Vermont Movies? Why? And How? – Vermont Humanities Lecture

Vermont Movies? Why? And How?

The Poultney Historical Society is pleased to host a Vermont Humanities lecture “Vermont Movies? Why? And How” with presenter Jay Craven at the Poultney Public Library on Saturday, May 3 at 1pm.

For five decades Jay Craven has written, produced, and directed character-driven films deeply rooted in Vermont and New England, including five films based on the works of Howard Frank Mosher. His latest film, Lost Nation, digs into the parallel stories of Ethan Allen and the pioneering Black Guilford poet Lucy Terry Prince.

In this talk, Craven will describe working with actors such as Rip Torn, Tantoo Cardinal, Kris Kristofferson and Michael J. Fox, and share the satisfactions and challenges that come from a deep immersion into place-based narrative.

About the presenter:

Jay Craven is a long-time Northeast Kingdom, Vermont filmmaker, teacher and arts activist whose mission has been the advancement of community and culture.  In 1975, Jay founded Catamount Arts which he ran for 16 years, presenting film screenings and performing arts events in small towns. In 1986, he co-founded Circus Smirkus, with Rob Mermin and, during the 1980’s he worked with visionary artist and teacher, Don Sunseri, as a producer for the Grass Roots Art and Community Effort (G.R.A.C.E.) for outsider artists. In 1991, Craven founded Kingdom County Productions with Bess O’Brien, to make place-based narrative and documentary films – and advance experiential learning.  Jay has also taught, at The Peacham School (1975-79), St. Johnsbury Academy (1991 and 2002), Marlboro College (1998-2018), Sarah Lawrence College (2017-2022).

Jay’s films include five based on stories by Northeast Kingdom writer Howard Frank Mosher. They include High Water – with Greg Germann, Jane MacFie, Dennis Mientka; Where the Rivers Flow North – with Rip Torn, Tantoo Cardinal, Michael J. Fox; A Stranger in the Kingdom (with Ernie Hudson, David Lansbury, Martin Sheen); Disappearances – (with Kris Kristofferson, Genevieve Bujold, Gary Farmer); and Northern Borders (with Bruce Dern, Genevieve Bujold and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick).  Craven’s other narrative films include The Year That Trembled (with Marin Hinkle, Jonathan Brandis, Fred Willard); In Jest (with Bill Raymond, Rusty DeWees); Peter and John – with Jacqueline Bissett, Christian Coulson, Gordon Clapp; Wetware – with Cameron Scoggins, Morgan Wolk); Jack London’s Martin Eden (with Andrew Richardson, Hayley Griffith, Annet Mahendru); and Lost Nation (with Ryan and Eva Ndachi).  His 2025 film, George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara, is now in post-production and he’s planning a 2026 production that will be based on two stories – Henrik Ibsen’s play, An Enemy of the People and Dashiell Hammett’s noir novel, Red Harvest.  Craven made the regional Emmy-winning comedy series for public television, Windy Acres and seven documentaries.

Craven’s films have played festivals and special screenings including Sundance, South By Southwest, The American Film Institute, Lincoln Center, Cinematheque Francaise, the Constitutional Court of Johannesburg and Cinemateca Nacional de Venezuela.  Awards include the Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Producer’s Guild of America’s NOVA Award, and the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces initiative. His film, Where the Rivers Flow North, was a named finalist for Critics Week at the Cannes Film Festival.