It was not without reservation that we set out to make a reality of our dream. We set out to establish an independent film festival that would celebrate the characteristics that we held central to the ultimate truth of the cinematic arts.
We did not know who would attend, but we knew what type of people we wanted to attract. We wanted to share the cinematic marvel with people who loved films for the same reasons that we do. Films have the ability to tell a story that expresses the artist’s vision in a way that no other medium is able to offer. Filmmaking shows the ultimate truth in a way that words could never achieve.
Film is the one medium that has the ability to move us to tears, laughter, fear, exaltation, and countless other emotions all within the span of a few moments.
Considered among the top 100 most popular film festivals in the world, The Great Lakes International Film Festival will take place the last week each September.
Awarding outstanding filmmakers for the Best of Genre, the Great Lakes International Film Festival is an excellent stop on the fest circuit for filmmakers interested in having their film presented to a very warm and welcoming audience, meeting celebrities, parties, and networking with phenomenal filmmakers from across the country and around the world to the award ceremonies, industry professionals, and much more.
For the filmmaker that is looking for a bit more, the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival is also a great place to get your film noticed. Our film festival has showcased nearly 1,000 films over the past 10 years including numerous films that have been aired on HBO, PBS, and the Sundance channel. In October of 2004, we were proud to present the North East United States Premiere of “SAW”, Lions Gate Films' gripping psychological thriller starring Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, and Leigh Whannel, and with "The Collector of Bedford Street" having been nominated for an Academy Award after being screened at our 2002 fest, we certainly bring the best and the brightest to the shores of Erie Pa.
"The Derby Stallion" was released with Echo Bridge Home Entertainment and Director Joel Miller's film "The Still Life" has received distribution through Warner Home Video. Both films were proudly screened at our 2006 film festival.
The association has also been host to such filmmakers and special guests as actor/director/producer Dirk Benedict (Battlestar Galactica and A-Team); writer Erick Rodgers (Writer of NYPD Blue); director/producer Harri James (script supervisor "Alias", Tremors II: Aftershocks, Tremors 4: The Legend Begins); producer Otto Felix ("B.J. and the Bear" & Up in Smoke); award-winning, best-selling mystery author Jamian Snow (Shrouded Insanity); actor/writer/producer Bill Hinzman (Flesheater & Night of the Living Dead); director Lloyd Kaufman (Toxic Avenger films, Pot Zombies, & President of Troma Films); actor Gunnar Hansen (Texas Chainsaw Massacre); actor/ director Mark Borchardt (American Movie & Coven); director John Hancock ("Hill Street Blues", "The Twilight Zone", & California Dreaming); actress Debbie Rochon "Scream Queen" (Blood Relic, Vampyre Tales, & Lord of the Undead); producer/director Bobby Logan (Meatballs 4 & Repossessed); Joel Miller; WWE and ECW wrestling superstar The Blue Meanie, and in 2002 we had the unique opportunity to present Keith Carradine with a special award for artistic excellence, award-winning director Joone, award-winning actress Jesse Jane, and local actress Marie Madison.
The legendary Terry Moore who was our special guest of honor in 2006 was presented with a lifetime Achievement Award for her amazing accomplishments in film over the past 60 years.
In 2007, we had the pleasure to have Guns 'n Roses Super Star Dizzy Reed make a special appearance at the festival and perform with local icon band Hammerd.
One of the unique things about the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival is its home, Erie, Pennsylvania. Our forty-mile slice of Lake Erie waterfront bears no resemblance to the major urban centers of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, being entirely low-rise and extremely leafy; indeed you hardly realize you are downtown until you find yourself in the shady park-like town square, on 6th Street between the main thoroughfares of Peach and State streets.
There are several places of cultural interest in the city, all within walking distance of our festival, several museums devoted to history, art and science; among these, the Erie Maritime Museum has a fascinating display on the geological and ecological development of the Great Lakes and also focuses on warships of different periods; the elegant US Brig Niagara is usually moored outside and is part of the museum.
Undoubtedly, Erie's main attraction is the elongated comma-shaped peninsula of Presque Isle State Park, which bends east from its narrow neck three miles west of downtown until it almost touches the city's northernmost tip. The park is maintained as a nature preserve and has wide sandy beaches good for swimming, backed by thick woods offering a series of trails.
Erie is perfect with all of its historic and picturesque locations, it is also ideal for filming, able to give the real look of any location around the world at a much lower budget cost for the struggling filmmaker.
The Great Lakes International Film Festival continues to seek out the best and brightest of independent film and filmmakers.
From the feature narrative genre to documentary to animation; experimental; horror; Spiritual; “film", the Great Lakes International Film Festival celebrates the film arts in dynamic transition. As emerging technologies continue to redefine the form, filmmakers from the Great Lakes, across the country and around the world express the common and the diverse through the age-old tradition.
-- The art of the story.
