The Fargo Film Festival would like to express our most sincere gratitude to all the people who helped make 2018 a spectacular event.
We say THANK YOU to festival sponsors, audience members, visiting filmmakers, Fargo Theatre staff, festival volunteers, and everyone else who contributed to this year’s edition.
In just a few weeks, we will begin accepting submissions for 2019, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us.
The Fargo Film Festival congratulates Jared D. Weiss as the 2018 first place winner of the 2-Minute Movie Contest.
Weiss’ animated short “A Message for Brazey” was chosen as the winning work from more than 225 submitted movies. Weiss is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
The second place movie was Samantha Gurry’s “Gutterball.”
Third place went to Natt Cali’s “No Place to Hide.”
Thanks to all the moviemakers who shared their excellent work for the showcase. The 2-Minute Movie Contest will return in 2019.
The Fargo Film Festival is excited to announce the availability of SCHED for the 2018 event.
Sched is an interactive online version of the Fargo Film Festival schedule. You can see upcoming titles, browse films by category, and receive reminders for evening pre-parties.
Sched can be saved to your phone’s home screen, so you can be just a tap away from the descriptions of upcoming movies!
Take a look at Sched here.
The Fargo Film Festival is excited to announce the selections to be screened in the annual 2-Minute Movie Contest.
The event will take place at the Fargo Theatre at 9:30 p.m., following the local premiere of “Tater Tot and Patton” on Friday, March 23, 2018.
Ticket and pass holders attending “Tater Tot and Patton” may stay for the 2-Minute Movie Contest. Those coming just for the 2-Minute Movie Contest pay two dollars at the door.
Congratulations to all the talented moviemakers. We look forward to seeing you at the show!
Another Name (Christina Johnson)
Ben Gets Stranded (Ben Dietels, et al.)
Big Brown’s TV Slap-Down! (Cable Hardin)
Black Cat and iPad (Neno Belchev)
Clone (Grace Maloney)
Connecting (Paul Bailey)
Degolas (Clement Treboux)
Different Colors (Cristina Garcia Zarzosa)
Doctor Hook (Aaron Crume)
Dog Lover (Chris Macken)
Easter (Denys Kushnarov)
Eleanor Fixes a Music Box (Lara Graney)
Equality (Sebastian Kuckovsky)
G-AAAH (Lizzy Hobbs)
Granny Smith (Linda Niksic)
Gutterball (Samantha Gurry)
Head over Heels (Leonid Grigurko)
Hipster Zombies (Matt Eckholm)
I Am Wet (John Akre)
IHFZ (Charles Hinton)
I’m Shy But… (Kwak Min Young)
Joust Between 2 Bros (Mary Lykes)
Kentucky Fried Massacre (Ali Alkhafaji)
Let It Snow (Mary Lykes)
Little Monster (Abigail Karl)
Little Olive Best Buds (Paul Scott)
Louise’s Ennui (Maura DeRose)
Mesh (Gunner)
A Message for Brazey (Jared Weiss)
My Self-Reflection (Meghan Judge)
No Place to Hide (Natt Cali)
The Perfect Storm (Samantha LaRochelle)
Pretentious Art Film (Eric Wicklund)
Runda (Maurizio Loi)
Running Sushi (Stepan Etrych)
Secrets by the Moon (Audra Day)
Special Delivery (Maura DeRose)
Static (Emily McNeill)
Under the Bed (George Lee)
The Web Meeting (Edward Linder)
What He Did (Carly Drabeck)
Where Is Maple Hill? (John Gigrich)
World’s Best Axe Murderer (Eric Carlson)
The Fargo Film Festival is proud to announce the FM premiere of “Tater Tot and Patton” with special guests Andrew Kightlinger and Bates Wilder.
Shot on location in South Dakota, “Tater Tot and Patton” is a humorous and compelling examination of the bonds of family. With unforgettable performances by Jessica Rothe (“Happy Death Day,” “Forever My Girl,” “La La Land”) and Bates Wilder (“Detroit,” “Joy,” “Stronger”), “Tater Tot and Patton” follows two lost souls unwittingly seeking connection and redemption on the Great Plains.
Writer/director Andrew Kightlinger and star Bates Wilder will participate in a Q and A following the screening of “Tater Tot and Patton” that begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Fargo Theatre. Tickets are currently available at the Fargo Theatre box office.
The Fargo Film Festival is excited to showcase “Ruin Me,” a horror feature in which the reluctant Alex (Marcienne Dwyer) tags along for “Slasher Sleepout,” an extreme event that is part camping trip, part haunted house, and part escape room. But when the fun turns deadly, Alex has to play the game if she wants to make it out alive.
