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The emergent Young Springfield Professionals Network
takes a cue from the Young Professionals of Quincy: a short film festival
highlighting 18 movies from around the country. The best entries from
Quincy’s Big Dam Film Festival, each clocking in at less than 20
minutes, unspool this weekend in Springfield.
A few YSPN members traveled west to attend the Big
Dam Film Festival’s second installment. They liked what they saw, so
much so that they wanted to host a festival in the capital city with help
from their sister organization. They called the event’s coordinator,
Clint Begley, and asked whether YPQ would bring the popular festival to a
new audience. “They sent their disc of films; we screened all
the films and selected the titles,” says Megan Derrig-Green, a member
of the networking committee for YSPN.
The festival features independent shorts from coast
to coast, with a few regional selections. Shelby Crow, YPQ’s
coordinator, says that the Quincy festival received 75 submissions this
year. The organization showed 11 selections at this year’s fest,
including some Quincy-area filmmakers’ work. Begley will introduce the 18 films chosen for
Springfield, among them “A Ninja Pays Half My Rent,” the story
of a ninja roommate; and this year’s Audience Award winner,
“Nevel Is the Devil.” The unique shorts helped sell out
Quincy’s fest for two years, and Derrig-Green says she hopes that the
films — which, she says, range from hilarious to creepy —
capture similar interest in Springfield. Derrig-Green considers this fest a
demonstration to gauge interest for future film events.
The Best of the Big Dam Independent Short Film
Festival begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at the Hoogland Center for
the Arts (420 S. Sixth St.) Tickets cost $10 for YSPN members and $15 for
nonmembers; a cash bar and snacks will be available. Tickets may be
purchased at the door or online at www.ypspringfield.org.
Contact Marissa Monson at mmonson@illinoistimes.com
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2007.
