movies

Omaha Film Festival

~ Linda Leier Thomason ~ Leave a comment

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.

5 Movies to Watch This Year

~ Linda Leier Thomason ~ Leave a comment

I am not a film critic. I am one who appreciates a well-told story on film. The actors are almost always secondary to a good story for me. And, I rarely read the book before seeing the film. I don’t compare the printed word to the visual storytelling. I prefer to experience each separately.

It was a long, cold winter. We watched more movies than usual.

These five films have left the strongest impact on me, so far, in 2019.

Some were block busters. Others, not. Yet each is worth viewing.

I will not ruin it for you by revealing the plot or storyline. Instead, click on the links below for a preview of each film.

The Hate U Give

I’ve lived in Atlanta, Georgia, Washington, D.C. and Charleston, South Carolina before re-locating back to the Midwest.

The storyline, actions, and consequences here are believable and relatable to me.

Even if you’ve never lived in such a culture, the message in this movie is strong. It’s a movie I will remember. “What one puts out in the world, one gets back.”

Acronym: T.H.U.G.-The Hate U Give.

What They Had

We discovered this movie on Amazon Prime.

Anyone with aging parents will relate to the familial struggles and angst in this story. It centers on memory loss and deep love. One can get distracted by the drama in the children’s lives. Focus on the parents.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Queen was the first concert I ever attended. It was September 16, 1980 at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/queen/1980/hilton-coliseum-ames-ia-4bdc9ffe.html

I was slightly overwhelmed and equally impressed by the crowd, the music, the theatrical performances and the stage lighting that night.

Flicking of a Bic lighter to show approval was new to me.

Of course, I’d heard the music before but never seen it performed live.

Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of attending a Queen concert, this movie is worth watching.

Though you may not agree with Freddy Mercury’s lifestyle, one cannot diminish his immense talent and impact on the music industry.

The movie received the 2019 Golden Globe Best Motion Picture award.

The Wife

Women of a certain age will completely understand this movie.

I’ve been paid quite well for many years to ghost write for political and corporate leaders. I get this movie. “Keep your mouth shut while others recite your words.”

Revealing more will ruin the plot for you.

Glenn Close, the lead actress, won multiple awards for her role in the film.

Beautiful Boy

If addiction has ever been in your life or in the life of someone you love, this movie will make a lasting impression on you. It highlights repeated recovery, relapse and survival. Income and status do not shield anyone from addiction.

Steve Carell, most widely known for comedic work, does an outstanding job in this dramatic role.

One can watch this movie on Amazon Prime.

What Film’s Been Most Impactful for You?

The 1988 Comedy-Drama, “Beaches,” starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey is one I’ll always remember. Theirs was a real and loyal friendship despite class differences, betrayal and illness. It set an example for me, at an early age, on how to initiate and build life-long friendships.

We even used a featured soundtrack from this movie, “Wind Beneath My Wings” as a spotlight dance at our 1992 wedding.

WINNER: BILL L. MT. PLEASANT, SC: Win Free Movie Pass

List the 1 movie that’s made the biggest impact on your life.

CLOSED: One random winner will be drawn.

©Copyright. May 2019. Linda Leier Thomason
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Linda Leier Thomason writes freelance business and travel stories, along with feature articles. Her work experiences include a Fortune 500 corporation, federal government, entrepreneurship and small business.
Read more about her background and qualifications by clicking on the “Meet Linda” tab above.

Contact her using the form above.

“Straight Outta Compton” via Omaha

~ Linda Leier Thomason ~ 2 Comments

Look at me! I’m a petite, white, middle-aged professional. So what’s a woman like me to do in Omaha, Nebraska on a Thursday evening?

How about break social norms and sit in the Marcus Theater and see “Straight Outta Compton”-the R rated biography film about life in southern comptonLos Angeles County in the 80’s and 90’s, as portrayed through gangster rap group N.W.A.  As usual, I did no research on the movie before taking a seat. Of course, I’ve heard the media hype about the film and the threat of riots at theaters that thankfully never happened. But I knew nothing about the film’s content.

We sat down, looked around and didn’t see anyone matching our profile. It’s not well-known that Ken and I follow hip hop artists and enjoy rap music. In fact, with blinds closed, almost nightly we get our exercise by busting moves in our kitchen to every style of music. A few years back we owned a DJ service in the Deep South where it was necessary to know, appreciate and play everything from Tupac to Biggie Smalls to shag music, entertaining party-goers of all types. So while we might look like misfits, our comfort level and historical knowledge of N.W.A. is right on target.

Even after 2.5 hours I didn’t want “Straight Outta Compton” to end. I craved up-to-the-minute updates on the main characters. I left revved up; my heart literally beating faster. I get how young black men can get jacked up by the lyrics and rhythms of the music, especially in large group settings. The language in the film is crude and vulgar as are the interactions with groupies after concerts, leaving no doubt in my mind that what I was seeing actually happened and most likely in a more exaggerated form than what was allowed to be shown on film. The police interactions were horrific and the behavior of the N.W.A members surely wouldn’t make their mother’s proud. Yet, despite all of the turmoil and individual challenges, many of the N.W.A. members are by today’s standards quite successful. Ice Cube is a well-known musician, actor and film and record producer while Dr. Dre is a record producer, rapper and entrepreneur who recently sold Beats Electronics to Apple Inc.

All can learn something from “Straight Outta Compton” regardless of your profile or musical interests. It might make you uncomfortable. Go anyway. It is my experience that the more uncomfortable I am with the content of a movie, the stronger the message is. I squirmed. I was appalled. I grooved. I left charged up. I gained insight into the plight of young black men in major urban areas and I encourage you to go see what you learn from the film.

EXPRESS YOURSELF!

Copyright August 2015 Linda Leier Thomason