Hollywood’s trusty system of new meat, same skeleton is off the menu: The people want indie.
The Albuquerque Film Festival is about to enjoy its third year exposing the community to films that deviate from the usual recycled plotlines of the Hollywood blockbusters of the last several years.
Brett Pierce, co-director of one of this year’s films, said film lovers’ desire to discover genuine characters and new faces and plotlines led to a surge in the number of indie film festivals held around the world.
“Independent movies don’t really have a chance at bigger film festivals,” he said. “A lot of films you see at festivals have big-name actors. You kind of realize, as much as I’m sure some truly good independent movies occasionally get in, but that isn’t necessarily filmmakers that did it on their own without any help from studios or production companies.”
These hidden gems are all about the kinds of storylines that the festival’s organizer, Rich Henrich, believes are the key to building a sense of empathy in audiences. Henrich said the festival acts in more direct ways as a vehicle for social change by uniting those in the budding local film community.
“Albuquerque was the third-largest production center in the country that didn’t have a major, industry-level festival,” he said. “So I look at festivals as an important part of keeping film alive in the community. I wanted to gear the panels and workshops we do more towards the art, craft and business of filmmaking.”
In addition to the panels and workshops, film screenings at the festival include “Hell Ride” and “Reservoir Dogs,” both starring Michael Madsen. Madsen will introduce them with a reading of his own poetry and a book signing.
While there is no established theme to connect this year’s films, Henrich said the films reflect the spirit of his organization, Film 4 Change, which supports socially conscious films.
From classics to new films, Henrich said they all deal with persistence and enduring love.
One of these socially conscious films is “White Knight,” directed by Jesse Baget. The film is a comedy about the Ku Klux Klan.
Baget said he chose to use humor to illustrate the basic humanity that connects everyone to even sinister characters.
“I think the best way to get through to people is through laughter,” Baget said. “Everything you’ve seen about the KKK is ‘these are the bad guys.’ But to try to humanize through comedy, explore a KKK member’s emotions — I mean, the goal of the movie is to see ‘can we care about this guy who at the beginning you see as just this racist bastard?’”
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Brett Pierce, co-director of “DeadHeads,” said the use of the medium to spotlight situations and relationships familiar to average people is the hallmark of indie films.
“Most guys making indie films tend to not be super wealthy or in a position to make an independent film,” he said. “So I think they tell stories that tend to have a true element to something that’s either bothering them or that they or their family had to overcome.”
Albuquerque Film Festival
Thursday-Sunday
abqfilmfestival.com
Prices vary
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