Festival Films

Fri, May 15th - Sun, May 17th at The Neon
featuring Dayton Originals

Get an all access pass for $75
Individual tickets run $10/film with a limited # of
student tickets available for $7 with valid student ID
Most Workshop prices are $5




Friday, May 15th

WSU BIG LENS 7:30pm
Be first to see the latest gems from the award-winning Motion Pictures program at WSU. Past WSU films have gone on to Sundance and won Student Academy Awards. This show will include world premieres of brand new films, diverse in their subject matter and style. They will enlighten, challenge, and entertain you. Come show your support and meet the filmmakers of tomorrow! Not all content will be suitable for children.

Left of Center by Alex Mangen
Waiting Room Directed by Trevor Hollen
Roger and Betty Directed by Daisy Blakelock
Run to Me Run from Me Directed by Ben Garchar
Toughman Directed by Doug Paul and Rocky Smith

NOT YOUR TYPICAL BIGFOOT MOVIE 10pm
Filmmaker Jay Delaney provides a look at the trials and triumphs of friendship and life in the Appalachian foot hills. Through the experiences of two amateur bigfoot researchers in southern Ohio, we see how the power of a dream can bring two men together and provide a source of hope and meaning that transcend the harsh realities of life in a dying steel town. This movie made it's world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in 2008.

Saturday, May 16th

The African World Film festival will present this screening:
DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST 1:30pm
A visually ravishing look at the Gullah culture of the sea islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia where African folk-ways were maintained well into the 20th Century and was one of the last bastion of these mores in America. Set in 1902.This film has been selected by the Library of Congress for their prestigious National Film Registry.

FilmDayton Festival Industry Panel 2009
What is the future of Independent filmmaking? Is there a future for filmmaking in Ohio?
Producers and directors discuss the challenges facing independent filmmaking in 2009 and the case for Ohio and Dayton. A perfect opportunity for one to gain perspective into the future of filmmaking as well as participate in an open Q/A.
With Ed Radtke, Jay Delaney, Turner Ross, Karri O’Reilly, BarbaraO & Mike Katchman. Moderated by Nichol Simmons.
FREE! - SATURDAY, 4-6PM in the ThinkTV CONFERENCE ROOM

TAKEN FOR A RIDE 4:30pm
This is a documentary film that reveals the tragic and little known story of an auto and oil industry campaign, led by General Motors, to buy and dismantle streetcar lines. Across the nation, tracks were torn up, sometimes overnight, and diesel buses placed on city streets. Won the Best of Festival award at the 1997 Nashville Film Festival

THE SPEED OF LIFE 7pm
This 2007 Venice Film Festival Winner by Ed Radtke follows a young boy who escapes life on the New York streets by stealing video cameras with his friends and retreating into the footage he's found. Your ticket stub also admits you to The Speed of Life Party at Gilly's following the film, featuring two local bands who contributed tracks to the film (LAB PARTNERS and SOHIO) and include DJing by DJ Scorpious Max of the Good Over Evil Sound Consortium and the Rev Cool of WYSO and "Around The Fringe" fame as well as live dancers from DCDC amongst other surprise treats!

BLUE CAR 9:30pm
Gifted 18-year-old Meg has been abandoned by her father and neglected by her hardworking mother. Left to care for her emotionally disturbed younger sister, her world begins to unravel. She finds an outlet in writing poetry and support from her English teacher, Mr. Auster . But what started out as a mentoring relationship begins to get a bit more complex.

DEADBEAT AT DAWN midnight
Goose is leader of "The Ravens", a street gang located in Dayton, Ohio. The Ravens have an ongoing feud with "The Spiders", led by the sadistic goon Danny. Goose loves the criminal life, but when his girlfriend Christie threatens to leave him, he quits the Ravens. First, he goes on one last drug deal, to get money to fund a new life with Christie.


Sunday, May 17th

DAYTON CODEBREAKERS 12:15pm
The breaking of Germany's World War II 'Enigma' code is widely known today. But there's an untold story: How NCR engineers in Dayton, led by Oakwood resident Joe Desch, worked in secret to develop the machines that helped break the code.

MY MUMMY 1:30pm
Two friends find that the "gag" mummy they purchased from a shady antique store may be more than just another cheesy novelty gift when an enchanted scarf brings the embalmed corpse to life for the amusement of anyone who dons the magical piece of neckwear.

BEST OF SHORTS 4pm
Dayton has a long history of producing nationally and internationally recognized films and filmmakers. This program of award winning shorts includes multiple Sundance film festival selections as well as Emmy and Oscar recognized short films, and many of the filmmakers will be in attendance. Content not suitable for children.

Picture Day – Steve Bognar, Director -Sundance participant
Pleasant Hill USA – Josh Wintringham, Director -Sundance participant
Night Swimming – Brian Whitley, Director-student oscar nominee
Saving Jackie – Selena Burks Director-Sundance participant
Night Owls – Shawn Bennett, Director-National Student Emmy award winner
Dry Mount – Nichol Simmons, Director- Sundance winner
Held in Sway – Russ Faust Director- 48 hour film festival winner - Cannes participant
Rubi Girls – Jonathan McNeal-numerous national festival awards

45365 7pm
Shot over the course of 9 months in Sidney, Ohio, 45365 follows the lives of a cross section of the towns residents as their storylines coalesce into a mosaic of faces, places, and events. A Judge’s race for re-election, the County Fair, the Barber Shop, the retirement home, a football team, a father and son, a young relationship, arrest and sentencing are all explored in this sweeping survey of life in a small town. Winner of Jury Award for Documentary Feature at The 2009 SXSW Film Festival

WSU BIG LENS 9:30pm
Be first to see the latest gems from the award-winning Motion Pictures program at WSU. Past WSU films have gone on to Sundance and won Student Academy Awards. This show will include world premieres of brand new films, diverse in their subject matter and style. They will enlighten, challenge, and entertain you. Come show your support and meet the filmmakers of tomorrow! Content not suitable for children.

Left of Center by Alex Mangen
Waiting Room Directed by Trevor Hollen
Roger and Betty Directed by Daisy Blakelock
Run to Me Run from Me Directed by Ben Garchar
Toughman Directed by Doug Paul and Rocky Smith

Festival made possible by: