by film maker Monica Kallas. These self-proclaimed “geezer jocks” have an amazing camaraderie as they play their childhood sport.
The film festival has a couple of well-known honorary judges, who might not necessarily be on the premises of the festival but are rating the films from afar. One is Edwidge Danticat, best-selling author and Haitian-American novelist. The other is comedian and actor Sarah J. Halstead.
The shortest film is 41 seconds, titled “Again and Again.” The longest films are Irumbu (from India) and Map of Latin American (from Argentina), both about 90 minutes, so feature length films.
At least 5 of the 35 films are produced by students.
A ticket for one night of the film festival is just $6. “I’d like children to be able to take out their parents,” says Millien. A pass for the whole 6 nights of the festival is $30.
Millien says they are planning two different Meet and Greet events for the film makers, the first night at the Movies of Lake Worth and the first night at the Movies at Wellington.
Additionally, there will be two awards ceremonies, one each weekend.
I asked why he chose Wellington for the film festival.
“It’s very diverse. It seems like it is a natural for it to exist. So many different families here from different nations. Each with a distinct and different story, all pulling together to make this a great place.”
I was surprised to find that Jean Michel Millien is a great fan of films, but not a film maker himself. He laughs, “My background in film is just sitting in the audience appreciating it and being bedazzled by the many talents of writers, directors and film makers.”
Millien is a Palm Beach Lakes High School science teacher. The whole idea for a film festival originally came from a desire for his students to use their cell phones for something productive, instead of hiding them under their desks.
In the upcoming years, he would like students to take a more active role as content providers and really express themselves through film.
“I’m very thankful to all who helped us this year, including SharpShooter Marketing Group, AroundWellington.com, our major sponsors Mark & Son Construction and Trustbridge and sponsors Premier Family Health and Fix It Pros.”
See below for the schedule of films.
For more information about the event, call (561) 250-2764 or visit WellingtonFilmFestival.com.
Wellington Film Festival Schedule of Films*
FRIDAY NOV. 5th 7:30PM
- Movies of Lake Worth
- 7:40PM The Wycliffe Stiffs USA (FL) 8 min 37 sec
- 7:50PM The Page Turner Germany 2 min 11 sec
- 7:53PM The Right Words USA (FL) 4 min 55 sec
- 7:58PM On the Sidelines USA (FL) 8 min 04 sec
- 8:06PM Transformation AUS 1 min 57 sec
- 8:10PM Story of the G.O.T.S. Seed Belgium 7 min 01 sec
- 8:17PM Heroes for Change MSD USA (FL) 3 min 07 sec
- 8:20PM The Call for Help USA (FL) 2 min 34 sec
- 8:25PM Blob Blob Fish USA (FL) 1 h 12 Feature Film
SATURDAY NOV. 6th 7:30PM
Movies at Wellington
- Breadfight (anim. student) USA (ID) 3 min 40 sec
- Breakfast in Northport (doc) USA (FL) 2 min 21 sec
- Brave by Edris (music) CAN (BC) 5 min 20 sec
- Meaning of My Love (music video) USA (FL) 3 min 40 sec
- Rever – Nath Wilburm Director USA (CA) 2 min 30 sec
- Turbulence – Nath Wilburm Director USA (CA) 4 min 04 sec
- April 10th USA/HAI 4 min 47 sec
- The Wycliffe Stiffs USA (FL) 8 min 37 sec
- Forbidden to see us scream IRAN 7 min 57 sec
- Yongoan Ballad (Musical) CHINA 15 min 08 sec
- Lamont’s Lament USA (NY) 4 min 13 sec
SUNDAY NOV. 7th 7:00PM
Movies at Wellington
- G-D Doesn’t Play Dice FRANCE 13 min 31 sec
- Brave by Edris (music) CAN (BC) 5 min 20 sec
- Mustard Seed USA (FL) 8 min 33 sec
- Rotten Mangoes USA (CA) 30 min 01 sec
- Blob Blob Fish USA (FL) 1h 12 min (feat.)
- Gus’s Diesel Garage Door Opener USA (FL) 3 min 59 sec
FRIDAY NOV. 12th 7:00PM
Movies at Wellington
- Breadfight (anim. student) USA (ID) 3 min 40 sec
- Breakfast in Northport (doc) USA (FL) 2 min 21 sec
- Brave by Edris (music) CAN (BC) 5 min 20 sec
- Meaning of My Love (music video) USA (FL) 3 min 40 sec
- Rever – Nath Wilburm Director USA (CA) 2 min 30 sec
- Turbulence – Nath Wilburm Director USA (CA) 4 min 04 sec
- April 10th USA/HAI 4 min 47 sec
- The Page Turner Germany 2 min 11 sec
- On the Sidelines USA (FL) 8 min 04 sec
- The Call for Help USA (FL) 2 min 34 sec
- Map of Latin America Argentina 1H 30 Min 00 sec
SATURDAY NOV. 13th 8:00pm
Movies of Lake Worth
- 8:00PM Nights in Greenwich 1 min 37 sec
- 8:02PM Pieter Kohnstam: A Holocaust story 5 min 05 sec
- 8:08PM Colonia (English subtitles) 9 min 22 sec
- 8:18PM Forbidden to See Us Scream in Tehran 17 min 57 sec
- 8:36PM Maria 5 min 38 sec
- 8:42PM April 10th 4 min 47 sec
- 8:47PM G-D Doesn’t Play Dice 13 min 31 sec
- 9:00PM Irumbu (Full Feature Film) 1 hour 20 min 17 sec
SUNDAY NOV. 14th 7:00PM
Movies at Wellington
- The Page Turner GERMANY 2 min 53 sec
- Colonia (English subtitles) FRANCE 9 min 22 sec
- Irumbu INDIA 1 H 20 min 40 sec
- The Story of Cuba USA 2 min 14 sec
- The End HUNGARY 1 min 31 sec
- * Film Festival schedule subject to slight changes/ possible additions. Check back daily.