For the second time in two months, area film aficionados will have the opportunity to view films from gifted filmmakers. In this case, the filmmakers will be from throughout Pennsylvania and the local area. The Susquehanna Film Festival will take place this weekend, September 19-21, at the District Cinema Complex in the area formerly occupied by the Lycoming Mall. The Festival will feature films from 21 Pennsylvania-based directors.

“We’re thrilled to host the inaugural Susquehanna Film Festival at The District Cinema at Lycoming Valley. With filmmakers from across the tri-state area joining local talent to showcase their work, we hope this Festival sparks new connections and helps foster a lasting passion for film in our community for many years to come,” said Jordan Musheno, general manager at The District Cinema at Lycoming Valley.

The Festival is the brainchild of former Williamsport resident and filmmaker, Timothy Yasui, who now resides in California.

Webb Weekly asked Yasui some questions about the Susquehanna Film Festival and his vision for it.
How does it feel to be putting on a film festival in your hometown?

“It’s honestly been a goal of mine for years now, and it’s a lot more work than booking a single feature film into theaters like I normally am involved in. Also, orchestrating a 3-day event from 3,000 miles away from my home in Beverly Hills, California, with the time zone differences poses other unique challenges. This has been a 2-year campaign to build my Festival plan, secure theater partners, acquire films from around the world, and put together a theatrical screening schedule that incorporates 33 films from around the world on three screens in 3 days!”
What effect do you think this Festival will have on encouraging area filmmakers to expand and exhibit their work?

“As long as folks actually show up and buy tickets to attend the Susquehanna Film Festival in person so that the area filmmakers can see folks enjoying their art on the big screen, then I’m hoping it will have a positive effect! Conversely, if the Festival doesn’t draw folks and we play films to empty seats, then I can appreciate the frustration of working so hard on a feature film only to see an empty theater (Been there, done that!).”
What do you hope to accomplish through this film festival?

“To encourage residents to get off their comfortable couches at home, get in their cars, buy tickets, and drive to the District Cinema to see films the way they were meant to be seen — on a giant screen with 5.1 surround sound amongst a live theater audience. Because of technology, Americans have had their theater experiences “dummied down” to 14-inch laptop screens in tiny 2.0 stereo audio. I get it — convenience dictates how we find entertainment — but if we can convince a family or a young couple or the next generation to give the Theater experience a try, then we can bring back this experience to a new generation, similar to how we brought back the vinyl record experience.”
What would you like the public to take from this Festival?

“How much fun it is to go see a movie at a real movie theater and to appreciate how many Pennsylvania-based filmmakers are struggling out there to make their art and to have their art appreciated by the public.
The following is the list of Pennsylvania films screening at SFF, along with synopses.

“Ubiquitous” is a short student film by Grace Drury from Honeybrook, PA, that tells the story of an up-and-coming filmmaker suffering from borderline personality disorder who spirals into an obsession to win best picture.

“The Happiness Experiment” is a deeply personal documentary dealing with one man’s mission to spread joy and healing in the face of his own unimaginable loss. Director Jaccii Farris is from Reading, PA.

“The Lost Within” comes from Director Steve Gibson of Milton, PA.

The film delivers a tale of a reporter researching a story about recluses that leads him down a dark path of deceit, longing, and obsession.

“Cast & Crew” is a comedy about a group of friends making their first feature film directed by Jason Taylor from Upper Darby, PA.

“Gods of Cable City” is directed by Ryan Dellaquila from Quakertown, PA, and tells the story of a reclusive townie who wanders through the dive bars of Mahanoy City, seeking purpose in the forgotten birthplace of cable television.

“Torments,” directed by Jeffrey Harvey and Jesse Kalavoda of Bethlehem, PA, is a drama about a woman who possesses supernatural abilities to alleviate people’s torments but then must bear those burdens herself.

“Ava” is a drama based on real-life events about a teen dealing with the tragic, unexpected death of her best friend. Director Martin McGowan hails from Reading, PA.

“Living in the Story” is directed by Williamsport’s Lynn Estomin. The gorgeous film documents 35 years of art-making by Japanese-American photographer Patrick Nagatani.

“Old River” is a breathtaking scenic journey down 228 miles of the Susquehanna River, as documented by Williamsport Director Michael Kinney.

“My Puppeteer’s Life Journey: A Daniel Story” is directed by Daniel Temons, a resident of Williamsport, and is a personal story about his challenges with autism and his journey as a puppeteer, with help coming from friends and family.

Philadelphia, PA’s Simon Stockdale delivers his sophomore film, “What Really Happened,” which tells the tale of filmmakers setting out to interview real people about their true life stories, when they realize that two of them are unknowingly talking about each other.
The official screening schedule for all 33 films is as follows:

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19:
• 1st Screen:
– “Autistic Mode,” 5 p.m.
– “Living in the Story,” 7:20 p.m.
– “My Puppeteer’s Life Journey,” 8:45 p.m.
• 2nd Screen: Short Film Block, 4:30 p.m.
– “Breaking And Entering And Humping”
– “Ubiquitous”
– “Ball Is Life”
– “Claimant”
– “Old River,” 6:30 p.m.,
– “What Really Happened,” 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20
• 1st Screen:
– “Ava,” 11:00 a.m.
– “Hello, My Name, is Blotto,” 1:10 p.m.
– “The Beast Hand,” 3:30 p.m.
– “Tender Metalheads,” 5:20 p.m.
– “Vampire Zombies from Space,” 7:20 p.m.
– “Red Book Rituals: Gates of Hell,” 9:30 p.m.
• 2nd Screen
– “How I Spent My Summer Vacation,” 11:00 a.m.
– “Dyngus Day,” 1:00 p.m.
– “The Haunted Forest,” 3:10 p.m.
– “Fear Cabin: Last Weekend of Summer,” 5:30 p.m.
– “Mirror Life: Modern Zombies,” 7:30 p.m.
– “Afraid,” 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
• 1st Screen:
– “Bliss,” 11 a.m.
– “The Wild Man,” 1p.m.
– “The Lost Within,” 3:10 p.m.
– “Bear,” 5:30 p.m.
• 2nd Screen: Short Films Block, 11 a.m.
– “Diego Velazquez: A Body Of Work”
– “Gods of Cable City”
– “Torments”
• 3rd Screen:
– “Children From Heaven,” 11:10 a.m.
– “Ali vs Ali,” 12:50 p.m.
– “The Happiness Experiment,” 2:50 p.m.
– “Cast & Crew,” 4 p.m.

Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. and the public is invited.

Tickets prices are as follows: single movie tickets are $6.50 each, a one-day pass to see 6-8 films (depending on which day chosen) is $25.00 and a full weekend pass, covering all three days of film screenings, is $40.00.

To purchase tickets and screen trailers, please visit https://thedistrict.dipsontheatres.com.

For more information about SFF, please visit https://www.facebook.com/susquehannafilmfestival

An awards ceremony that is open to the public will conclude the festival on the final evening of Sunday, September 21at 7 p.m. at The District Theater at Lycoming Valley, honoring outstanding achievements in categories such as best student film, best Pennsylvania-Made film, best documentary, best short film, best drama, best horror, best comedy, and best animation. A panel of independent judges will evaluate the submissions to determine the winners.