WILLiFEST Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary

NEW YORK - Sept. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- WILLiFEST (http://www.willifest.com/), an annual film and music festival, is back for its Fifth Anniversary edition in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The four day event’s film component, Williamsburg International Film Festival will kick off its Opening Night on Thursday, September 18^th at the Williamsburg Cinemas preceded by a cocktail party at Banter Bar. This year WILLiFEST presents the premiere of director Malindi Fickle’s drama Suck It Up Buttercup.

Friday brings a full day and night of  screenings at two venues, Williamsburg Cinemas and returning partner El Puente, and an Industry Panel on the popular topic of crowdfunding at WILLiFEST Central at 5:00 pm located in the lower level of Sandbox. The panel is presented by Crowdzu (http://www.crowdzu.com/). Friday night brings us our First Annual Pitch Competition. Presented by UHE-TV, this contest allows for one lucky filmmaker to get his film or TV series idea produced and broadcast. The event is being held at Barber Bart and sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery.

Saturday kicks off with a block of family films at El Puente at 11:30 am. Over at Barber Bart, Donna Drake, host of the TV show LiVE it UP!, will be shooting an episode of her show from 1:00 pm - 6:30 pm. The taping will include interviews with filmmakers and musicians, peppered with live music performances. Another Industry Panel, Getting the Part: Tips for the Working Actor, presented by Center for Active Learning, will take place at Videology at 2:00 pm. Screenings continue all day at both venues till midnight.

Sunday is wrap-up day. This year’s Closing Day film is the Spanish comedy De Pez En Cuando directed by Francisco Valdez at 1:00 pm. Following the screening at 5:00 pm is our annual Awards Ceremony.

WILLiFEST has grown into a major entertainment platform that promises the best of independent film, music and just plain fun for its rapidly growing audience. The festival is under the direction of an award-winning production team led by founders Michael Helman and Robin Adams. As stated by Helman, "The event provides artists of multiple disciplines the opportunity to enhance their careers by exposing their film and music to a powerful audience, gaining crucial media exposure and strengthening industry relationships. Adams adds, “With the panels, music series and outdoor events, we bring the most diverse offerings of any major festival and each year we try to introduce something new. People have come to expect the best in arts and culture from Williamsburg and New York City and we try to meet those expectations.”

Directions to all venues can be found on our website at willifest.com/2014/venues. The complete schedule can be seen at willifest.com/2014/overview (http://www.willifest.com/2014/overview), this year’s film line-up at willifest.com/2014/films and 2014 sponsors at willifest.com/2014/sponsors. For media inquiries, please contact Michael Helman at press@willifest.com or 212.744.2845.

WILLiFEST and Williamsburg International Film Festival are trademarks of Willifest Holdings, LLC. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.