Moviegoers will have a chance to sample a remarkable array of local talent at the inaugural Maumee Film Festival.
The festival, held on Saturday, September 19 at the Maumee Indoor Theatre, will feature the work of nearly three dozen artists, either submitted as part of an Open Short Film competition or created during a 48-Hour Challenge held on July 31. All submissions are less than 8-minutes long, and cash prizes will be awarded to winners chosen by a panel of judges — film professionals Tom Hofbauer and Thom Rockwell, as well as Maumee native and noted film and television actor Robert Knepper..
Variety of subjects
“We didn’t specify categories or genres so we really have a wide range of films, which I think is cool. I like the variety,” said Nancy Gagnet, chair and founder of the Festival. “Since this is [the] first year planning the event, we weren’t sure what the response would be and we are very pleased with the number of filmmakers who submitted, as well as the quality of the films.”
Gagnet was inspired to launch the festival by the passion of an artist in her own home— her 17-year-old son, who has been making movies for nearly a decade.
“So I guess you could say that after many years of watching him and his friends get together to film and attending those other film events, I realized that there are a significant number of people within the local community who are passionate about visual arts and filmmaking. And since Maumee has the beautiful community theater, it just made sense to try to bring those two together,” Gagnet said.
Giving an opportunity
Gagnet acknowledged a huge debt of gratitude to the Maumee Uptown Business Association (MUBA), who approved the seed money to get the project rolling, as well as numerous other individuals affiliated with MUBA and the Maumee Indoor Theatre.
“My objective in planning this festival was to offer filmmakers of every level the unique opportunity to have their work projected on a full screen, in front of a live audience in the beautiful Maumee Indoor Theatre,” she said. “I know we have to award prizes to get people to enter, but to me, being able to sit back and watch the film you’ve created in a theater— where some of the greatest films ever made have been shown— really is the best reward.”
The Maumee Film Festival will begin at 6pm on September 19
Tickets are $5, available at the door
Maumee Indoor Theatre, 601 Conant St., Maumee
419-897-8902 | maumeefilmfestival.com
