Call for entries to Gary International Black Film Festival
Contributed By:The 411 News
GIBFF has become a staple in the city's cultural fabric
Entries to the 2019 Gary International Black Film Festival are now open. The invitation to submit films to the 3-day film festival went out last week. Filmmakers have until June 17 to present their films to festival judges.
Like music, filmmaking is one of the most widely practiced forms of art. Films have a universal language, able to cross language barriers and open windows to people, ideas and cultures around the globe. For that reason, film festivals are popular venues that more and more people participate in, attend, and enjoy.
The only requirement, films must be by or about Black people (African Americans or in the African Diaspora). The festival’s goal is to celebrate and lift the work of Black filmmakers, but will consider films that feature Black people as a predominant focus of the work.
There is no entry free.
First held in 2011, GIBFF has become a staple in the city’s cultural fabric, earning acceptance and audiences. Its showing of documentaries, feature films and shorts, post-screening discussions, and workshops are held across the city. Indiana University Northwest’s Bergland Auditorium is the main show room. In past years, West Side and Thea Bowman high schools have been added along with ArtHouse: A Social Kitchen.
Karen Toering, the festival’s founder spoke to Gary journalist Lisa DeNeal prior to the 2018 film festival about the goals for Gary. “Our goal is to grow our roots, build authentic relationships, and be accountable to the community. We get a lot of requests to partner with groups around the city. So, we are building our capacity to create a mobile arthouse. The mobile arthouse will bring film, filmmakers, and audiences together across the city and the region. Maybe someday, we can open a movie house and arts center.”
2019 festival dates are October 11-13 at IUN.
To learn about film submissions to the festival, visit the website https://filmfreeway.com/GaryInternationalBlackFilmFestival
Story Posted:05/05/2019
|
