The Second Annual River Bend Film Festival will be held Friday, April 30 & Saturday, May 1 at the Century Center, and is sponsored by Mid America Filmmakers and Downtown South Bend. A free kickoff screening will take place Thursday, April 29 at Indiana University South Bend with space provided by the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts.
Over 70 films in a wide variety of genres, cultures and topics from students to industry professionals will be shown throughout the festival weekend. Most of the films are grouped into thematic blocks such as experimental, horror, family friendly, documentary, Asian, Local, and gay and lesbian. There will also be workshops on filmmaking, lighting, and makeup effects on Saturday afternoon.
The free Thursday night screening is 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. in Room 1001 in Wiekamp Hall at Indiana University South Bend. The first half of the evening will include a selection of short films, including the award-winning “The Vaudevillian”, about a ventriloquist’s strained relationship with his dummy after their act is cancelled. After an intermission, the festival’s keynote speaker, director Lloyd Kaufman, will introduce his cult classic comedy/horror film “The Toxic Avenger”, followed by a Q & A.
Times, ticket prices, and festival schedule at www.riverbendfilmfest.org