FESTIVAL

Festival is a celebration and an escape, but is not a withdrawal. It is a departure from the daily distractions of the news and social media feeds we entertain to keep us from becoming overwhelmed. It is an invitation to a world where characters are exposed and vulnerable—and yet are stronger for it. If we have the courage to do the same, we can create a better community.

Each year this Festival reminds us that true seekers of beauty are so vastly in the majority no matter what those daily distractions tell us. This Festival is only possible because of our community of sponsors, members, donors, flm lovers and because of the brave flmmakers who continue to dream under the most diffcult circumstances.

You are all here because you feel the same as we do. This is the community of which we speak, and we will expand this beautiful feedback loop as wide as we can knowing that there are so many more of us than those who want something different or something less.