This year’s San Diego film festival includes a blend of talent ranging across all aspects of cinema. Directors, actors, producers and cinema enthusiasts have been working together and getting ready to premiere a diverse selection of over 100 exciting and exclusive films. The film festival is a beloved October tradition for film lovers and local San Diegans alike, occurring annually as the year unfolds and fall begins.
According to the San Diego Film Festival website, similar to previous years, the movies will be shown at AMC UTC 14 in the Westfield Mall over a period of four days. In addition, there will be receptions and dinners taking place at the La Jolla Conrad Performing Arts Center. Over the past 22 years, the San Diego International Film Festival has established itself as a prominent event in international film showcases, presenting movies both for entertainment and as a way of tackling critical social issues such as environmental sustainability, homelessness, and much more (sdfilmfest.com).
On top of the movie screenings themselves, VIP patrons are invited to attend Q and A sessions and an awards ceremony, where they interact directly with filmmakers, providing an opportunity to discuss their creative processes and reasons behind creating films. The festival presents a valuable opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to learn and network with veteran filmmakers (sdfilmfest.com).
Senior Maverick Mattingly, who has directed three films in the past, explained that he and his film crew had considered submitting Point Blank to the Film Festival. However, they could not do so as the festival has restrictions on copyrighted music, which created legal challenges. “We used an Elvis Presley song, and that’s obviously copyrighted,” said Mattingly. This resulted in him and his crew being unable to officially submit the movie.
In addition to the copyright issue, many film festivals prefer films that haven’t been shown to the public in any way before being premiered at the festival, and Point Blank has already been shown to students from UC High. “We wanted to make it easy for students to see, not charging much for tickets and keeping it local. Point Blank had three screenings, two at a local AMC theater and one for the cast, crew, and close friends and families,” said Mattingly.
Despite Point Blank not being entered into the festival, Mattingly remains optimistic about filmmaking and plans to attend the festival. He is working on three new projects with the intention of submitting them to future events, including the San Diego Film Festival. “We’re being mindful of copyright issues and making sure they’re geared towards festivals. It’s a great way to get connected with directors and showcase your work on a larger platform,” said Mattingly.
Senior Trae Lizalde shares a similar perspective. He began his filmmaking journey at the age of 14 in UC High’s Video Production class. “It is just so cool seeing what people can come up with and how they create it, all these interesting stories, camera angles, their humor, it’s just a very positive experience that lets you see how your fellow filmmakers are creating their ideas and visions,” said Lizalde. Film festivals allow the audience to become engrossed by the stories and perspectives filmmakers have to share.
Lizalde believes the San Diego International Film Festival and its events can inspire students, motivating them to explore their own creative projects. “Seeing what other people can do is really inspiring, especially after you learn the process they went through, what they dealt with, and their restraints. It just motivates people even more,” said Lizalde. The festival has something to offer everyone, whether it be entertainment, inspiration, or just time to hang out with friends.
It’s clear that the San Diego International Film Festival has a significant impact, not only for established filmmakers but aspiring ones as well. The festival allows films to gain the recognition they deserve, bringing people together who are passionate about creating something larger than themselves.