Summer Film Series 2025
July 16, 30, August 13
Doors open at 6pm, Films start 7pm
We are excited to announce our line-up of award-winning films for this year’s summer film series at Weatherlow Farms. Admission is free but seats need to be reserved (limit of 4 per reservation) starting on July 1 via Eventbrite.
The three events in July and August will feature guest speakers and Q&A sessions after the screenings, plenty of socializing, a spectacular setting at Weatherlow Farm’s beautiful facility offering refreshments, beer and wine. Doors open at 6 pm and films start at 7 for all dates.
The Film Series is funded through the generosity of donors to the Westport Cultural Gift Fund.
July 16
"It's a tale of resilience and defiance."
~Evelyn O’Doherty, Session Film Review
Surf’s Up with our first film on July 16 – Maya and The Wave (95 min) – directed by Stephanie Johnes. The film tells the story of Maya Gabeira, the first woman to surf the giant wave in Nazaré, Portugal. She nearly drowns – and is ridiculed by the other big wave surfers who dominate the sport until she becomes the first female surfer honored with a Guinness World Record in big wave surfing.
Guest Speaker (Virtual) – Stephanie Jones, Prod/Dir
July 30
"The film is a gem of a ripping tale"
~Bradley Gibson, Film Threat
From Executive Producer Ang Lee and director Joe Wein, a profoundly immersive documentary that plunges you into the heart of one man’s extraordinary survival story. When a whale left Steven Callahan’s boat sinking in the dead of night he drifted helplessly across the vast expanse of the Atlantic for an astonishing 76 days. Forced to confront his deepest fears, limitations, and the raw power of nature, he discovered an inner strength he never knew he possessed.
Guest Speaker – Robert Sennott, Producer
August 13
"A chronicle of photo journalist's evolution""
~Film Daily
The series concludes its screenings at Weatherlow Farms on August 13 with The Wonder and The Worry (98 min), by David Alexander Baker, which follows the lives and work of National Geographic photographers Chris Johns and his daughter, Louise. Chris made some of the most lasting images ever seen before rising through the ranks to become the only photographer to serve as editor in chief of the world renown magazine. This screening is presented in conjunction with the South Coast Artists Association.
Guest speakers (virtual) – David Baker (Dir) & Chris Johns
September 26
Join 100,000 film lovers in over 500 cities across six continents
The Series’ fourth event will once again feature the highly acclaimed Manhattan Short collection of international short films which asks the audience members to vote for their favorite film. The eventual winner qualifies for Oscar consideration.
Stay Tuned: time and location to be announced.
Reservations will open in early September.
The Landscape About Us: A SouthCoast Anthology, has been selected by the Independent Publishers of New England (IPNE) for its “short list” of IPNE annual book awards. The book received an Honorable Mention. The award list honors books throughout the six states of New England while the judging panel is composed of experienced editors, librarians, booksellers, literary agents and other industry professionals. “Our goal is to highlight for readers the best of independent publishing and to recognize authors and publishers for fine work.” The project, which received sponsorship from the Westport Cultural Council, features twenty-five local authors and photographers while production included LCF Design, a Westport book designer, and Country Press of Lakeville, MA.
2025 WCC Community Grant Awards
The Westport Cultural Council awarded nearly $67,000 in grants to over twenty organizations and individuals for 2025-2026. The funding will support a wide range of arts, entertainment, educational, theatrical, civic, literary, and historical programs which will serve Westport and neighboring communities.
The WCC’s Community Grants are made possible through the support of the Helen E. Ellis Trust, administered by the Bank of America, and the Westport Cultural Gift Fund, which receives its funding through the generosity of an anonymous Westport family. The family encourages others to join them in contributing to the Fund to help sustain the WCC’s work to enrich arts and cultural programs in our community.
Please Support the Gift Fund!
The events and projects sponsored by the Wetsport Cultural Council rely on the financial support of our community. The Council receives no funding through the town and minimal support from the state’s cultural program. We are extremely grateful for the kind generosity of a Westport family that wishes to remain anonymous who have provided significant support to the fund. Please join them and contribute to the Westport Cultural Gift Fund. For information on how to donate, please connect with us below.
2024-25 Local Grants Awarded
Congratulations to the 2024-25 recipients of local Massachusetts Cultural Council grants. The Westport Cultural Council awarded 20 programs a total of $9,000 for projects ranging from a student theater workshop to a local jazz festival, from complimentary tickets for seniors to a symphonic concert to a kid’s all-abilities surf competition, and much more.
