HOLDEN — One Door Closes: Korey’s Courage impressed at the recent Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, winning the award for Best Local Feature.
That win may lead to more opportunities for the local filmmaker behind the production, Tom Ingrassia of Holden.
The film was one of 90 selected for the festival from the 360 submissions, with showings held in Worcester and Southbridge in April.
“For the first time this year, the festival offered a virtual screening option, in addition to in-person screenings,” Ingrassia said. “I decided to take advantage of the virtual option, since that made it possible for people anywhere in the country to watch One Door Closes. I know that we had viewers in New York, California, and other places.”
Attending the awards ceremony with director Anna Walsh and associate producer Jared Chrudimsky of Holden, “I was absolutely blown away when ‘One Door Closes: Korey’s Courage’ was announced as the winner of the Best Local Feature trophy,” Ingrassia said.
“And I guess my shock showed. After we received our award, Anna said, ‘You were really surprised, weren’t you?’ Yes, I was! You always think that your own work is good. You always hope that it is award-worthy. But you never know for sure how others will react to the work you have produced.”
The award is the culmination of the years-long process of making the film.
“To be recognized by our peers is priceless. This award is validation that the vision Jared and I had 11 years ago, when we started writing One Door Closes: Overcoming Adversity By Following Your Dreams (the book on which the documentary is based) was on target. And, it makes the 7-year-long process of turning the written word into a documentary film so worthwhile! There were many times that I lost my passion for this project,” Ingrassia said, including when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down production, when Mary Wilson died, and when he was low on funds for production.
“But everyone involved in this project persevered. We supported each other. We encouraged each other. We did not give up. And now, that passion and perseverance has been awarded with three industry awards.”
In addition to the Mass IFF award, One Door Closes received the Gold Award as Best Feature Documentary from the International Independent Film Awards and the Award of Excellence from the Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival.
The award may be a launching pad for future work.
“This is only the beginning. Winning these industry awards now makes it easier for me to get PBS or a streaming service to look at our project. Step-by-step, we are moving toward the goal that Jared and I set all those years ago,” Ingrassia said.
The film will be screened on June 7 at the State University of New York at Geneseo, from which Ingrassia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1974. On June 23, there will be two screenings of the film, at 3 and 6 p.m., at Cinema 910 in the FrontRoom at WCUW, 910 Main St., Worcester. Those two screenings will be open to the public.
“For the moment, I am enjoying this ride,” Ingrassia said, even as he starts on his next book, about Mary Wilson and how she used her position and experience to mentor and inspire other people like himself.
“And, there just might be a sequel to One Door Closes. There are so many powerful and inspiring stories out there.”
One of which may be about those making the film.
“One of the things I have learned through this process is that age is no barrier to success. Four of the seven people involved in this project are in our 70s. And we are still vital, still creative, still living life with purpose. I will be 71 years old this month, and I reached my creative peak when I was in my 60s. You are never too old to live into your dreams, and to continue to dream,” Ingrassia said.
Following the awards ceremony, he said, Mass IFF Executive Director Skip Shea told him that “One Door Closes won because of ‘the important message it presents’,” Ingrassia said.
The film has a very powerful message of healing, hope and resilience, a message so needed in an age when so many feel hopeless, and have lost their ability to dream.”
The four people profiled in the film — Ken McDonnell of Holden; June Monteiro of ‘60s girl group The Toys; Scherrie Payne, formerly of The Supremes; and Dr. Korey Varano of Connecticut — all share openly and honestly about the life-threatening challenges they faced, how they made it through, what they have learned about themselves, and the wisdom they want to leave the viewer with.
“Story telling/sharing is such a powerful tool. My philosophy always has been that if one of these stories helps even just one person make it through their own challenges, then we have changed not only that person’s life, we have changed the world. This is how we are going to change and heal the world: One by one, person to person,” Ingrassia said.
