5 Films You Need To See At The Boston Film Festival This Weekend

- By Rony Camille, CBSBoston.com

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Film Festival; where both aspiring and legendary filmmakers showcase their work on the silver screen with the locals and celebrities.

From short documentaries, action packed thrillers, inspirational, sports-themed and even an animated film for all movie goers.In total of 36 films are set to be screened over a period of 5-days in Theater 1 at the Revere Hotel Boston Common, 200 Stuart Street.

In addition the festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special focus on the environment and works premiering this weekend with local connections. These include "26.2 Miles Closer to Home", a documentary directed by Uxbridge native Lisa Copland who follows a runner training for the 2014 Boston Marathon after witnessing the tragedy of the 2013 Boston Bombings.

"Visionary" directed by Ben Proulx, of Nashua, NH also makes its premiere this week and "Playing for the Mob" a documentary narrated by Ray Lolita on how mobster Henry Hill Boston College led the fixing of Boston College basketball games in the late 1970's.

All you need is a ticket [Click Here].

The Boston Film Festival runs from September 24 to September 28.

Here's a list of flicks you shouldn't miss if you attend this week. They were chosen based on storyline, local connections to New England and whether the trailer hooked us.

Credit: Wild Facebook Page/Fox Searchlight Pictures

"Wild"

Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Writer: Writers Nick Hornby
Starring: Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon, Gabby Hoffman, Charles Baker
Screening Time: 7:00 P.M Wednesday, September 24, 2014

With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. WILD powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthen, and ultimately heals her.

While this film has no local ties, this movie makes our short list for this year's festival for the following: It is the headliner film kicking off the festival starting Wednesday, it is based on a true story and listed New York Times Best Seller list. Lastly the trailer leaves you wanting to know 'does Cheryl make it?' and 'how does she turn out at the end of her life turning journey?'

Watch the Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2-GSqPyl0
To purchase tickets and learn more about this movie, click here.

Credit: Ben Proulx

"Visionary"

Writer/Director: Ben Proulx
Starring: Melissa McMeekin, Sophie Frieden, Stephen McElwain, Evalena Marie
Screening Time: 7:30 PM Friday, September 26, 2014

Ava Vallier (Sophie Frieden), a 10-year-old with high functioning autism, is forced through auditions by her mother, Rita (Melissa McMeekin). She is surprisingly cast in a major studio film by the hand of deranged director, Daniel Long (Stephen McElwain). Candice Merlot (Evalena Marie), a popular movie star, becomes aware of Daniel's obsession with Ava, and attempts to save the young girl. However, Rita is blinded by her own dreams of success and continues to steer her daughter toward danger. When the film runs into problems and Daniel's past unveils itself, things have already begun to go horribly wrong.
The storyline in this film will hook you through every scene. Filmed locally in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, it was directed by Nashua, NH based director Ben Proulx.

Watch The Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq79fVkaAY8

To purchase tickets and learn more about this movie, click here

Credit: widowmakerthemovie.com

"The Widowmaker"

Director: Patrick Forbes
Starring: Larry King
Screening Time: 6:00 PM Thursday, September 25, 2014

This documentary is on our "Top 5 list" for two main reasons: Heart Disease is ranked one of the leading causes of death for both men and women in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control which can be prevented. The interactive and flashy trailer left an impression of 'wanting to need to learn more about this epidemic.'
According to the movie website: Every minute of every year, an American drops dead of a heart attack, hundreds of thousands without any warning or prior symptom. But these people could have been saved. The Widowmaker uncovers a chilling tale of greed, ego, and a conspiracy of silence around that most vulnerable of human organs – the heart.
Watch the trailer: http://www.widowmakerthemovie.com/

To purchase tickets and learn more about this movie, click here.

Credit: Zemene Facebook Page

"Zemene"

Director: Melissa Donovan
Starrting Dr. Rick Hodes, Zemene, Menormelkam
Screening Time: 4:00 PM Sunday September 28

This documentary is on our "Top 5 List" for the following reasons:
It was produced by Weston native, Melissa Donovan. The trailer showcases an inspirational hope and bright spirit of a young girl living in a third-world country who had a slim chance at a healthy life.
According to the Boston Film Festival guide, "Zemene" is a full-length documentary that follows a spirited 10-year old Ethiopian girl, Zemene work (Zemene), as she fights to keep hope alive and survive her life-threatening condition of Kyphosis, a severe curvature of the spine. With no health care in her village, Zemene travels with her Uncle Menormelkam to the city of Gondar, where they are told that there is no medical treatment that can save her. At a critical moment, Zemene and her Uncle cross paths with Dr. Rick Hodes, an internist, whose life's work is to help those in need. This chance encounter takes Zemene and her Uncle down a new path, giving them hope for the future. "Zemene" movingly depicts how individuals providing care to children in need can transform not only individual lives, but communities as well.

Watch The Trailer: http://zemenefilm.com/

To purchase tickets and learn more about this movie, click here.

Credit: Slingshot Movie Facebook Page

"Slingshot"

Director: Paul Lazarus
Producer: Paul Lazarus, Barry Opper
Screening Time: 8:30 P.M. Sunday, September 28

SlingShot focuses on Bedford, NH based inventor Dean Kamen (Segway Human Transporter) and his 15-year quest to solve the world's safe water crisis. Iconoclast, Kamen, is a modern hero. His inventions, mostly medical devices, help people in need and ease suffering. SlingShot is a film about an indomitable man who just might have enough passion, will, and innovative thinking to create a solution for the planet's biggest challenge. Fifty percent of all human illness is the result of water borne pathogens.

Watch The Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMODuTBFpPo

To purchase tickets and learn more about this movie, click here

Rony Camille is a Digital Operations Producer for CBSBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @ronycamille.