The Vermont International Film Festival is pleased to announce that the 2020 VTIFF Community Hero Award (previously known as VTIFF Community Champion Award) recipient is Olivia (Muffie) Milens. This is the fourth year of this prestigious award, given to a person who has significantly contributed and impacted film culture and the arts in Vermont.
COVID 19 means that this year the Award Ceremony will be restricted to a small gathering in a private outdoor space on Lake Champlain. The ceremony will take place September 16th.
Overview: As part of VTIFF’s mission to enrich the community and bring the world to Vermont through film, we wish to salute and thank those who help and support the organization to fulfill its cultural mission. We consider film to be a most important artistic and communication medium and do our best to bring to Vermont films that would not be shown here otherwise.
Muffie (Olivia) Milens, a native Vermonter, has dedicated the past 10 years to engaging with the arts. Her passion for cinema and the performing arts has led her to volunteer at a variety of arts organizations, including VTIFF. Since leaving her family business, in 2010 she joined First Night Burlington as Sales Manager and Admin Assistant and became its Executive Director in 2017. Since 2019 she has both volunteered at VTIFF and worked as Admin Assistant, as well as Box Office Supervisor at the film festival. Muffie was to be seen at almost every VTIFF screening, either on her own or with her late husband Sandy, or with friends she used to bring to the Vermont International Film Festival - some from out of state. Muffie never ceased to share her enthusiasm with members in the community. In early April this year, when VTIFF launched its Community Heroes Fund (a request for donations of $8 that VTIFF would then use to give out complimentary film tickets to essential workers) Muffie, more than anyone, did so with almost each ticket she purchased for herself.
Muffie sets an example to all of us: a true community hero who believes in the power of art to enlighten and delight.