MovieMaker | Omaha Film Festival 2017: 13 Reasons Why This Midwest Festival is Never Middle of The Pack

Awesome article by Molly Hermann, director of OFF’17 documentary “Written OFF,” in the MovieMaker magazine!

As a veteran of one sweep around the festival circuit, I’ve been to some wonderful festivals… and a few that were no fun.

Let me draw an analogy: I frequently work in the developing world, and have a rating system for bathrooms—starting with one (hole in the ground) and building up to a 13 (Heathrow Airport restrooms with the rotating plastic wrap). Each additional amenity (walls, a toilet, a seat, a door, a lock on the door, a light, a sink, soap, no flies, paper products, a trashcan, a flush, a mirror…) adds to the number.

The list of things that good film festivals do right is just as concrete. Omaha Film Festival—which I attended this spring with co-producer/DP Rob Lyall, with our feature documentary about the opioid crisis, Written Off—gets my highest rating. Here’s why:

2017 48hr Film Challenge

28 teams turned in their 48hr Film Challenge Films!
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Crime
Line of Dialog: “it’s never been more clear”
Prop: Calculator
Facebook page – Facebook Event Page
Film screening information and winners list is here

2017 Audio Workshop

Audio workshopFacebook Event Page

As a part of our continuing educational outreach for the OFF Academy we are offering an audio workshop. Taught by audio professional Kevin Keplar, we will give you a good understanding of the best ways to get great sound when making films. Sound is 50% of a film and how you capture it and what you do with it when it’s captured can make or break your film so you won’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to learn from someone who’s been capturing and processing live sound professionally his whole career

When:
Sunday, September 10 from 10:00am – noon (check-in at 9:30am)

Where:
Metropolitan Community College
Do Space
7205 Dodge St
Omaha NE 68114

How Much:
High School student pre-registration is $10 per student
(student ID required at check-in).
Registration the day of the session is $15.
Non-students welcome for $15. Please pre-register if you can!

If you would like to attend but can’t afford the entry fee, send us a message and we will work with some of our sponsors that have previously provided OFF Academy scholarships to see what is available.

Pre-register online to secure your spot.
Fees accepted at check-in on the day of the workshop.
Checks can be made out to “Omaha Film Festival.”
Cash or Credit Card are also accepted.

Please submit your completed form by September 9, 2017
Register:
http://forms.omahafilmfestival.org/form-2907436/2017-Audio-Workshop-Registration-Form

2017 Screenwriting Workshop

Screenwriting WorkshopFacebook Event Page

As a part of our continuing educational outreach for the OFF Academy we are offering a beginners screenwriting workshop. Taught by Omaha Film Festival directors Jason Levering and Marc Longbrake, we will introduce you to the basics of screenwriting including proper formatting, basic storytelling, and character development.

The workshop will be geared toward High School students but anyone with an interest in the screenwriting process is welcome to attend.

When:
Sunday, September 10 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm (check-in at 12:30)

Where:
Metropolitan Community College
Do Space
7205 Dodge St
Omaha NE 68114

How Much:
High School student pre-registration is $15 per student
(student ID required at check-in).
Registration the day of the session is $20.
Non-students welcome for $20. Please pre-register if you can!

If you would like to attend but can’t afford the entry fee, send us a message and we will work with some of our sponsors that have previously provided OFF Academy scholarships to see what is available.

Pre-register online to secure your spot.
Fees accepted at check-in on the day of the workshop.
Checks can be made out to “Omaha Film Festival.”
Cash or Credit Card are also accepted.

Please submit your completed form by September 9, 2017
Register:
http://forms.omahafilmfestival.org/form-2907295/2017-Screenwriter-Workshop-Registration-Form

2017 Cinematography Workshop

Cinematography WorkshopFacebook Event Page

As a part of our continuing educational outreach for the OFF Academy we are offering a beginners cinematography workshop. Taught by Ben Drickey, owner of Torchwerks Studio. We will introduce you to the basics of cinematography and film lighting.

The workshop will be geared toward High School students but anyone with an interest in the filmmaking process is welcome to attend and will gain a wealth of valuable information.

