And excited to be back once again under the realm of the Goshen Theater.

Riverbend Film Festival is happening this weekend, and I know we're hearing this Thursday.

It's already started, and so you got to make sure that you check it out.

And I have my friend Neal with me, the new executive director, festival director, rather.

Thank you for joining me so much today.

But this is another exciting year.

You guys have been doing the festival for over 20 years now.

Yeah, 24 years.

This will be the 10th year in Goshen and we're super excited for this year.

We have a lot of Indiana filmmakers.

We have a lot of international filmmakers, nine international and 25 for Indiana specific.

That's amazing.

And so how many films are you going to be showing in the course of that?

So just on 770, okay.

That's a lot.

Yes.

I always have to ask, when you put together a film festival like this.

What is the process that goes into selecting what's going to be shown?

Yeah, we have an amazing selection team from the movies that are being shown to also screenwriters and screenwriter awards, and they're working diligently as early as March and February of this.

There's a lengthy process.

Yes, a record number of submissions this year.

So they had even more work this year and they get a fantastic job.

They put some really exciting movies, and I love that.

You know, obviously you guys have been around for over 20 years, but the word has continued to spread, right?

Like you guys have continued to grow over the years.

Yeah.

Particularly since this move to Goshen, we've had a lot of great growth.

The thing we hear from filmmakers again and again is that Goshen gets it.

This area gets what the film festival goes in.

Shout out to Goshen.

Yeah, exactly.

So I know you also have some featured films that you show throughout the weekend.

And I also love that you have Q&A sessions as well.

So let's talk about the feature films you guys have in place for this area.

Yeah.

So our first feature film will be Friday night and it's Crystal cross.

Okay.

I'm very sorry about that.

Yeah, very excited for it.

I'm a road trip guy and I'm also a dark comedy guy, so Crystal cross is both of those things.

It also has a heavy music influence to it.

And it won Best Comedy at the Paradise Film Festival.

Really?

Okay, very excited for that.

Okay.

And then what do we have far feature film on Saturday.

And then Saturday we have Doug Jones of course visit.

Yeah, that's a big deal.

That's a big deal.

That's he is our biggest actor guest that we've had.

And his filmography is super lengthy.

Okay.

So we're going to be able to show Shape of Water okay.

On on Saturday a special screening of that.

And then we're going to hit a record of Doug afterwards.

And he's going to leave fans and moviegoers and signs and posters, which will be for sale in the box office.

And they're very excited with that.

That is so cool.

And I want to point out to that, whether or not you are involved with the filmmaking process, this festival is for anyone.

Yeah, filmgoers really appreciate this.

You're going to see things that you're not going to see in larger theaters.

You're going to see movies that tell stories narratively that are exciting their local, they're heartfelt and their unique.

It's a fantastic experience for everyone, and we have a little something for everyone.

Okay, that's that's queen out.

Yeah, we have different kinds of blocks.

We have a documentary block, we have an Indiana film block.

We even have a Goshen College Fund blog on Thursday night.

Okay.

And in the documentary block, there's a documentary about Conor Daly who races in the Indy 500.

And I'm very excited for that one as well, because I go to the 500 every year.

Well, know what a huge deal for you.

Yeah.

Very cool.

So lots of stuff for people to experience here.

But talk about why it's important here for Goshen to have something like this.

Because, you know, like you said, you guys have been doing it here in Goshen for a handful of years now, for a decade, really.

And that is certainly something that has been impactful, but especially lining up this year with their first Fridays.

Yes, we actually have a family friendly block playing specifically during First Fridays this year.

We're very excited about that.

We try to get out as much as we can to the community.

We're glad with Green Croft through a special movie block on Thursday.

And yeah, we tried to coordinate with our downtown businesses.

Several of them are sponsors, which is incredible, wonderful.

And so to have that kind of support in the community and that kind of togetherness in the community working behind something like this, it's just it's it's invaluable.