Key members of the “Ruin Me” production team, including writer/director Preston DeFrancis, writer Trysta Bissett, and star Marcienne Dwyer, will attend the screening and share a conversation with the audience following the film.
Preceded by the special short subject selection “Your Date Is Here,” “Ruin Me” begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 at the Fargo Theatre. Tickets are now available at the Fargo Theatre box office.
The 2018 edition of the Fargo Film Festival begins March 20.
Director C.J. Wallis’ “The Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much” has been selected as the opening night film.
The documentary shares the fascinating story of Ted Slauson, a math teacher whose obsessive chronicling of product values for items on “The Price Is Right” culminated in a controversial 2008 episode in which he helped a contestant place a perfect bid.
Featuring appearances by Bob Barker, Kevin Pollak, and longtime “The Price Is Right” producer Roger Dobkowitz, “The Perfect Bid” is the perfect entertainment to begin the 2018 Fargo Film Festival.
The screening begins at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20 at the Fargo Theatre. Tickets are available now at the Fargo Theatre box office.
story by Brittney Goodman
A sign of the coming spring, and a time for old friends and new to make connections while celebrating films – the Fargo Film Festival returns to downtown Fargo.
Emily Beck, executive director of the Fargo Theatre since 2011, is also director and programmer for the Fargo Film Festival. Emily emphasizes the continued importance of the event to the community, saying, “The Fargo Film Festival enriches the cultural fabric of our community by offering a program of innovative independent film, educational opportunities, and exciting special guests. Filmmakers from our region are celebrated alongside filmmakers from around the world.”
Emily particularly finds the “human connections” formed during the festival to be the most rewarding, saying, “with audiences, volunteers, and visiting guest artists, it is an annual delight to observe people bonding over a shared love of cinema.”
Emily is particularly interested in Thursday night’s showcase film “Ruin Me.” She says, “As a huge horror fan, I am extremely excited… ‘Ruin Me’ is devilishly good fun — a modern take on the slasher genre anchored by a helluva ‘final girl’ performance by Marcienne Dwyer. I loved watching this film and now I look forward to watching our audience take the ride. Having Ms. Dwyer and the crew here will be icing on the cake.”
In addition to Emily Beck’s work as festival director and programmer, a volunteer leadership team does some of the heavy lifting. The Fargo Film Festival has three co-chairs every festival.
Co-chair Matt McGregor says, “The festival is such a great place for film enthusiasts to converse with filmmakers intimately, whether through the Q and A’s, one-on-one at the theatre, or at one the many events throughout the festival.” Matt also served on the animation jury and encourages audiences to check out Don Hertzfeldt’s “World of Tomorrow Episode Two,” saying, “Hertzfeldt’s unique storytelling along with striking visual style are always a joy to take in.” “World of Tomorrow Episode One” and “Episode Two” will show back-to-back on Saturday, March 25 at 2:20 p.m.
Karen Olson, another co-chair and this year’s recipient of the Margie Bailly Volunteer Spirit Award, has been a part of the Fargo Film Festival team since 2008 in a variety of roles. Karen says she is “excited to meet visiting filmmakers and hear what they have to say about the movie-making experience. That’s always my favorite part as it is a unique opportunity. I also love seeing my favorite films on the big screen and hearing the audience reaction. When we screen films at home on our computers, we imagine what that will be like. But the real thing can be thrilling!”
Karen highly recommends the student category winner “Facing Mecca,” saying, “This is one of the most moving films I’ve ever seen at the Fargo Film Festival, and it’s astonishing that it was made by a student. So if you have a heart, you’ll want to see it. It’s also thought-provoking, so if you have a head, you’ll want to see it.”
Co-chair Lisa Faiman has attended the festival since its second year and has volunteered for eight years. Her roles on the festival have included being volunteer coordinator and chairing several juries.
Lisa says, “Each year I look forward to socializing. Closing night is popular, but this year I’m most excited for opening night. Lisa also recommends “The Girl Down Loch Anzi,” which she says is a “quiet film with very cool, sort of unfamiliar looking scenery.”
Evening Showcases
The festival opens Tuesday, March 20. Documentary feature jury chair Kendra O’Brien says, “We’ll kick off the festival evening sessions with ‘The Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much.’ Director CJ Wallis will join us to share the story of Ted Slauson, a math teacher whose dedication to memorizing prices on ‘The Price Is Right’ led to controversy and conspiracy theories.”
Wednesday night is a showcase of short films including Ted M. Larson Award-winner Mike Scholtz’s “Kinderchomper” and concluding with Clay Haskell’s locally made “Last Dance at Johnson’s Barn.”
