‘Exploring History Through Film’ With Festival This Fall

The is an organization with much history of its own. Peabody was founded in 1855 (as South Danvers), And by 1896, it had a society dedicated to preserving its past.

Flash forward 115 years, and they hope this fall’s first Northshore Film Festival will start another cultural institution for Peabody.

“That is correct. Success this year will consist just in putting it on,” said Bill Power, Executive Director of the Historical Society. “But we have faith in the concept, we are committed to the long haul and we look to continue it in the years to come.”

Power, one member of a group that came up with the festival, said the idea had been in the back of the people's minds for a couple of years. But it was meeting Bill Senopoulos that provided the catalyst to get the festival off and running.

Power said Senopoulos is a local filmmaker, associated with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Film School, and is now also the director of The Northshore Film Festival.

When asked why a historical society chooses to host a film festival, Power replied: “Well, the back of the T-shirts… says it all, really. We are ‘Exploring History Through Film.’”

Power explained that the historical connection comes through with student film entries, where there is a required focus on some aspect of Peabody’s history.

“These are the people who just don’t have the resources or budgets to make the longer films,” Power said.

There are also four other categories open to filmmakers: short films (under 30 minutes), feature-length productions, animation and documentaries. In these categories, the society welcomes films from anyone, anywhere, who cares to enter.

But just like most other film festivals, there will be winners in each categories. First, explains Power, an initial panel of judges will “take the movies home and winnow down all the entries to a couple in each category.” From there, a second group of judges — to be publicly announced later in the fall — will choose the winner in each category.

When asked if he could reveal who those judges might be, Power said, “They will most likely be members of the Historical Society and its board.” And laughing, he added, “But if George Clooney or someone calls from Hollywood wanting to be a judge, we certainly wouldn’t turn them down.”

So, are you a filmmaker with work you’d like to offer the world? Go to the festival website to learn how to submit your film.

Thus far there are three entries: “Antistrophe,” “Charging Happiness” and “Electric Alicia.”

The Peabody Historical Society is also still looking judges at this point. Call (978) 531-0805 if you're interested.

You can catch the four nights of the festival, starting with the opening party on Nov. 3 at the , located on the grounds of . Films will be shown at the Smith Barn and in Wiggin Auditorium at  on Nov. 4 and 5. The festival will conclude with a closing party back at the Smith Barn on Nov. 6.

You can also find the Northshore Film Festival on Facebook and Twitter — follow along for updates as the program draws closer.