South Bend, Indiana –The First Annual River Bend Film Festival will be held May 1 & 2 at the Century Center and is sponsored by Mid America Filmmakers and Downtown South Bend. Previously known as the IU South Bend Independent Video & Filmmakers Festival, this festival is the only independent film festival of its kind in Northern Indiana.

Over 40 films in a wide variety of genres, cultures and topics from students to industry professionals will be shown throughout the festival. Each film is a result of a creative journey made by the artist, no matter the budget or resources. The film screenings will be held at the Century Center on Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 at 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday night will kick off with shorts and a feature-length film produced in Ohio, Glass City, which is a finely crafted feature, is about a man who finds redemption among a local theatre group. Also on Friday, television producer Jack Olesker will screen an animated episode of Hip Hop Fables, which had character voice work produced at WNIT. On Saturday evening Hollywood screenwriter Stephen Susco, Notre Dame graduate and screenwriter of The Grudge and The Grudge 2, will be on hand to show his film Red. Starring Brian Cox, Red is about a reclusive man who sets out for justice and redemption when three troublesome teens kill his dog for no good reason.

Saturday’s attendees of the festival will not only get a chance to see great films but they will also be able to participate in various workshops lead by guests from the film industry. Stephen Susco will present the workshop, Script Pitching and Jack Olesker will hold a workshop on Childrens’ Animation. WKRP and Charlie’s Angels screenwriter Tom Joachim will hold the seminar Polishing Your Script, where participants are asked to bring a sample of their work. Joel Langston and cinematographer Lynn King will be hosting the workshop, Lighting and Camera for Video for Pennies. There is limited seating for the workshops. Attendees may sign up for these Saturday workshops starting Friday night of the festival.

Two members of Mid America Filmmakers will be holding auditions on Saturday of the festival for their latest independent film projects. Festival ticket holders and the community are invited to audition. Saturday night will also showcase an hour of films created by Mid America Filmmaker members, including Devi Snively’s short Death In Charge made when she was chosen as one of six women to be part of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women in Southern California.

Tickets for the River Bend Film Festival are available now online through the festival website: www.riverbendfilmfest.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Century Center during regular ticket office hours beginning April 6, and on the day of the event. Ticket prices range $8-$30.

For more information such as the film schedule, listings and description of films, workshops, and other events happening at the festival, please visit the website: www.riverbendfilmfest.org.

For information: www.riverbendfilmfest.org
Contact: marketing@riverbendfilmfest.org