Leaders of the Island film community offered insights about the industry and discussed the state of film on the Island at the latest edition of Tuesdays in the Newsroom.  

Anne Evasick, manager of Edgartown Cinemas, Brian Ditchfield, executive director of Circuit Arts and Richard Paradise, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, sat center stage in the newsroom as they spoke about running their respective film centers.

Ms. Evasick’s history with Island cinema began in 1979 when she started working at the Island Theatre in Oak Bluffs. The first film they showed when she worked there was The China Syndrome, she recalled.

She later worked at Island Entertainment, becoming the owner in 2008, and now manages the Vineyard’s only mainstream cinema. She also works with both Mr. Paradise and Mr. Ditchfield, helping them curate programming.  

Mr. Paradise spoke about his journey, from hosting screenings around the Island in the 1990s, to founding the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center in the Tisbury marketplace.

Born and raised on the Island, Mr. Ditchfield traced his love for film to seeing Return of the Jedi as a child. After moving off-Island for college, and then living in New York City and Chicago, he returned to the Vineyard in 1999 to shoot a short film. He began working full-time at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival in 2010, which is now housed under the umbrella organization Circuit Art. He became the executive director in 2021.

When deciding what movies to show, Mr. Paradise said years of experience have helped him develop an eye for what local audiences will enjoy. 

“It’s a combination of being aware of what is trending and what people are  talking about,” he said. “It’s very much community-focused programming. I know my community very well and I’m there every night, so I know what they like and don’t like.” 

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival celebrates its 25th year this year, running from March 26 to 30. Mr. Ditchfield said he is looking forward to welcoming former Primer Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern as a guest, as she is a subject of a documentary being shown. 

“When we’re doing film festivals, we all get excited about [the fact] that we get to bring these guests,” he said. 

Both Mr. Ditchfield and Ms. Evasick praised the movie The Friend, which will also be shown at the festival. The film is based on the National Book Award-winning novel by Sigrid Nunez and stars Bill Murray and Naomi Watts.

When asked about the future of the industry, they all spoke about the importance of watching a movie in a communal setting, while also acknowledging the challenges of getting moviegoers to return to the theatres after Covid and inspiring the next generation to choose the big screen over small devices. 

All three said the Island’s vibrant movie-going public is a huge help for their businesses, as is the pool of year-round and seasonal filmmakers who bring their films to the Island and add their voices to after-screening discussions.

Mr. Paradise said he loves how movies offer an opportunity for escapism. 

“People still want to go to the movies and escape for a short period of time,” he said. “They can lock things out. That communal experience of escapism still drives the magic of going to the movies for people.” 

The newsroom audience applauded the group for their essential roles in bringing a wide range films to the Island all year long, something that is becoming a rarity in many communities.

The evening concluded with a discussion about Jaws, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer. The movie opened on June 20, 1975, and employed numerous Islanders as actors, extra and crew. There will be several screenings and events this summer, Mr. Ditchfield and Ms. Evasick said.

“It’s really all about Jaws,” Ms. Evasick said. “That will sustain us through the entire summer, no matter how many times we play it. People still want to see that in a theatre and it’s so much fun to see it with someone who hasn’t seen it before.”