Film Festival of Columbus – FFOCOL – makes its sixth appearance in the city this week.
Running Thursday, June 15 through Sunday, June 18, it brings with it several hotly anticipated new films including director Ana Lily Amirpour’s sophomore effort The Bad Batch, the ensemble period comedy The Little Hours, and the Midwest premier of Lea Thompson’s feature directorial debut, The Year of Spectacular Men.
The festival also boasts documentaries, international films, shorts, parties, and a celebration of two local filmmakers.
The point to all of this? According to festival executive director Chris Hamel, a big part of the goal is to draw attention to Columbus as a filming destination.
How does FFOCOL do that?
“I think it helps in a number of ways,” he says. “Most notably in bringing filmmakers to Columbus to screen their films. This year, we have a great set of filmmakers from diverse projects who will accompany their films. For many of them, it will be their first visit to our fair city.”
It was an idea brought to Hamel and several others in 2011.
“Mayor Michael Coleman approached a small group, including my partner in the festival, John Daugherty, about starting a new film festival that would showcase films from around the world and help identify Columbus as a destination for filmmakers,” Hamel says. “I am proud to continue to be a part of this great annual event.”
Six years later, the festival has grown and the program is stronger than ever.
“We do our best each year to bring a great mix of studio, independent, international and documentary films,” Hamel says.
There is one film Hamel’s most pleased to bring to town.
“I’m really excited to present the Ohio premiere of The Bad Batch,” he shares. “I loved Ana Lily Amirpour’s 2014 hit A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night and I think the FFOCOL audience is really going to enjoy The Bad Batch.”
Hamel’s also pleased to celebrate two local filmmakers. One happens to be a good friend — and Gateway Film Center’s Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, Jason Tostevin.
“Jason is such a talented filmmaker,” Hamel says. “I’m glad we get to screen a small sample of his and filmmaker Phil Garrett’s works as part of our new Film Talks program.”
Whether for visiting filmmakers or local audiences, Hamel thinks the festival experience will be a great one.
“FFOCOL has always been about screening great films, meeting new people and – well – great parties,” he says. “I think all will occur in this year’s version of the festival.”
Full lineup
Thursday, June 15, 7:30 p.m.: Bad Batch
*at CCAD’s Canzani Center (all other screenings at Gateway Film Center)
Friday, June 16
1:30 p.m.: 12 Months
3:30 p.m.: After Fire
5:30 p.m.: Monterey Pop
7:30 p.m.: The Little Hours
9:30 p.m.: The 5 Year
Midnight: Dark Iris
Saturday, June 17
Noon: Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story on African American Women in the Ring
1:45 p.m.: Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
4:15 p.m.: Smart
6:00 p.m.: Jason Tostevin Retrospective
7:15 p.m.: Jumping with Jess, A Monster that Does Not Exist
9:15 p.m.: Short Distance
10:30 p.m.: Inhumanwich!
Midnight: Lycan
Sunday, June 18
Noon: The Unimaginable Journey of Peter Ertel
11 a.m.: FFOCOL International Shorts
2 p.m.: FFOCOL US Shorts
4 p.m.: FFOCOL Ohio Shorts
6 p.m.: Phil Garrett Retrospective
7 p.m.: FFOCOL awards
7:30 p.m.: The Year of Spectacular Men
9:30 p.m.: What Children Do
For tickets and information, visit filmfestivalofcolumbus.com
Read more from Hope at MADDWOLF and listen to her horror movie podcast, FRIGHT CLUB.