For thirteen years, the historic Fargo Theatre has sponsored the Fargo Film Festival. Since its inception in 2001, the festival has grown from 30 submissions to more than 150 from 28 states and 12 countries. Films are presented in seven distinct categories: Animation, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Experimental, Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, and Student. The 2013 festival runs from Tuesday, March 5th to Saturday, March 9th and is packed with exciting film presentations, expos, and special guests. A complete listing of events can be found at www.fargofilmfestival.org.
Kick-off:
The festival opens on Tuesday at 7:00pm with the screening of the Prairie Spirit Award winning film Hjemkomst: Thiry Years Later. Directed by Eli A. Kaufman, this new documentary recalls the incredible journey of the Hjemkomst Viking ship 30 years after its original voyage. Also on Tuesday will be the screening of When They Were Kings: The NDSU – UND Rivalry, directed by Matt Olien. Scheduled to hit the screen at 7:40pm, the documentary chronicles the great rivalries between NDSU and UND in their Division II days.
Ted M. Larson Award:
The Ted M. Larson award is given in honor of Larson’s contributions to both the Fargo Theatre and the film community throughout the Red River Valley. The winner of the 2013 Ted M. Larson award is Hal Hartley, writer and director of twelve feature films, including his acclaimed 1989 debut, The Unbelievable Truth.
On Wednesday at 7:00pm is a screening of Hartley’s most recent film Meanwhile, the story of jack-of-all-trades Joe Fulton. Although very talented, success eludes Joe for he can’t keep himself from fixing other people’s problems. His own ambitions are constantly interrupted by his willingness and ability to go out of his way for others.
The screening will be followed by an 8:00 p.m. showing of excerpts from a work in progress by Hartley as well as an 8:30 p.m. live on-stage conversation and audience chat with the award- winning director.
Bill Snyder Award:
The Sill Snyder Award is given in recognition of outstanding documentary filmmaking. The 2013 award winner is Informant, by Jamie Meltzer, also the winner of the Best in Show: Best Picture and Best Documentary Feature awards. The documentary examines the life of Brandon Darby, a radical activist turned FBI informant who has been both vilified and deified, but never fully understood. Informant will be screened on Thursday at 8:45pm.
Finale and Special Guests:
The festival will wind down on Saturday, but not before a 7:35pm screening of the Oscar nominated film Death of a Shadow, winner of the Best Narrative Short award and the Best in Show: Best Director award for Tom Van Avermaet. Death of a Shadow tells the story of Nathan, who died during World War I. After his death, a strange collector imprisoned his shadow and offered him a path to a second chance at life, a second chance to be with the woman he loves. Death of a Shadow is Ven Avermaet’s first professional short film.
The final screening of the festival will take place on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Astronaut: The Last Push is the winner of the Best Narrative Feature award, as well as the Best in Show: Best Actor award for the performance by Khary Payton. Directed by Eric Hayden, Astronaut: The Last Push begins when disaster strikes the first manned mission to explore life on the moons of Jupiter, and chronicles the three-year journey astronaut Michael Forrest must face to survive. Astonaut: The Last Push is Eric’s feature film directorial debut.
Van Avermaet, Hayden, and Payton will all appear on Saturday evening as special guests of the festival.