“If you can only see one film in this year’s Festival,” local journalist Gene Mahon writes, “And you want to see one that encapsulates the soul of Nantucket, the essential meaning and importance of the Nantucket Film Festival, the passion and perseverance of two filmmakers, and perhaps the first step in canonizing a national icon who has yet to receive the full adulation he deserves, it’s all wrapped up in one film: ‘Mister Rogers & Me.’”

Gene has been a supporter of our film since discovering it during our Kickstarter Campaign. His advocacy played a strong role in our finishing the film, and premiering here at The Nantucket Film Festival tonight. He continues:

“Benjamin and Christofer were on the panel at this morning’s Morning Coffee With… Just after he settled into his seat, Benjamin looked around the room, then caught my eye and smiled. I think at that moment, he fully realized that his years of work had been worth it, and that he was really here, on Nantucket, at the Nantucket Film Festival.”

Indeed, these first 24 hours on island have been like a dream. This film was born here nearly nine years ago. We’ve been back a dozen times since, sometimes with camera equipment, other times not. Stepping onto the ACK airport tarmac was different; I walked with a healthy dose of (appropriately humble) swagger. We’d made it!

I stopped through festival headquarters yesterday afternoon to pick up a few extra tickets for family and friends. As if seeing our poster hanging alongside Davis Guggenheim’s “Waiting For Superman” wasn’t enough, I found out that Saturday night’s show is sold out!

Gene concludes that our film is “the spirit of the Festival, and it’s the celebration of one fine man who once lived in our neighborhood. You should be there.”

Thanks, Gene. And thanks, Nantucket. We’re right where we belong, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.