Thursday night features the horror film “Ruin Me,” with cast and crew attending for a Q and A following the feature. Friday night showcases the funny and touching “Tater Tot and Patton” with the director and lead actor in attendance. Saturday morning, afternoon, and evening show many “Best of the Fest” choices, which are perfect if you have only one day to attend.
Concordia College graduates, collaborators, and friends Andrew Zilch and Rich Sommer will be here to support “A Crooked Somebody,” the closing film of the 2018 festival on Saturday night. In the honorable mention in narrative feature, Sommer (“Mad Men”) plays a phony psychic who gets in over his head. We welcome Rich and Andy to the festival, where they will participate in a Q and A following the screening.
Animation
Trina Spaeth chaired the popular animation category. Trina says, “The quality of animation this year was simply fantastic.” The winning film is “World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People’s Thoughts” by award-winning filmmaker and past Fargo Film Festival guest and Ted M. Larson Award-winner Don Hertzfeldt.
Trina says, “If you have never seen Hertzfeldt’s animation, you will be disappointed in yourself if you do not come to see his talent take shape on the big screen. His films are like nothing you have ever seen.”
Trina also suggests Oscar nominee “Negative Space,” a stop-motion animation that allows the audience “to become involved with a father-son relationship through the packing of a suitcase.” And “Wicked Girl” is a Turkish/French 2D project that “unexpectedly walks viewers into the horrific world of abuse through the eyes of a beautifully animated girl.”
Documentary Feature
Kendra O’Brien chaired the documentary feature jury. Kendra says, “This year’s films offer intense views of a variety of cultures.”
The category winner is “Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators,” which Kendra describes as “a story that follows Hans and Margret Rey through archived interviews and new animation. While many people may know the Curious George books, few know the extraordinary circumstances surrounding their creation. I love how the animation helps illustrate scenes that would have been impossible to photograph.”
Kendra says honorable mention “Supergirl” “is about an 11-year-old Jewish girl breaking powerlifting records — a story about growing up, fitting in, and working hard to follow your passion.” Kendra adds, “While every one of our selections could have its own shout-out, I’m going to give a personal recommendation for ‘Rodents of Unusual Size,’ a highly entertaining glimpse of life in the swamps of Louisiana as people adapt to a species of invasive rodent.”
Documentary Short
Aaron Baker, documentary short chair, says the category is “especially strong… with a wide variety of styles and subject matter ranging from the local (‘Last Dance at Johnson’s Barn’) to the international (‘Three Boats’).”
“Trophy” took top prize in the category. Aaron describes it as “a moving, passionate, beautifully filmed examination of the hunting of grizzly bears in Canada and the United States.”
Honorable mention went to “Jesszilla,” which Aaron calls “an utterly charming portrait of a ten-year- old girl with dreams of becoming a professional boxer.” The film’s director, Emily Sheskin, will attend the festival.
Aaron highlights “Three Boats,” a “poetic look at Syrian refugees arriving in Greece” and “#TAKEMEANYWHERE,” which follows Shia LaBeouf and his filmmaking partners as they use social media to hitch rides from strangers across the United States.” Aaron also mentions frequent festival guest Mike Scholtz’s new film “Kinderchomper,” about a “mild-mannered Minnesota artist with a side career as a baby-eating professional wrestler.”
Experimental
Christine Hoper led the experimental jury. Christine says that the subjects and methods varied. She adds, “In all you’ll find a reflection on life and strong themes of nature, technology, and the tension and dynamics between.”
The category winner is “The Velvet Abstract,” a seven-minute animated film about the environmental age that Christine says “has so much to take in. The script is a twenty six-line narrated poem that explores interaction between humans and environment with each couplet featuring completely different animation styles and an original score by composer Jean-Pascal Beintus.”
Christine describes honorable mention “Genesis” as an “aesthetic meditation on the digital and analog divide portrayed in a fantasy short film with a critical point of view about the horrible situation in Syria.”
Narrative Feature
I had the pleasure of chairing the Narrative Feature category this year. The category has a strong representation of women and international filmmakers and a variety of genres and subjects.
The category winner is the moving “Sami Blood.” It is my favorite film of the category. It is so very well acted and explores racism, family, and coming-of-age.
“Tater Tot and Patton” will be a crowd-pleaser on Friday night. It features Jessica Rothe (“Happy Death Day”) as a woman escaping to the farm of her uncle (Bates Wilder) in South Dakota. The movie is funny and touching. Both Bates Wilder and director Andrew Kightlinger will be on hand for a Q and A following the film.
Narrative Short
Tom Speer served as jury chair for the narrative short category. Tom says, “As the festival continues to grow, so does the quality of films we get to share with the community. The narrative short category was no exception to this, as the jury had some tough decisions to make.”
