A locally produced film exploring folklore in the Bristol Hills has earned top honors in a regional competition.
“History and Mystery: The Folklore and Legends of the Bristol Hills” won first place in the arts and culture category at the Nor’Easter Video Festival Awards, presented by the Alliance for Community Media’s Northeast Region.
Finger Lakes Community College produced the 35-minute film in partnership with the Bristol Hills Historical Society. The video serves as a companion to the historical society’s book of the same name.
The Alliance announced the awards Dec. 8 in Northampton, Massachusetts. The competition recognizes community media programming from stations across six northeastern states, including New York.
The film first aired on Finger Lakes TV, the public access station based at FLCC’s Canandaigua campus. Viewers can watch it on Spectrum channel 1304, Roku, the Cablecast app, or through a 24/7 livestream at fingerlakestv.org.
The production features animated watercolor artwork by Rochester artist Anna Overmoyer, originally created for the historical society’s book.
Jay Gillotti, a production specialist with Finger Lakes TV, received recognition for animating the artwork, recording interviews, and editing the film. Lenore Friend, FLCC’s director of public relations and communications, served as co-producer alongside John Holtz, a former longtime board member of the Bristol Hills Historical Society.
Holtz conceived the idea for the book and acted as its general editor.
The original soundtrack was recorded at FLCC’s studio. Music includes selections by the Rochester-based Marion Band, along with organ performances by Bob Green, a former Bristol town supervisor. Geoff Smith, an FLCC music professor, and 2025 graduate Landon Ingersoll handled the recording.
The film continues to air daily at 7 a.m. on Finger Lakes TV and appears during “History Sundays,” a weekly block of local historical programming at 4 p.m. Sundays. The Bristol Hills Historical Society also makes the film available directly.
The companion book remains for sale through the historical society. More information about both projects is available at bristolhillshistory.org.
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