The Plaza Classic Film Festival has aimed at connecting the community through film. However, while showing classic films of the past such as The Lady From Shanghai is undoubtedly valuable, it fails to connect the community to the community’s filmmakers. This is the common ground where the Plaza Film Fest and The Good, The Bad, The Indie meet.
The Good, The Bad, The Indie (GBI) opens the Plaza Classic Film Festival Thursday August 5th. Entries are being accepted until July 26th, and it promises once again to be a fitting opening for a festival that has given support for local film and filmmakers.
“The festival started as an informal get together for members of EP Film (El Paso Filmmakers)…to see each other’s work,” Gilbert Chavarria, GBI founder says. The initial GBI was held in 2004, and Chavarria did not expect a big showing; by the end of the evening, however, a fairly large crowd had gathered, encouraging them to continue the event.
In 2009, Charles Horak and Eric Pearson, founders of the Plaza Classic Film Festival sought Chavarria and EP Film’s help in reaching out to local filmmakers. “When they decided to expand the festival in 2009 to include outdoor screenings, The Good, The Bad, The Indie was a natural fit and they asked us if we would like to present GBI vol. 5 the opening night of the festival, “ Chavarria explains.
Chavarria and EP Film have always had a single goal: “To support the local filmmaking community. All films presented at GBI have a connection to the area either through the filmmakers or the subject matter. The festival is a celebration of local filmmakers,” Chavarria states.
This year’s edition is the sixth installment. Last year, shorts from Zach Passero (Wicked Lake), Diana Cordova (Breaking Borders) and Billy Townes (Border Lords 2) were shown. Who knows what this year’s fest will hold? Whatever it is, it will shine a light on the city’s burgeoning film community and its up and coming filmmakers.
Comments
There's lots of big stuff being made that hopefully might preview at GBI. There's Mikey Reyes with "Red Sands", the UTEP crowd with "TORR", the sci-fi flick "Maroon", and I think one of the UTEP professors is working on a feature film too.
Former El Pasoan and filmmaker Daniel Zubiate finally finds a home for his independent horror film "Hack-Man." The film was shot entirely in El Paso using mostly local talent. Already available online, it will soon be available in Hastings, Half-Price books and other retail/rental outlets.
Color - 71 minutes - 2010
myspace.com/breakwellpicturez
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