2003 Festival Recap

   The 3rd Annual Bearded Child Film Festival took place in Grand Rapids, Minnesota on Aug. 8-9, and the same program screened in Boulder, CO on Sept. 19-20. Awards were announced after the Grand Rapids show.

GRAND RAPIDS RECAP:

    The main leg of this year's Bearded Child was, by all respects, a success. Our turn-out was the best it's ever been, and the films we received this year were top notch. About 100 people showed for the first night of the festival, and most stayed until the last film of the evening left the screen at 1:30am Saturday morning. Saturday's program lasted from 5:30pm-12:30am, and was also well received. During the last two years, the crowd wasn't really sure what to make of this kind of festival, but we seemed to have a better prepared and more receptive crew this year. For the most part, they got the jokes, were impressed by experimentation, and didn't walk out in droves. As far as I know, we are the only fest in Minnesota that focuses on experimental-style cinema, and it's nice to see that we're catching on in such an unlikely, rural location.

BOULDER RECAP:

   Attendance at this year's Boulder show was, by all accounts, retched. Although this was a free event, we were unable to generate the same kind of interest we received in Minnesota. But, because we receive free use of facilities at the University of Colorado, expect a return of the Bearded Child in 2004. We may include music/performance or guerilla marketing tactics to boost support in Colorado this season.