Category winner “Confection” follows a “weary student who’s disinterested in the world around him, assigned to work experience at a local chocolate shop.” After a terrible mishap results in a broken heart, he “takes it upon himself to correct his mistakes and bring happiness to those who feel dejected.”
Honorable mention “Lost Face,” based on a Jack London story, is about a fur thief who makes a bargain for his life. Tom also endorses honorable mention “Red Light,” saying “If this delightful short doesn’t charm you, I’m not really sure what can,” calling it “a humorous tale with a heartwarming ending.” Another of Tom’s favorites is “Fry Day,” taking place on the eve of Ted Bundy’s execution. He calls it “a very eerie coming-of-age story.”
Student
Student category chair Tony Tilton has been with the Fargo Film Festival since the beginning. Tony says, “This was, by everyone’s measure, one of the best years for student films. Technology has enabled students to produce more professional looking films and the truly motivated and talented student filmmakers are rising to the challenge.”
Tony describes category winner “Facing Mecca” as “an extremely well-made film about the dilemma a Syrian man faces when he wishes to bury his wife and must fight with Swiss bureaucracy. It is quite possibly the best student film we’ve seen, and we’ve seen hundreds and hundreds.”
Moorhead-native Devon Manney’s honorable mention “Cradle” won a Student Academy Award this year. Manney will be at the festival to receive the Rusty Casselton Award. The animated “Cradle” is about a young veteran who has lost both arms in combat and who now battles phantom pains, prosthetics and memories of pre-war life while searching for normalcy.
Lunch Panels
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will feature lunch panels at Dempsey’s Public House. The price of admission for each panel is $10.
The panel on Thursday, March 22 will be moderated by Matt Olien and is titled “Acting for the Silver Screen” which will include a number of professional performers with films in the festival.
On Friday, March 23, “Writing the Narrative Feature” will be moderated by Tom Brandau.
And on Saturday, March 24, “Women in Film: Indies and Industry” will be moderated by Trina Spaeth. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Fargo Theatre or at the door if not already sold out.
Special Events
Tom Speer is “absolutely thrilled that Alison Becker (“Parks and Recreation”), an actress with more than 15 years in the business, will be attending the festival.” Becker’s workshop will be held on Saturday, March 24 at 1:30 p.m. in the Prairie Rose Room at the Radisson Fargo, and is designed to “assist actors in navigating through the industry” including the “getting into the business and making a living as a working actor.” General admission is $20 and student admission is $15. The workshop is recommended for ages 16 and up.
The always popular 2-Minute Movie Contest will showcase several dozen extremely short movies on Friday night at 9:30 p.m., maintaining its tradition of a two dollar admission ticket.
The public is also invited to All-Star Bowl in Moorhead on Thursday evening following the local premiere of “Ruin Me.” Filmmakers, festival guests, and volunteers gather to swap stories, make new friends, and roll a few strikes (and maybe a few gutterballs). The all-ages event costs ten dollars, which includes shoe rental and all you care to bowl.
See You March 20-24
Two of the festival co-chairs sum up the excitement of the festival, encouraging newcomers and return visitors alike. Matt McGregor says, “The community that is built around the festival is so inviting and intimate. You can really feel a connection with everyone involved.” And Lisa Faiman adds, “I love the festival! I like working with people who are passionate. It’s one of many things that makes Fargo secretly cool.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Fargo Film Festival
WHEN: March 20 – 24, 2018
WHERE: The Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway
TICKETS: Available at the Fargo Theatre Box Office or call 701.239.8385
The Fargo Film Festival is proud to announce the selection of “A Crooked Somebody” as the closing night movie of the 2018 showcase. Special guests Rich Sommer and Andrew Zilch will participate in a post-screening conversation with the audience.
In “A Crooked Somebody,” Sommer stars as Michael, an attention-seeking psychic medium. When Michael is kidnapped by a desperate man, he uses the situation to boost his career and a dangerous dance ensues. Ed Harris, Joanne Froggat, Clifton Collins Jr, and Amy Madigan co-star in this inventive thriller full of twists and turns.
“A Crooked Somebody” will screen at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 24 at the Fargo Theatre. Audiences are invited to attend the entire closing night showcase, which begins at 7:00 p.m. and includes the presentation of several award-winning short subjects prior to “A Crooked Somebody.”
Tickets are available now at the Fargo Theatre box office.
The Fargo Film Festival invites you to All-Star Bowl in Moorhead on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 9:30 p.m.
Following the local premiere of “Ruin Me” at the Fargo Theatre, filmmakers, festival guests, and volunteers will gather to swap stories, make new friends, and roll a few strikes (and maybe a few gutterballs).
The all-ages event costs ten dollars, which includes shoe rental and all you care to bowl.