The Glimmerglass Film Days return to Cooperstown from November 13 through 17, with films and events spread across several venues. The theme of this year’s festival is “revolutions,” and technical director and programmer Xander Moffat explains how that idea shapes the lineup.
“We really focus on films that explore humanity’s relationship to the natural world,” Moffat says. “Each year, we choose a sub-theme, and this year it’s revolutions—with a lowercase ‘r.’ Yes, we have some big, historical revolutionary stories, but a lot of what resonated with us were the smaller, internal revolutions—how one person’s shift in thinking can ripple out to affect a community or even a country.”
Moffat notes that the festival’s global reach helps expand this idea. “We have films from the U.S., the U.K., the Middle East, Asia, Ukraine, France—you name it. Some are dubbed, some have subtitles, but they all bring a unique voice to the theme.”
The films will be shown at several Cooperstown locations. “We’re lucky to partner with some great institutions,” he says. “The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Grandstand Theater is always a centerpiece—it’s a state-of-the-art space that surprises a lot of our visiting filmmakers. We also use the Fenimore Art Museum, Templeton Hall, Cooperstown CoWorks, and more.”
And it's not just screenings. “We have nature and architecture walks, local food events, specialty cocktails at some of the evening films, even a companion art exhibit,” Moffat adds. “There’s a whole community feel around the festival.”
When asked for favorites, Moffat recommends trusting one’s interests. “All 28 films were hand-picked, so it depends on what speaks to you. But one to watch for is our closing night film, Cover Up, about journalist Seymour Hersh. It’s a powerful film and may be in the awards conversation.”
The Glimmerglass Film Days run November 13–17 at venues throughout Cooperstown. For the full schedule and tickets, visit their website at glimmerglassfilmdays.org.