Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
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PhotograPhy by ross Daniels (Mackay & thew); JorDan curet (wheeler oPera house); courtesy of aarDMan aniMations (Ray's Big idea) It takes two: A duo of new directors, Maggie Mackay and John Thew ( below), takes Aspen Film to new heights. Steve Harding- Hill's celebrated Ray's Big Idea ( below right) starred in Aspen Film's Shortsfest this April ( right). shooting for the stars aspen film's new directors take aim at big names and bigger benefits. Sundance has Robert Redford. Tribeca Film Festival has Robert De Niro. But 37-year-old Aspen Film hasn't had much of a celebrity "face" for most of its storied history. Now, that may very well change as the nonprofit enters a new season with a refreshed masthead following the appointments of John Thew and Maggie Mackay as executive director and artistic director, respectively. "Our audience likes to interact with known talent," Thew says, "so we're bringing back a big-name component." In past years, Aspen Film has hosted the likes of Jason Reitman, Felicity Huffman, and Harrison Ford at its three major festivals—the Oscars- qualifying Shortsfest, in April; Filmfest, a show- case of documentary features, in September; and Academy Screenings, in December, highlight- ing films campaigning for Academy Awards—and announcements are expected following the nonprofit's spring strategic planning session. Thew's first big move was to overhaul the nonprofit's annual fundraiser, a red-carpet affair centered around the Oscars broadcast. He opted, instead, for a more interactive "Casino Royale"–themed fête in February, featuring gambling (benefiting the nonprofit) and musical performances. "It's difficult to have a fund- raiser where your donors are forced to sit and watch television," he says. Thew would also like to see a café put into Aspen's Isis Theater, where patrons could more intimately engage with filmmakers. As for Mackay—a former senior programmer at the Los Angeles Film Festival—Thew says her breadth and depth of experience are unparal- leled. "She's a force of nature!" aspenfilm.org . 58 aspenpeak-magazine.com SCENE film