It seems like just yesterday we were getting together to start planning out our third season. 10 months later, and it’s come and gone! Year three was a record year for Festivus in every imaginable way. We blew away our past attendance numbers. We had 12 WORLD PREMIERES, along with numerous US and Colorado Premieres. We had a filmmaker travel all the way from Turkey to present his work (thank you Savas!) Certainly a new record for distance-traveled. We had more filmmakers attend, stronger programming, far more media coverage, great filmmaker Q&A sessions, wilder nightlife events, and more supportive sponsors (without you this wouldn’t be possible!) When the Festivus family got together for the first time all those years ago and decided to start a film fest, this year’s festival was the one we always dreamed of having. Thank you to everyone who helped make Festivus FF one of the hottest young film fests in North America!

We’ll be posting lots of pics up here on the website, but until then head over to our Facebook fan page to check them out there.

Can’t believe it’s all over… what a ride! We’ll be posting lots of post-fest pics and follow-ups in the next couple of weeks. Here’s a little something to check out in the mean time: we’re on MetroMix! Special thanks for Josh Barret for the great coverage… there’s probably 50 pics up there from our Awards Blowout.

Online ticketing ends 12 hours before any screening, but don’t worry, there are plenty of TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR. See you there!

Great screenings, great Q&A with some talented filmmakers, and a great show afterwards with The Knew. Tickets are still available for all Saturday shows, but get there early to make sure you get a good seat. Don’t forget- the awards blowout is tonight at the Sportsbook. You WILL NOT want to miss. See you tonight!

Thanks to everyone that came out to our opening night. Both screenings were a blast, and our shorts program even sold out! Great afterparty too- guess nobody told the Festivus folks it was a weekday! Anyways we have another great night planned for you. Tonight all screenings will be at the Oriental. Things kick off at 6:45, just check our SCHEDULE for details. Pre-sale ticketing has closed, but tickets will be available at the door. Stick around after the screenings and rock out with The Knew, starting their set around 10:30. See you there!

It’s finally here! Opening Night! All screenings tonight are at the Bug Theatre. (Don’t forget, the Bug Theatre is a cash-only venue.) Here’s the schedule:

• Thor at the Bus Stop - 6:45p. Also screens with Saft. Doors open at 6:00.
• Opening Night Shorts Program - 9:00p. Includes the short films Ain’t Got No Body, Rainbow Chasers, Almas, True Beauty This Night, City of Noise, Alisha, and Miracle Investigators.
• Opening Night Party: Forest Room 5 -Things kick off around 10:30.

Tickets will be available at the door for both screenings. For detailed information on the films, click on our SCHEDULE / TIX tab.

We love the Onion! So we were very excited when they called and asked to do a little Q&A with Johnathan McFarlane, our director. He shared some of his knowledge about how to fund an indie film. Check it out HERE.

Our closing film Race Walkers (Sunday Jan. 17, 7pm @ The Bug) was featured today on Colorado & Company. Check out the segment by clicking HERE. Always great to get coverage on 9 News! Don’t forget to get your tix to this one early, because it WILL SELL OUT!

Just a reminder- a screenings at the Bug Theatre will be cash-only for tickets at the door. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Of course we’re all excited about the films in Festivus… but don’t forget, we’ve got parties every night too! Here’s a rundown of each one, along with a link to the event’s schedule page (where you can find more details). See you guys there!

• THURSDAY: Opening night kickoff party @ Forest Room 5
• FRIDAY: Rock out with The Knew @ The Oriental Theater [$5 at the door]
• SATURDAY: Our big one. The blowout awards ceremony @ The Sportsbook
• SUNDAY: Chill out with our Festival Rewind @ The Corner Office (attached to the Curtis Hotel)

Festival director Johnathan McFarlane got the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on LA Talk Radio’s Film Courage. Great show! Along with directors from Hollyshorts and EgoFest he discussed the film festival world, filmmaking in general, and what film festivals mean for the independent filmmaker today. Check out the 45 minute show available for podcast or download HERE.

