Our Full Bloom Film Festival

“Trying to make a feature film yourself with no money is the best film school you can do.” – Quentin Tarentino

We had our annual film festival last weekend, the Full Bloom Film Festival, and what a thrill it was to hang out with film lovers and the 80 filmmakers who showed up to watch their films with us.

The festival started nine years ago, though I was not able to get involved the first years. Since I have, it has been pure joy.

My only regret is that it isn’t longer and we can’t watch all of the films with the filmmakers. They add so much to the experience – we had 80 show up this year for the 40 films chosen for screening.

I was part of the screening committee and I can tell you almost everything submitted is high quality. Narrowing them down is a difficult process and picking winners even more difficult.

I served as a venue manager during the festival and it’s a job I love. I get to lead the Q&As for the filmmakers that are there and I could probably ask them questions for days. I learn so much and get even more respect for what they do.

Some of the filmmakers are first timers completely, others were presenting their first feature length film, while others have long careers.

I adored three young men who made their first narrative feature, Sendero. The quality they got for their low budget was amazing. The writer (who also acted, directed, and put up most of the money for the film) was thoughtful in his intent, writing in a way that would keep their budget low. Somehow he managed to take a tough subject, school shootings and the aftermath of grief, and make it so you laughed as much as you cried. He broke the rules – he used both animals and children and they were fantastic. In fact, the dog was his own and I can’t imagine another dog bringing the emotion and the laughs that Rosie did.

One of the directors of one of the short films, The Last Butterfly, came from China to attend. Her film was a beautiful picture of old grief encountering new grief, and the traditions that help us move on and celebrate lives lost and those that remain.

The Cigarette Surfboard was a documentary that showed how an unusual idea can bring attention to important issues. He mentioned to me that his own local film festival, where most of this film was produced, did not appreciate the subject as much as a small inland city in North Carolina.

Over the years I have been told by many filmmakers how special our festival is because of the hospitality given and the camaraderie encouraged. That’s the goal for everyone involved- for our whole arts community, in fact.

I know for me I’ll be following many of these films and filmmakersfir years to come. From the screening process I am following another director whose film wasn’t right for our festival, butt whose work I loved.

Supporting artists is a pleasure and I am often discouraged by those who purport to be lovers of the arts, but aren’t there to attend live shows and tell people they are going a good job, and reminding them you see their talent.

So many of these productions are low budget, but are films that deserve wide distribution. Don’t just put your money on the big blockbusters. Check out a few small films and if given the opportunity meet those involved. They’re remind you that you, too, can do good things.