International film festival screens in Springfield

Capital city welcomed directors and actors from six continents

September 23, 2009
By John Tienken
Staff Reporter

Springfield played host to the 8th annual Route 66 international film festival last weekend. 58 films screened from every continent except Antarctica. 
Audience members watched the films at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. Festival attendees described the ambience inside the Hoogland as relaxed and friendly where the writers, directors, and cast members were more than willing to talk about their films and their experience in the business to fans and moviegoers.

The size and scope of the film festival was definitely something to brag about. Cameron Counts, President of the Central Illinois Film Commission and selection judge for the festival, said that in 2008 the festival received 250 entries. This year there were over 300 entries that were narrowed down to the 58 shown. The genres were all encompassing over several unique and colorful perspectives on the human experience.

Films included "Scarecrow" from Burbank CA, "Letter Home" from Ontario, Canada, "Runaway" from Australia and "Pelo Ouvido" from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Despite the many films from around the world the festival was able to maintain its local charm by screening many films from Illinois and the Midwest. Bryan Dobrik, director of a short thriller entitled "Robert Shaw,"hails from Champaign and made his latest film entirely in Peoria.
“It’s a lot of fun working on movies in Illinois” Dobrik said.

Dobrik, is a graduate of DePaul University and just completed work on Matt Damon’s new movie, The Informant. He is planning on moving to Hollywood following the conclusion of the festival. 

“As a student, you work with little money, little crew, and go through a lot…with Hollywood it’s still fun, but you just don’t want to screw up," Dobrik said. "It’s scary.”

Sam Holdren, writer and producer of a film entitled "Paradigm Shift," said “I always loved to tell stories” and that film was an outlet for him. Holdren said his characters are from his own experiences and even reflections of his own personality.

A film titled "My Name is Jerry" was a genuine comedy about a door-to-door salesman, love and second chances. It was made n Muncie, Indiana, was directed by Morgan Mead.  

Mead started making films in the fourth grade. In his film he employed Ball State University students to help them get firsthand experience working on a film. He encourages all those wishing to get involved in film or production to be persistent. He used a line from a character in his movie saying, persistence is the “key to the handcuffs” in getting in the business.