Support the film festival

The Nantucket Film Festival opens tomorrow night, giving islanders the all-too-rare treat of sneak peeks and first-run films at a wide variety of local venues. Save the DVDs for later. Come and experience the joy of filmgoing.

Siblings Jill and Jonathan Burkhart started the Nantucket Film Festival 13 years ago to celebrate screenwriters, the underdogs of the film industry. The Burkharts grew up on the island and attended local schools before starting their careers in the film industry. This year's festival features many popular events such as the screenwriter tribute, morning coffees, staged readings and "Late Night Storytelling." Actress Meg Ryan ("Sleepless in Seattle," "When Harry Met Sally," "You've Got Mail") will be on the island to accept the Compass Rose Acting Tribute Award on Saturday afternoon, June 21, in the high school auditorium.

June is the perfect month for this festival, as the island catches its breath between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. So we welcome the actors, screenwriters, directors, and film festival camp followers upon their annual return to Nantucket. See you at the silver screen.