The third annual No Coast Film Festival is in the books, and organizers are pleased with the interest from filmmakers and their feedback on the event.
Associate Director Jonny Leach says there were high expectations even as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The goal was to make the three-day event “filmmaker-centric,” and Leach says that was accomplished.
Leach says it’s important to bring film professionals to the area and for them to connect with residents. It’s also important for No Coast to earn favorable comparisons with other festivals highlighting short films.
Part of the annual growth is noted in another way: the local appreciation of short films as opposed to the more traditional feature-length films.
Leach says planning is well underway for next year’s festival, which will be in September 2022. With over 100 films that screened during the three-day event this year and better than three times that amount submitted, there is a chance No Coast could be a four-day festival next year. Submissions are already being accepted for next year’s event, and Leach says part of No Coast’s upcoming mission will be to educate area residents about how to make films in addition to organizing the annual festival.
The Grand Jury Prize went to “MAMILs” (pronounced “mammals”) by Alex Parkinson. The Kraken Award, recognizing the most surprising film, was “Chill” by Ali Elkin and Joseph Ranghelli. The Audience Choice Award went to “Dead Harvest” by Ciara Duarte.
