Tom Hall
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tomhall.bsky.social
Tom Hall
@tomhall.bsky.social
Artistic Director/ Co-Head, Montclair Film & The Clairidge

Husband, Dad, U of Mich & Flint Central alum, LFC, Swag 4 Life for WFMU, true believer in empathy.
backrowmanifesto.substack.com
New Volker Ullrich & NO ONE TOLD ME? Who are you people? Are we even friends? Extremely disappointed in all humans & algorithms alike.

This is an INSTAPURCHASE!
November 12, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Guys, did you hear? After no negotiation, there *might* be a VOTE which will likely kill the ACA & fund the ongoing destruction of our institutions. See? Everyone is working together & governing! This is what we all want! Senate votes to point to in a year! Great job! I live for wins like this!
November 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Beautiful night with the NY Phil, featuring Joshua Bell playing Thomas de Hartmann’s Violin Concerto, composed for Ukraine in 1943 during the Nazi occupation. Dalia Stasevska conducted beautifully, including a new piece by composer Bohdana Frolyak & Benjamin Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem. 👏
November 9, 2025 at 4:13 AM
OUT TODAY:

Hüsker Dü Live in 1985, at the absolute peak of their power. 40 years ago I was 14. Now? In awe. I can’t believe this exists. Thank you to @numerogroup.bsky.social for delivering the live album of my dreams from one of the most important bands of my life.💥
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
New post up, looking at this year’s Montclair Film Festival, my podcast obsession, Wet Leg, and a great series of novels. Give a read & thanks!
Scrapbook #8
An Irregular Series Wherein I Take My Personal Interests Personally
backrowmanifesto.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Congrats to NJ Governor elect Mikie Sherill. I look forward to continuing to work with you to support the art of film and filmmaking in New Jersey!
November 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
DYING 🥰
On the other site, an 18-year-old Zohran canvasser described the legendary Wallace Shawn as "the actor who plays Dr. Sturgis on Young Sheldon" which is honestly adorable
November 3, 2025 at 12:51 AM
So much still to do, and this is the least of it, but the least of it still needs doing. #Vote
November 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Halloween 2025 is... THE BAGMAN Episode of BETTER CALL SAUL!
Or should I say Better Call Ol(iver)?
Oliver loved the show and picked his costume… hats off to Jessica for making it great! #HappyHalloween 🎃💀👻🧛‍♂️🧟‍♂️
October 31, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Now that my kids are older and deciding on their own #Halloween costumes, a look back at the glories of the past... 🧵
October 31, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Tonight, we open the 14th annual Montclair Film Festival, my 11th at Montclair Film as Artistic Director. I am so incredibly proud of our entire team for all of the hard work you put in to make everything we do possible. THANK YOU! I am honored to be your collaborator.
October 17, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Excited to share this news for December! The @montclairfilm.bsky.social Festival starts on Friday, we open The Bellevue Cinema on Saturday, & now excited to announce our December fundraiser featuring Stephen Colbert & Conan O'Brien on December 7th at NJPAC in Newark! Grab tix & see you there!
Montclair Film To Present ‘An Evening With Conan O’Brien’ Hosted By Stephen Colbert At Annual Fundraiser
'An Evening With Conan O’Brien' and Stephen Colbert will take place as part of Montclair Film's annual fundraiser.
deadline.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Congrats to Craig Taborn on winning a MacArthur Grant. In college, I was in a small jazz ensemble for a mercifully (for him) brief period of time with Craig, who was such a gifted player, music majors would sit outside of his rehearsal studio door to listen. He is also a lovely man. Congrats, sir!
Craig Taborn
Creating singular soundscapes through a virtuosic command of piano, electronics, experimentation, and improvisation.
www.macfound.org
October 11, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Congrats to László Krasznahorkai for winning the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature! Film folks will know his works as having been adapted by Béla Tarr (most notably SATANTANGO)... a great writer, much deserved!
October 9, 2025 at 11:06 AM
New post up at The Back Row Manifesto, #9 in my series on anti-fascist films that I am calling "No Authority". This time, I am looking at Paul Thomas Anderson's must-see new film, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Please give a read after you've seen the movie and thanks so much!
No Authority #9: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
A Series On The Lessons Of Anti-Fascist Cinema
backrowmanifesto.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
About to experience VistaVision for the first time at this ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER screening with my boys*… excited for a unique family cinematic experience!

*One of them vetoed any photos. 👎
September 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Announcing the full slate of the 2025 Montclair Film Festival! 

Highlights? That’s all we have!

Visit Montclairfilm.org for the complete lineup!
September 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Our 2025 @montclairfilm.bsky.social Festival Guides have arrived! And that can only mean one thing… full program announcement incoming! 😉
September 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Great night enjoying a fantastic set by Music For Enophiles, playing the music of Brian Eno ... Never miss them, and they never miss!
September 24, 2025 at 12:46 AM
New post up on my site The Back Row Manifesto, #7 in my Scrapbook series, wherein I take my personal interests personally. Give a read and subscribe if you are inclined. Thanks!
Scrapbook #7
An Irregular Series Wherein I Take My Personal Interests Personally
backrowmanifesto.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The Concert In Central Park, but now, and it's Fugazi.
September 21, 2025 at 2:52 AM
As an actor, Robert Redford was a defining artist of the 1960s & 70s. As a filmmaker, he was a master of control & tension. As an environmentalist and advocate, he was a powerful voice for change. But as the founder of Sundance, he radically transformed the film industry forever. A great man. #RIP
September 16, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Valentine’s Day plans sorted. Thank you Jessica for being my Valentine & sharing my love for the work of Wallace Shawn. ❤️
September 12, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Proud to announce the Opening, Closing, and Centerpiece Films of the 2025 @montclairfilm.bsky.social Festival! The 14th annual festival takes October 17-26, hope you can join us in Montclair, NJ!

Much more to come... thank you to @thr.com for sharing our news! #MFF25
Montclair Film Fest to Open With ‘Jay Kelly,’ Close With Sydney Sweeney-Starrer ‘Christy’ and Feature Brendan Fraser-Starring ‘Rental Family’ (Exclusive)
The festival will also screen 'Come See Me in the Good Light' as its documentary centerpiece.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Incredible show tonight from Nine Inch Nails in NYC. My favorite live band only gets better. Especially loved the set with Boys Noize which reimagined some of my favs… As always, don’t miss them.
September 3, 2025 at 4:11 AM