When:
Sunday, August 27 from 1:00pm – 5:00pm (check-in at 12:30pm)

Where:
Mastercraft Building
1111 North 13th Street
Omaha NE 68102
Drive on the east side of the building to Dock #12

How Much:
High School student pre-registration is $20 per student
(student ID required at check-in)
Registration the day of the session is $25
Non-students welcome for $25
Pre-registration not required but appreciated!

If you would like to attend but can’t afford the entry fee, send us a message and we will work with some of our sponsors that have previously provided OFF Academy scholarships to see what is available.

Pre-register online to secure your spot.
Fees accepted at check-in on the day of the workshop.
Checks can be made out to “Omaha Film Festival.”
Cash or Credit Card are also accepted.

Please submit your completed form by August 26, 2017
Register:
http://forms.omahafilmfestival.org/form-2910592/2017-Cinematography-Workshop-Registration-Form

O Comic Con pop-up theatre

Come check out a ton of Animated and Comedy shorts from past Omaha Film Festivals at our Pop-Up Theatre at the Third Annual O Comic Con!

Go to the O Comic Con Facebook page for more info on their amazing event

https://www.facebook.com/omahacomiccon/

From Friday, July 7th, through Sunday, July 9th, the Mid-America Center will once again transform into a comics and pop culture expo space as O Comic Con hosts guests from the entertainment world amid 25,000 square feet of vendors, artists, and exhibitors.

And once you’re in, look for the OFF Theatre and hang out with us free of charge! We’ll be doing drawings for cool OFF swag and passes for future OFF events all weekend!

Free parking
Kids 12 and under admitted free with adult ticket holder
Event hours:
Friday 12 PM – 8 PM
Saturday 9 AM – 8 PM
Sunday 9 AM – 5 PM

Looking forward to seeing you there!

http://www.ocomiccon.com/

07.07-09.17 OFF Pop-Up Theatre at O Comic ConFacebook Event Page

Omaha Gives! #waitingforwarren film

10 Directors
10 Hours
1 Minute of finished film each
To make a 10 minute short film
Live!
#waitingforwarren

Join us on Wednesday, May 24 for a unique behind-the-scenes look at a short film being created by 10 different directors throughout the day. Each director is responsible to create one minute of finished film within their one-hour time slot. Look in on Facebook throughout the day as we stream the filmmaking process and interviews with the filmmakers and actors or come down to Wilson & Washburn and see it live! We’ll be looking for extras all day and we hope that YOU will share our event and help us build some excitement as we participate in this year’s Omaha Gives! day of giving!

We’re thrilled to announce our ten guest directors:

Ben Drickey – owner of Torchwerks and OFF sponsor
David Weiss – owner of DMWeiss Productions and OFF sponsor
Mike Comstock – winner of the OFF’17 NE Screenwriting competition
Tim Guthrie – winner of the OFF’17 NE Short Doc competition and overall Audience Choice Short
Tony Bonacci – winner of the OFF 2016 48hr Film Challenge
Mike Machian – local filmmaker having multiple films screened at OFF
Magie McCombs – local filmmaker having multiple films screened at OFF
Empty Space Films – Sam, Seth & Phillip – local filmmakers and OFF’17 video crew
Marc Longbrake – OFF Program Director
Jason Levering – OFF Executive Director

“Like”
Follow Along
Share
Contribute
And help us solve the mystery as we’re all #waitingforwarren

Click here to donate:
https://www.omahagives.org/omahafilmfestival/overview

The Omaha Film Festival is proud to be participating in Omaha Gives!, a 24-hour charitable challenge organized by the Omaha Community Foundation. The online giving holiday will take place May 24 from midnight to midnight. Mark your calendars because we will need your help! We will be joining more than 800 local nonprofits to raise money together and compete for prize money—the more donors we get to give to us, the more likely we are to win prizes.

05.24.17 Omaha Gives!Facebook Event Page

2017 7-7-7 and 4-4-4 Challenge screenings

From 5:30 – 6:30 – film screening, Q&A, and Awards for
4-4-4 Omaha Metro Middle School Film Showcase

From 6:30 – 9:00 – film screening, Q&A, and Awards for
7-7-7 Omaha Metro High School Film Showcase

Free!

