There are film festivals on every corner. Why? Because there is a demand for them. These festivals are part of an explosion of film from all around the world. Why the movie mania? Everybody loves a film festival! Towns and cities, as well as local merchants and individuals, are sponsoring and supporting local film festivals just for the opportunity to host them, to bring in tourism, promotion of their town and their business or services, encouraging film production in the area, and for the myriad of local cultural benefits.
There’s a tremendous financial impact and economic development for any town, and, for the people who live there, it is an opportunity for cultural enhancement, and a well-regarded film festival can often triple a town’s population for the duration of the event. Once the festival-goers visit any venue for a film festival, they will return. Plus, for towns whose busiest season is summer, an early fall film festival event can mean more off-season tourism, and more money spent on lodging, meals, rental cars, and shopping, during what is usually “off-season”.
Movies, movie stars — and moviemaking — still create that magnetic, even magical aura that’s drawn many millions of fans to movie theaters, ever since the silent-film days of D.W. Griffiths.
A film festival does much more than make artistic connections – it makes human connections and it helps to break down social barriers. Films are an ideal means of communication across perceived boundaries of race, culture, age and gender. Through its mission, our festival reaches out to people who care about the arts and culture, about society and about the legacy they leave to the next generations. Its success requires dedicated people with the vision and tenacity, educational and financial initiatives that nurture today’s generation artists and sponsors who generously support the festival’s growth and development.