Omaha Film Festival

~ Linda Leier Thomason

98 Films, 6 Days

Winning two All Film Access Passes through KVNO radio station https://kvno.org/ introduced us to an Omaha event we thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed and plan to support and attend annually.

What is it?

The 19th Annual Omaha Film Festival (OFF) https://omahafilmfestival.org/ held February 27-March 3, 2024 at the Aksarben Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska showcased 98 films through special screenings, feature films, documentary films, a Nebraska spotlight film, and short films.

The event also included a Saturday Scriptwriters Theatre where live reads from selected excerpts from the 2024 screenplay finalists were done. And, notably, a two-day OFF Academy open to 7th-12th grade Omaha students was held to educate, entertain and inspire future filmmakers.

How Films are Selected

Local and international filmmakers submit their work to OFF each year from May through December. A selection committee then selects the narrative features, short films, documentaries and screenplays to be shown at the festival.  

The selected filmmakers are invited to attend the festival. They are given the opportunity to discuss their films with the audience through a Q&A session after each screening.

Festival Highlight

Marc Longbrake, OFF Executive Director & Wait for Me Film Director, Keith Farrell, UK.

Viewing independent films with filmmakers from across the world in the theatre adds to the experience. Listening to them describe their passion, processes, joys and challenges after viewing the films is something you should experience.

Audiences vote for the Audience Choice Awards through ballots after each film. These awards and 18 others are presented at the festival’s conclusion. 

Event Cost & Passes

The 2024 festival offered four different ways to experience the festival.

All Access Passes

  • Access to all screenings throughout the festival
  • Entry to the Writers Theatre
  • Access to the nightly after parties
  • Event t-shirt

All Films Pass

  • Access to all screenings throughout the festival
  • Entry to Writers Theatre

Weekend Pass

  • Access to all screenings
  • Entry to Writers Theatre
  • Access to Saturday & Sunday after parties

Film Ticket

  • $10 per film

HINT: In 2023 the Festival held a Black Friday sale announced on their Instagram site. https://www.instagram.com/omahafilmfest/

2024 Films at Event

Click on the Film Guide link https://off24.eventive.org/films  for more information on films shown during the 2024 Omaha Film Festival.

Films We Chose to See

  • Junction–Drama on opioid epidemic telling the story of how a doctor, an addict and a pharmaceutical company CEO are all interconnected.
  • Scrap-Drama/Comedy about a single-mom living in a car and hiding her status from her estranged brother who’s caring for her daughter.
  • The Body Politic-documentary on Baltimore’s young, idealistic mayor, Brandon Scott, and his vigilant attempt to halt chronic violence in his city. Awarded Audience Favorite Documentary.
  • Wait for Me–Drama/Thriller from the United Kingdom focusing on prostitution, troubled pasts and making better choices.
  • Brave the Dark-Drama based on a true story about Nate, who attended the festival, and a drama teacher who became his true father. Awarded Audience Choice Feature Film & Critics Best Feaature Film.
  • The Headliner-Nebraska spotlight film about an Omaha comedian trying to reach a larger stage while also meeting family obligations.
  • Two Lives in Pittsburgh-Drama about a blue collar guy confronting his animated mother’s illness and his child’s exploration of gender. Awarded Critics Feature Film Honorable Mention.
  • Step Over-Italian Drama with English captions about a legendary soccer player who had it all and then didn’t.
  • Tokyo Cowboy–Japanese Drama with English captions about a Japanese businessman who visits a Montana cattle ranch and learns what matters most in his life.

OFF Results-Winners

Visit the Omaha Film Festival website to see a complete list of the winners by category. https://omahafilmfestival.org/

IMDb

IMDb (Internet movie database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, plot summaries, trivia, ratings, and fan and critical reviews.

Log in to https://www.imdb.com/ for ratings, reviews and where to watch these movies.

Ways to Support OFF

The Omaha Film Festival is a non-profit 501c3 non-profit organization.

You can support its efforts of bringing independent films to the Omaha area several ways.

Final Thoughts

  • Some have said that film festivals are for left-winged or radical people. That was not our experience.
  • We are not film buffs by any standard, yet we enjoyed not only viewing the films but also interacting with attendees, filmmakers and the legions of volunteers at the OFF.
  • (Interesting note: No one associated with the Omaha Film Festival receives a salary, including the hard-working, gregarious Executive Director, Marc Longbrake).
  • Our favorite films aligned with those receiving audience awards. Each of these films can inspire social change or, at the very least, leave you examining your current way of thinking about the film’s content.
  • Except for Saturday and Sunday, the films started after 5PM and ended by 10PM.
  • Aksarben Cinema https://www.acxcinemas.com/aksarben-cinema is a locally owned theatre with comfortable reclining and rocking seats. It has a full bar and offers a very limited menu in addition to the standard theatre popcorn, soda and candy.
  • Most restaurants in the Aksarben area close at or before festival films conclude. Plan accordingly.
  • There is plenty of free parking surrounding the Aksarben Cinema.

Credit

Thanks again to KVNO for the passes and for introducing us to this spectacular, well-run event.

©March2024 Linda Leier Thomason. All Rights Reserved.

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