The 2012 Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival announced the thirty-six films chosen to be screened for its 2012 line-up, and it promises to be a diverse group of movies that will “stir discussion and debate amongst people from all walks of life, which is what art should do,” according to Executive Director, Len Archibald. The Festival will take place at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center from July 6 to July 8. Tickets are on sale now through the VMCC box office.
Notable entries include feature films THE SELLING a horror/comedy dealing with the hijinks of a timid real estate agent trying to sell a haunted house; MOMENT OF TRUTH: THE ANDY MEYERS STORY a provocative drama about a man who hires a filmmaker to document his suicide; HOMBRE Y TIERRA a Spanish-language thriller about an explorer dealing with the forces of nature in the dense forests of Belize; SEARCHING FOR SONNY, a comedy with a detective-story twist that features Masi Oka from the hit TV-Show Heroes; PRETTY LITTLE THINGS, a comedy/drama about a former stand-up comedian trying to re-connect with his daughter after being released from a drug-related prison sentence; THINGS I DON’T UNDERSTAND, a drama about a young woman trying to find her place in the world after a suicide attempt; and THE WONDERLAND EXPRESS – an existential comedy written and directed by Greg Nichols from Centerville, Ohio native rounds out the features and nominees for the 2012 Grand Prix (Outstanding Feature Film). THE SELLING will be presented during a special free Outdoor Midnight Screening in Downtown Lima. A Q&A session between filmmakers and the audience will take place after each screening.
The short-length movies will be screened during a three-part “Celebration of Shorts event that will take place on Opening Night: Friday, July 6 at 8:45pm, Saturday, July 7 at 1:15pm and Sunday, July 8 at 12:15pm. Friday’s event, known as “The Outstanding Films, will present the short movies nominated by the Festival Judging and Selection Committee for Outstanding Short Film and the 2012 Audience Choice Award. Saturday’s and Sunday’s event, known as “Judges’ Choice” and “Director’s Choice, will screen nominated films selected by the Selection Committee. Notable films hail from around the U.S. (including several from Ohio), Canada, Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Norway. Each block of short films will be followed by an open Q&A with attending filmmakers.
Middle and High school students from around the region and the country will have a separate event to shine as “The Future” will take place during the Saturday line-up of movies. Eight student-directed films will be screened followed by a Q&A with the student filmmakers to share their creative process. Student films hail from Lima, Van Wert, North Carolina, North Dakota and California. The event will commence with a special screening of THE GIRL IN THE RED DRESS, a short film created by students of Lima Shawnee High School.
All these events are in addition to the six Panel Discussions that will take place during the afternoons of July 6 and July 8. The Panels will feature filmmakers and artists taking part in an open discussion about various aspects of the movie industry. Featured panelists include Lima native, Pierce Austin who has travelled the world with superstar Will Smith as his personal hair & make-up artist; Award-Winning screenwriters and producers, Andie Redwine and Glenn Berggoetz from Indiana; character actors Russ Russo and Kevin Interdonato from Los Angeles; Wapakoneta native and producer of award-winning documentary, SUPERHEROES, Theodore James; and award-winning young actress, Tara-Nicole Azarian, who was recently featured in the hit movie THE HUNGER GAMES. Panel moderators include Lima TV and theater mainstay George Dunster, Margaret Cullen from Ohio Northern University, J.D. Breuwer from St. Rita’s Hospital, and Holly Koza from Lima’s Your Hometown Stations. They will join documentary filmmaker, Justin Hunt and Lima native and artist, Greg Pitts who will present their films, ABSENT and KARMA: THE MOVIE on Opening Night. Hunt’s ABSENT is a documentary following the impact of neglectful fathers on their children that features Metallica frontman James Hetfield and middleweight boxing champion, Johnny Tapia, while Pitts’ KARMA: THE MOVIE is an avant-garde short film.
Other special non-screening events include a Visiting Artist “Check-In” event at ArtSpace Lima on Thursday, July 5 at 6pm for the public to meet filmmakers and view short films; the 2012 Festival After Party at VMCC on Saturday July 7 at approximately 11pm; and the 2012 Festival Award Gala and Dinner, hosted by Holly Koza at City Club on Sunday, July 8 at 6pm, where awards will be presented to nominated films. A special video presentation of the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award to Lima native and comedic icon, Phyllis Diller will be screened. Entertainment will be provided by Prentis Moore of Fort Wayne, IN and Lima’s own Debbie Briggs.
Tickets and passes for all NWOIFF movies start at $5 and can be purchased at the VMCC box office, their website www.limaciviccenter.com or via the Festival’s website, www.nwoff.org.