The first Nitrate Picture Show was a good excuse to return to Rochester for the first time in seven years, now “only” a six-hour drive from New Haven. I drove with a couple of Film & Media Studies grad students also heading to the festival, and it wasn’t too bad. Rochester seemed the same as ever, with lots of familiar sights and plenty of new restaurants, cafes, and other developments.

The screenings themselves were great, lots of amazing stuff and mostly films I’d never seen before, which was a pleasant surprise. I met Kevin Brownlow, which was a treat, and stayed in my first Airbnb. It was great to see old friends from GEH, and Elisa from our 2006 class, whom I hadn’t seen since then, which was a great surprise. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the school and I presume they’re planning another NPS, so I’ll be back again.