News & Notes — VTIFF and Stowe Story Labs announce 2015 VTIFF Fellow

Stowe Story Labs and the Vermont International Film Foundation are pleased to announce the 2015 VTIFF Fellowship to the Labs. The non-profit Stowe Story Labs run from September 12 – 15 at the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe, Vermont and bring emerging screenwriters, filmmakers and creative producers from around the world together with top industry mentors.

The 2015 VTIFF Fellow is:

Marianne DiMascio for her comedy script THAT’LL BE THE DAY.

Marianne is the cofounder of “Stealing from Work,” a sketch comedy troupe based in Burlington, Vermont. Since Stealing from Work’s inception, the team has written and produced three full-length shows, performed at comedy festivals and fundraisers, received two grants, and worked with many theater artists. Their sketches satirize politics and Vermont culture, parody feminism, and skewer liberals as well as conservatives.

  “We are pleased to offer this fellowship to Marianne. THAT’LL BE THE DAY is a funny, compelling tale and Marianne shows a commitment to moving from staging work on a blank stage to developing an imaginary world on screen,” said David Rocchio, director and founder of the Labs. “We are excited to work with her this fall.”

 “I’m thrilled to be the 2015 VTIFF Fellow and to be associated with two amazing Vermont arts groups (VTIFF and Stowe Story Labs),” said Fellowship recipient DiMascio. “The films shared at VTIFF events are gems.  They’ll make you laugh, cry, and think about our community and the world beyond the green mountains. Stowe Story Labs exists to help get such films made and I’m pleased to be part of that process,” she said.

Marianne has been awarded the VTIFF Fellowship to this fall’s Story Labs to develop her feature film project, THAT’LL BE THE DAY, a coming-of-age comedy set in 1978. It is about a girl, sick on the day sex education will be taught in the fifth grade. Out of desperation, the girl breaks into the school to find the secret of becoming a woman.

“I am drawn to this current script because of the main character’s strong desire to find information about the impending changes in her body,” said DiMascio. “It is 1978, pre Internet, and my character has limited access to learn about this most important new experience, which she is about to miss. I believe people will relate to a character wanting to cling to something stable and known, such as childhood, while wanting to reach for the next challenge in life,” said DiMascio.

 “We’re delighted to partner with Stowe Story Labs to sponsor Marianne for the 2015 VTIFF/Stowe Story Lab Fellowship,” said VTIFF Executive Director Orly Yadin.

Stowe Story Labs has partnered with VTIFF to offer a fellowship to the writers’ retreat since 2013.

VTIFF’s mission is to enrich the community through film. One of the key VTIFF programs is the Vermont Filmmakers’ Showcase. The purpose of the Showcase is to support the development of Vermont-based filmmakers. VTIFF does this through exhibition, promotion and workshops.

For more information about Stowe Story Labs please visit www.stowestorylabs.org or email info@stowestorylabs.org.

Applications to the 2015 Stowe Story Labs are closed.