For the past 10 years, the Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) based in Greenwich, Connecticut, has delivered interesting, impactful, and insightful films that engage the imagination. Throughout the year they present documentaries, shorts, indie films, Advance Screenings, lectures, and much more. As part of their 2024 Film Festival, we experienced GIFF’s Advance Screening of Fly Me To The Moon, at the Avon Theatre Film Center in Stamford, Connecticut, a perfect film for warm summer nights. If you have a passion for films, you will want to add GIFF’s calendar to your film radar.
Ginger Stickel – Executive Director, Greenwich International Film Festival
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, we had the pleasure of experiencing GIFF’s Advance Screening of the film, Fly Me To The Moon, at the Avon Theatre Film Center. The film runs at the Avon until July 25, 2024). Directed by Greg Berlanti, and starring Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson, and Ray Romano, the film is described as “a sharp comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Channing Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stake a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins.”
For those unfamiliar with the United States Apollo 11 mission, the spaceflight took place 55 years ago, from July 16 – July 24, 1969, with Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins. 1969 was a turbulent time with the ongoing Vietnam War (1955 – 1975) and the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. When the Soviets were first to put a man in space in 1961, the space race between the two countries increased with the goal of sending a man to the moon.
With the successful 1969 Apollo 11 mission, the United States was the first country to not only reach the moon, put also walk on it, and plant the Unites States flag in the moonscape. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong made history when he took the first step on the moon on July 20, 1969, and made the statement, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” on this historic and important space journey.
While the Apollo 11 mission was successful, the film, Fly Me To The Moon, is a fanciful look at the mission in a what-if scenario with romantic and comedic antics that delight. There is great on-screen chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson as Government Agent Moe Berkus, and Ray Romano as Henry Smalls, Cole Davis’s (Channing Tatum) colleague, who round out the notable and well-chosen cast.
As the summer weather heats up, why not take a trip to see Fly Me To The Moon, and enjoy a bit of whimsy, a little summer romance, and a fun and interesting story line. Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!
About the Greenwich International Film Festival
“GIFF is an all-female founded 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that bridges the worlds of entertainment and philanthropy through year-round programming and special events. GIFF harnesses the power of film to serve the greater good by supporting causes that relate to basic human rights, education, the environment, and health care.”Â
“These are the adjectives that describe the films that play in the minds of tomorrow’s great filmmakers. Greenwich Film (GIFF) celebrates these gifted artists annually and promotes Greenwich, Connecticut, as a film and visual arts epicenter. GIFF’s year-round events help to cultivate a burgeoning visual arts community in Greenwich and around the world. GIFF was founded by Carina Crain, Colleen deVeer, and Wendy Stapleton to bridge the worlds of film and philanthropy. The festival features a variety of events including film premieres, panels, networking receptions, parties, special events and more.”
“Set in Greenwich and surrounding areas, GIFF’s Year-Round In-Person Programming and Exclusive Digital Streaming Platform connects an audience of prospective financiers, distributors, and film lovers with rising stars in the film industry. Greenwich is an affluent community of art lovers, located 45-minutes outside of Manhattan with easy access to airports and train stations.”Â
“GIFF attracts an in-person audience of approximately 10,000 celebrities, filmmakers, journalists, financial executives, movie lovers, and Fairfield & Westchester County residents, along with an international virtual streaming audience of 10,710 film enthusiasts from around the world.”
For more information on the Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF), please visit their website: https://greenwichfilm.org
Greenwich International Film Festival
55 Old Field Point Road
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
United States
Email: info@greenwichfilm.org
Website: https://greenwichfilm.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/greenwichfilm
Instagram: www.instagram.com/greenwichfilm
About the Avon Theatre Film Center
“The mission of the Avon Theatre Film Center is to preserve and operate the historic Avon Theatre by providing a culturally significant film, educational and programmatic palette, which draws patrons from the greater Stamford region.”Â
“The Avon Theatre Film Center regards cinema as a uniquely effective vehicle for artistic expression and fulfills its mission by bringing the community together to share experiences that entertain, educate, touch, and inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to presenting independent, art, foreign language and classic films and documentaries, the Theatre partners with other local and regional organizations to present programs that appeal to different audiences and deal with the critical issues of the day. Some of the most meaningful experiences provided at the Avon have been the moderated dialogues and panel discussions with filmmakers, actors and other subject experts that are frequently offered after our screenings.”Â
“The landscape of today’s cinema is rapidly changing with the consolidation of large studios, changes in film distribution practices and the expansion of streaming media and other technological options. The good news is that none of this will limit the creativity of talented filmmakers! While we must all work to keep pace with changing technology, there is still no replacement for seeing a film on the big screen for which it was created and enjoying the cinema in a community setting while engaging and reacting with other members of the audience! The cinema, like everything else, will evolve, but it will always remain an exciting and dynamic art form and the Avon Theatre Film Center looks forward, enthusiastically, to its second 80 years of entertaining, educating and inspiring audiences!”Â
The Avon Theatre Film Center always has something fabulous happening with their diverse selection of films and events.
For more information on the Avon Theatre Film Center and their upcoming films and events calendar, please visit their website: https://avontheatre.org
 Avon Theatre Film Center – Upcoming Gala
Lifetime Achievement Award Gala honoring Michael Douglas on October 22, 2024.
Avon Theatre Film Center
272 Bedford Street
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
United States
Telephone: +1-203-967-3660
Website: https://avontheatre.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/avontheatre
Instagram: www.instagram.com/avontheatrefilmcenter
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