Over the last week two dozen middle school and high school teams have been working hard on completing their 4 minute and 7 minute films. Come out to the showcase and see which films will be screened and which films will win in the following categories:

1. Incorporate Color Theme in a Scene (Variable Drawing) – White/Yellow/Red/Green/Blue/Black
2. Prop – a Pez dispenser
3. Line of Dialog – “Wow! I didn’t see that coming.”
4. Genre (Variable Drawing) – Thriller/Romance/Comedy/Drama/Action
5. Must have Conflict (Same for All)
6. Must have Minimum 3 Scene Changes (Same for All)
7. Incorporate the #7 Somehow in a Scene (Same for All)

Awards will be given to
Best Film
2nd – 7th place films
Best Cinematography
Most Creative Use of Required Prop
Most Creative Use of Required Line of Dialog
Most Creative Use of Incorporating the #7

Films will screen in random order and only the films that will win one of the awards above will screen!

Screenings will be in the Durham Theatre so park on the lower level and use the entrance on the east end of the building. The main entrance will be closed.

04.21.17 7-7-7 LaunchFacebook Event Page
04.28.17 7-7-7 End
05.02.17 7-7-7 Screening at DurhamFacebook Event Page

7-7-7 and 4-4-4 Challenges!

The Omaha Film Festival is partnering with the Omaha Public School Career Center for this awesome filmmaking challenge designed specifically for area high school students!

The 7-7-7 Challenge gives high school teams an opportunity to create a seven minute film in seven days that meets seven established challenges.

Starting on April 21st between 6:30pm and 8:00pm in the TAC Boardroom at the Career Center on 3215 Cuming Street, you’ll be given your challenges, then you’ll have seven days to complete your film!

Challenges include:
1. Incorporate Color Theme in a Scene (Variable Drawing) – White/Yellow/Red/Green/Blue/Black
2. Prop (Same for All)
3. Line of Dialog (Same for All)
4. Genre (Variable Drawing) – Thriller/Romance/Comedy/Drama/Action
5. Must have Conflict (Same for All)
6. Must have Minimum 3 Scene Changes (Same for All)
7. Incorporate the #7 Somehow in a Scene (Same for All)

Registration will be $15 per team if registered by 4/14 or $20 per team when you pick up your packet on the 21st.

All qualifying finished films will screen at the Durham Museum Theatre on Tuesday, May 2nd from 6:30pm – 9:00pm and will feature a Q&A with all of the filmmakers!

Prizes will be given to
Best Film
1st Runner Up
2nd Runner Up
Best Cinematography
Most Creative Use of Required Prop
Most Creative Use of Required Line of Dialog
Most Creative Use of Incorporating the #7

04.21.17 7-7-7 LaunchFacebook Event Page
04.28.17 7-7-7 End
05.02.17 7-7-7 Screening at DurhamFacebook Event Page

Results from the 2017 OFF

Screenplays:

Best Nebraska Screenplay – “The Keeper Beauchamp” by Michael Comstock
Best Short Screenplay – “Summer Fruit” by Annalise Lamberty
Best Feature Screenplay – “Dietrich Danzig” by John Pisano-Thomsen

Films:

Jury Prizes:

Best Animated Short Film – “Post No Bills” by Robin Hays, Andy Poon
Animated Short Film Honorable Mention – “Green Light” by Seongmin Kim
Best Nebraska Short Film – “The Quest for Excalispoon” by Sam Senser, Thomas Johnson
Best Nebraska Short Film Honorable Mention – “Spelling Bee” by Dominic Cilfalo
Best Nebraska Short Documentary – “Missing Piece” by Tim Guthrie
Best Short Film – “A Beautiful Day” by Phedon Papamichael
Short Film Honorable Mention – “The Firefly Girls” by Katie Micay
Best Documentary – “Written Off” by Molly Hermann
Documentary Honorable Mention – “Supergirl” by Jessie Auritt
Best Feature Film – “Dave Made a Maze” by Bill Watterson
Feature Film Honorable Mention – “Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse” by Gabe Diani, Etta Devine

Audience Choice Awards:

Audience Choice Short Film – “Missing Piece” by Tim Guthrie
Audience Choice Documentary – “Walk With Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith” by Jesse Nesser
Audience Choice Feature Film – “Girl Flu.” by Dorie Barton