A standing room only crowd filled the Hard Rock Café for the first annual North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) Film & Music Festival. As a testament to the strength of the North End community, North End Residents, elected officials, such as Aaron Michlewitz, local artists, and families packed the room to support NEMPAC’s mission of providing affordable arts-related programming to residents of the North End/Waterfront and the surrounding neighborhoods.
The NEMPAC Film & Music Festival opened with a musical performance from the North End band, Crosstown, with Jeremy Sazranzo on guitar, Gary Fieldman on drums and Sandro Carella on guitar and vocals. Crosstown rocked the crowd with several original songs and their vibrant energy kicked off the night on the right foot. Following Crosstown’s, NEMPAC President, John Romano, and NEMPAC Board Member, Jon Sproul, welcomed the crowd and spoke to the successful growth of NEMPAC and its positive impact on the North End/Waterfront residents.
Nine short films were screened throughout the evening, including “Viva! Saint Agrippina Di Mineo”, a documentary film that captured the Saint Agrippina Feast, and “The Audition” starring the North End’s own Sal D’Girolamo. Two other musical performances from critically acclaimed Harvey Diamond Jazz Trio and NEMPAC Instructor, Greg de Bourgknecht complimented the films. After the final performance, each audience member submitted ballots to vote on their favorite film for the NEMPAC Film & Music Festival’s Audience Award.
After the film screenings, Boston-based screenwriter of the feature-length films “Southie” and “On Broadway”, Dave McGlaughlin, facilitated a question and answer session with the cast and crew. In closing, director Kara Nasdor-Jones received the Audience Award for her film, I Slept With Cookie Monster; this award was sponsored by North End’s Ristorante Limoncello. The evening was a true success and NEMPAC looks forward to seeing you at next year’s Film & Music Festival.
