The Indigo Moon Film Festival, founded in 2016 by filmmakers Pat Wright and Jan Johnson, is ringing in a full weekend of arts and culture on Friday, Oct. 11 with an opening night reception, over 80 films, and an awards ceremony to finish. As its 9th year in production rounds the corner, co-founders Wright and Johnson say this is one festival you won’t want to miss.
Bringing film to Fayetteville
After Wright and Johnson both moved to Fayetteville over 30 years ago for job opportunities, they met while working in media at Fayetteville Technical Community College and bonded over their shared love of film.
Together, they attended local film festivals and felt inspired by the dedication of other filmmakers putting their time and effort into their passion. Saddened by the lack of film opportunities in Fayetteville, they vowed to bring film to their town.
And Wright and Johnson have done just that. In 1993, they started Moonlight Communications, a full-service video production company located at 121 Hay St., and in 2014 they founded GroundSwell Pictures, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making films and teaching filmmaking. For three years they also brought film production to the younger generation through their former Shooting Star film camp for kids ages 10 to 18.
After years of dedication to film and the help from a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Wright and Johnson felt prepared to create a film festival just for Fayetteville and started the Indigo Moon Film Festival in 2016. Long-time volunteer and GroundSwell Pictures Board of Directors member Brandon Plotnick said it was encouraging as a filmmaker to have an event like Indigo Moon Film Festival come to the city.
“When you see all the film festivals worldwide that have all these big names associated with them, to know that Fayetteville has something like that, it’s really cool,” Plotnick said.
Bringing in several hundred in attendance each year and filmmakers from all over the world, Johnson said the growth from the festival’s first year was hard-won, but the filmmakers are what inspire them.
“How they talk about it [the festival] and the community of Fayetteville, how much they enjoy coming here — that was really gratifying,” Johnson said.
The slogan behind the Indigo Moon Film Festival, “Film Inspires Change,” keeps organizers motivated, Wright explained..
“We think it [film] makes the world a little smaller, a little kinder; a gentler place to be,” said Wright.
Wright and Johnson emphasized the success of the festival wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the filmmakers and sponsors they’ve gathered along the way, including the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, South River EMC and all the individuals and companies that have supported the festival since its inception.
“They believe in the power of film to make our community better,” said Johnson.
What to expect
Kicking off on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m., the festival will open with the film Luther: Never Too Much by Luther Vandross. Following the film, attendees can join filmmakers at SkyView on Hay at 121 Hay St. for a reception of food, drinks, music and discussion. Tickets are required.
Saturday will be full of films, starting at 10 a.m. and wrapping up at 11:30 p.m. The day will showcase films from documentaries to animation and will be located in three different venues: Cameo Art House Theatre, The Capitol Encore Academy and the LOGE, the upstairs theater located inside Cameo Art House Theatre. The day will end on a scary note with the annual Fright Night, a series of horror and thriller films.
The weekend will wrap up Sunday at 11:30 a.m. for the traditional awards ceremony recognizing the best filmmakers of the festival. For details, schedules, and to purchase tickets visit the Indigo Moon Film Festival website.