And we could not do it without the support of those lessons use.

I love that that's so wonderful.

Now, I know with the First Fridays, obviously that's probably going to be a more family friendly experience for them.

Do you want to talk about that?

Yeah, absolutely.

So First Fridays brings thousands of people downtown every first Friday of the month.

This year we're very excited to have a family friendly block that's actually free thanks to a sponsorship from Exhale Sinus.

So we're super excited about that.

We really say this events for everyone.

It really is for everyone.

So bring your families, enjoy the wonderful festive atmosphere down here in downtown Goshen.

And then you get to see a movie as well with your with your family.

So what can be better than that?

Thank you.

Okay, so for people coming out they want to know more about the actual schedule.

What's the best way for them to find the information in regards to what they want to see?

Yeah.

So Riverbend Filmfestival is the place to go.

You can see the full schedule there.

You can purchase your tickets.

You can do really everything you need to do right there and information on the films they can find online if they want to look it up and read synopsis and things like that.

Okay.

Got it.

Or they can go to film freeway com, which probably has a lot of information on the films that are interested.

Well, and especially with a film festival like this, you know, oftentimes it's films that no one has heard of yet.

So getting a good understanding of what you're going to see, although I'm sure some people like the element of surprise.

Sure, I'm a no spoilers guy myself.

Where are you?

Still my daughter?

No spoilers before we go.

See you there.

I'm okay.

Like, if it's a movie full of anxiety, sound like the end first, and then I'll watch it through.

Like, I just need to know what happens.

So I'm okay through the process, right?

Sure.

Yeah, yeah.

So there'll be a lot of surprises in these movies.

There'll be a ton.

And there's everything from comedy to horror to documentaries to local narrative films to more creative, abstract films and music videos.

Oh, interesting.

So come to be delighted.

Come to be surprised.

You're going to see stuff you've never seen before.

And you're going to be so impressed with who.

Now, I know you said there's Indiana films too.

So we talk about local makers and filmmakers.

You know, how has that gone into this scene and into the process for you guys?

Yeah.

So that's always a very intentional thing.

Yeah.

It is important that we're from Goshen.

It is important that we're from Indiana and isn't important that these Hoosier filmmakers have a platform to share their films, to be involved in festivals, to be involved in that community.

And so all of that from our our Hoosier filmmakers to the ones in Michigan and everybody through Michiana to our Goshen College filmmakers, have a place to tell those stories that are from here and from our people.

And that is so important.

It is so amazing, and I thank you for giving them a then you kind of get their start, if you will.

And for those people who maybe are thinking maybe filmmaking might be something I'm interested in, this is definitely the time and place where you can come get your questions answered, because you do.

You guys do have a number of Q&A opportunities as well.

So you get yeah, that's true.

Every film block we do has a Q&A from the short film blocks to the documentaries to be screening of Shape of Water with Doug Jones will all have a Q&A in it.

So people who are interested in acting interested in film, not just from a creator standpoint, but even from a moviegoer standpoint, we'll have such a more in-depth vision of what that takes the challenges, the joys and the successes and all of those things.

It's fantastic perspective.

Now people need tickets for this weekend tonight, correct?

Yeah.

And I know you have a variety of ticket options.

Yep.

You want to talk about those?

Sure.

Yeah.

So we try to keep it very open for everyone.

We have a special price for students and seniors for a weekend pass.

We have a three day VIP pass which will get you into all of the after parties, the special events, all of those things where the filmmakers were.

B and then we had just a regular three day weekend pass, which is significantly less expensive, but we'll still get you into all of the movies, we'll still get you into the atmosphere.

And we also have individual block tickets.

So if you can only make it for one block, there is a ticket for that as well.

Such a variety.

You guys have to make sure you check it out.

Happening this weekend right here is a Goshen theater, so we look forward to seeing you here.

Thank you.

Awesome.

Thank you so much Courtney.