Lone Star Film Festival
Lone Star Film Festival
No packed theaters for this year's iteration of the Lone Star Film Festival, which will go virtual in light of COVID-19.
COVID-19 canceled a lot of events in 2020 — the Lone Star Film Festival isn’t one of them.
LSFF will be returning virtually this year and will take place from Nov. 4 – 8. The independent film festival, which has become a prime destination for both filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike, won’t have its usual bells and whistles nor the backdrop of Sundance Square.
But LSFF director Chad Matthews says that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“It’s going to be unique experience, but something that we are looking forward to the challenge of trying out,” he says. “And I think it’s going to be a really good event, because we’re going to be able to, hopefully, reach audiences outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, outside of Texas, outside of the U.S., possibly.”
A virtual festival has its pros and cons, Matthews says. For one, there’s less overhead expense from not having to rent out movie theaters or hotel rooms, which Matthews says saves tens of thousands of dollars. But he also expects income to be down, due to badge rates being lower this year.
“We don’t expect to have the revenue that we’ve had in the past, and a lot of this year is going to be really dependent on donations support,” he says.
There will also be fewer showcase films — that is, midsize Hollywood films that are often contending for Oscars — due to the festival not having access to movie theaters.
On the flipside, there will be more interactions between filmmakers and audiences. LSFF will have more Q&A sessions compared to past festivals, meaning filmmakers will be a lot more connected this year, Matthews says.
Also new this year — LSFF and the Fort Worth Film Commission (FWFC) announced a joint partnership to coproduce the festival. According to Jessica Christopherson, assistant vice president of marketing and film commissioner for FWFC and Visit Fort Worth, the film commission is taking on a larger role, helping with advertising, design, and public relations efforts. The FWFC is also curating and producing all virtual panel content, as well as partnering with Hear Fort Worth to feature local musicians and music videos filmed in Fort Worth throughout the online festival.
Ticket information and the full lineup of feature and short films is available at lonestarfilmfestival.com.
FORT WORTH FILMS AT LSFF
“Amaraica” directed by Tim Sparks
“Bodily Injury” directed by Travis Patten
“Project Girl” directed by Robyn Tomiko
“Taken In” directed by Travis Guba
“The Twilite Hour” directed by Warren Cook
“Worthy of More” directed by Juan Ojeda
OTHER LOCAL FILMS
“Coming Home” directed by Daniel Andrés Treviño (Keller)
“Exactly As They Are” directed by Philip Heinrich (Dallas)
“Manos De Oro” (“Hands of Gold”) directed by Merced Elizondo (DeSoto)
“Movie Night” directed by Matt Rosenblatt (Grapevine)
“Pant Hoot” directed by Richard Reens (Dallas)
“The Fregoli Project” directed by Samuel Broadous (UNT)
