What is your film festival’s mission?
The Oneota Film Festival mission is “Through film, discussion, and other media to engage a large and diverse audience in the critical issues of our time.”
What role does your film festival play in supporting your film’s community?
We offer admission-free showing of approximately 50 films over three days, including filmmaker presentations, panel discussions, and student and general submissions for judging.
What is something people look forward to every year at your film festival?
Our audience looks forward to meeting filmmakers and discussing the issues presented by the filmmaker’s work.
What do you want audiences to take away from your film festival?
A feeling for the richness of the film experience, along with information and opinions about important issues.
How long has your film festival been around?
Our 7th Festival will be held March 4, 5, 6 2016.
How did your film festival come into being?
Luther grads Walter Ordway and Kyrl Henderson had attended the Telluride Film Festival. They met with officials from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa to suggest that Luther would be a great site for a documentary film festival. Luther became a primary sponsor for a documentary film festival with free admission, planned by volunteers. A director was hired and enthusiastic volunteers continue to make up the Festival Board of Directors. Filmmakers are invited to screen their films with the audience and follow up with a question and answer and discussions. Panel discussions are held with knowledgeable audience members. With the assistance of the Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Festival helps to draw visitors to the community during a part of the year that is usually not a busy tourism season.
Anything else you’d like to tell the audience about your festival?
The Oneota Film Festival has maintained free-admission by sponsors, film underwriters, and individual memberships. We have a paid director, who leads fund-raising and coordinates events year-round to keep the Festival’s name and awareness of the mission out in the community.
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The Audience Awards is film’s social network connecting audiences to films, filmmakers and film festivals. The Audience Awards hosts short film competitions where the audience chooses the best films.
