By Jeanne Beechwood
Need to relax, need to escape? Go see Faye Wray in the paws of an ape, Watch Errol Flynn shooting his bow, Just go the movies, Just go to a picture show!” These lyrics from the musical “Day in Hollywood, Night in the Ukraine” capsulate how movies are the great escape.
The earliest surviving film, “The Roundhay Garden Scene” briefly depicted a family in motion in 1888. The film industry that began as a novelty, now today is an established mass entertainment. Movies remain a vital visual art form, and hopefully always will.
The platform for new filmmakers aren’t just Hollywood driven, but rather film festivals. Within the past two years, there have been around 3000 film festivals that are currently active. Film festivals are exciting events that showcase the best of cinema from all over the map. They are usually presented at one location and screen new and outstanding motion pictures.
In 1996 Fred Andrews had a mission for Kansas City. He started a nonprofit festival for filmmakers to screen their films on the BIG screen for audiences. The first year, 10 short films were selected. April 2024 will celebrate the 28th year of this film festival in the metro. The Kansas City FilmFest International welcomes filmmakers from Kansas City and the world.
Sadly, Andrews passed in 2016 from cancer. His legacy of this film festival has carried on with Veronica Elliott Loncar as the executive director. For the last ten years, Veronica, has carried on the creative spirit of Fred’s pioneering effort with this popular ongoing event of visual arts.
This year the festival will take place at the AMC Theatre at Ward Parkway. It includes over 135 films. The majority of these films will have the actual filmmaker from around the world attending their own film with a Q and A afterwards.
“This festival focus is on the filmmakers and building audiences,” says Loncar. “It gives the filmmaker an opportunity to see their visual art creations on the big screen. It also gives them a chance to network with other creators.”
This year KCFFI is partnering with KC Women in Film + Media. The KC Women in Film + Media is a nonprofit that empowers women in the Kansas City area to connect as creative media makers. This year’s festival includes a good representation of both women and men filmmakers.
Over 800 filmmakers applied to be part of this festival. The 135 films that were chosen represent a variety of the film format. Narrative script storyline or documentary films can range from two minutes to two hours.
Some of the films include:
- “The Martini Shot”, directed by Stephen Wallis is described as an existential drama about an ailing filmmaker trying to shoot what he thinks may be his final work.
- “No Right Way”, from first time director Chelsea Bo, is a festival favorite. It is a loosely based comedy-drama about Chelsea’s real-life experiences.
- “By My Side” is directed by Vicki Topaz and tells the story of three veterans and their families who struggle with PTSD and the service dogs that offer them a lifeline.
- “An Open Door-Temple Grandin”, is directed by John Alexander Barnhardt. This award-winning documentary features the notable academic and activist and her life and energy. It also includes her work advocating for both animal welfare and people with autism.
The Independent Filmmakers Coalition of KC is one of the oldest independent filmmaker groups in the US founded as a nonprofit in 1993 by people who just wanted to make movies. The IFC of KC will host a reception to kick off the International Kansas City FilmFest festivities from 6 to 7pm at AMC on April 11.
The Kansas City FilmFest International runs April 11 through April 14 at AMC. You can check out the categories and showtimes at KCfilmfest.org.
Reservations are recommended. Single tickets are $10 and a pass to see all the films is $45. Tickets can be paid for and reserved online at kcfilmfest.org/