The Sioux City International Film Festival is back for its 18th year; it showcases films ranging from 15-minute shorts to feature-length productions over the weekend.
Samantha “Sami” Giesen, Shawna Fernau, and Camrie Miranda all have unique experiences with the film festival. Sami has volunteered in the past, this is Shawna’s first year, and this is Camrie’s second year as an intern.
Sami is familiar with volunteering at this film festival; her experience with volunteering is exciting, to say the least. Dr. Leslie Werden, an English professor at Morningside University, sends out a volunteer Google Form every year. Sami fills out this form that allows her to volunteer. Sami gets a free ticket to see a film block, a small set of films, because she volunteers.
Sami thinks everyone should go to the Sioux City International Film Festival because it is something to do with your day. She says, “They don’t call it the ‘International Film Festival’ for no reason!” She then discusses how she is able to meet a filmmaker from California, a filmmaker from a different country, and Bri Holland.
Tonight is Shawna’s first time visiting the Sioux City International Film Festival. This is Shawna’s first time going to the festival. Shawna recommends going to the Sioux City International Film Festival because “this is a great platform to boost small movie producers!”
Shawna says that she loves the feature-length film Love… Reconsidered. She mentions how it is extremely funny & how she doesn’t tend to like romance movies, but she thinks this goes very well. When asked if she likes the Sioux City International Film Festival, she says, “It is definitely worth the time.” Shawna says that she will for sure be going to the Sioux City International Film Festival next year.
This is Camrie’s second year as an intern with the film fest. She loves working with them because they have, “Good organization, the board is passionate, they have firm intentions with their interns.” She also talks about how she has always been interested in film and she would love to have her name in credits somewhere in a movie. Camrie also says that getting involved with the Sioux City International Film Festival allows you to meet filmmakers from all around the world.
Camrie suggests watching the short film Trumpet. Trumpet is about a man who gets stranded after going somewhere to watch an orchestra. The main character doesn’t speak the language that is spoken in this new and strange world, but he knows he can communicate with those around him through music.
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