Opening night is just around the corner! Hope you’re are as excited as we are! If you haven’t done it yet, create your own custom festival schedule on our schedule/tix tab. It’s very easy to do, and you can buy tickets from the same spot. Seen our second full-page ad in the Onion? If not you can check it out by clicking HERE. Or how about our 2010 poster? We’ve also been getting coverage from 303 Magazine, 5280 Magazine, Denver Post, Westword, Aurora Sentinel and the Onion A.V. Club. If you happen to see any of these great publications pick ‘em up and have a look.

…into some of our 2010 program.

• Rouge Ciel [Saturday, Jan. 16 12:00p @ The Bug]
• Wings of Silver: The Vi Cowden Story [Sunday, Jan. 17 1:00p @ The Bug]
• Black Ops Arabesque [Saturday, Jan 16 4:00p @ The Oriental]
• There’s Still Hope for Dreams: A Phamaly Story [Saturday, Jan 16 2:00p @ The Oriental]
• Watermelon Seeds [Sunday, Jan. 17 5:00p @ The Bug]
• The Atro-City Sleepers [Saturday, Jan. 16 12:00 @ The Bug]
• Between the Upper Lip and Nasal Passageway [Saturday, Jan 16 4:00p @ The Oriental]
• Rainbow Chasers [Thursday, Jan. 14 9:00p @ The Bug]
• Kapsis [Sunday, Jan. 17 3:00p @ The Bug]
• Bird Brain [Sunday, Jan. 17 5:00p @ The Bug]
• Almas [Thursday, Jan. 14 9:00p @ The Bug]
• Stoney [Friday, Jan. 15 9:00p @ The Oriental]

Access our interactive online schedule and buy tickets

We advertise every year in the Onion, and our first full-page ad of the season is in the current issue. Pick up a copy when you see it! Of, you can check out a pdf of the ad by clicking HERE.

We aren’t joking when we say Festivus Film Festival has an international reach… we’ve got guys as far away as Iraq sporting our gear! The soldier on the right is First Lieutenant Matthew Wright. He was a volunteer our first year and has been a Festivus supporter ever since. Thanks for sending this pic Matt!

Once a month, Denver’s First Monday Art Talk (FMAT) provides a unique look into the life and influences of a local artist(s). On January 4, 2010 FMAT will be featuring Festivus’ very own Johnathan McFarlane and Tim DeMasters! FMAT is FREE to the public, so come enjoy some appetizers and drink a couple beers while you experience the inner-workings of Festivus Film Festival from the creators themselves. Johnathan and Tim’s passion is infectious, guaranteed. Through music, video and Q&A, you’ll experience what makes these two “tick” and how they continue to bring people together for the fun of independent film. Host Eric Matelski will also lead an audience Q&A with our dynamic duo. If you’re still wondering what this whole Festivus deal is all about, spend a wintry Monday night with the people who know it best.

FMAT begins at 7pm and is held at Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge: 930 Lincoln St., Denver, CO 80203

PS- There will be ticket giveaways…

Wishing everyone out there a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Be safe, and we’ll see you in a few weeks!

They were never formally recognized, received no military benefits, many Americans don’t even know that they exist - yet today, women’s place in this country might be very different if Vi Cowden, and the 1073 other women like her hadn’t been willing to do the job they did. A story of triumph and inspiration over adversity, Vi and her fellow Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were not only crucial to the war effort during WWII, they also changed the course of Women’s history.

Filmmakers Mark and Christine Bonn are returning filmmakers. They won Best Documentary Short at Festivus Film Festival 2008, and we are thrilled to have them back!Wings of Silver: The Vi Cowden Story screens at 1:00pm Sunday January 17 at The Bug.
This screening is a WORLD PREMIERE!!

When Jesse discovers that his youngest daughter, Priscilla, can rap and perform, he sees redemption for his own failed music career and financial salvation for his family and commits his life to making her a star. We follow the father-daughter duo through the grit and glamour of the music industry, capturing the daily struggles of a single parent raising his two children alone, and the sacrifices a child makes in order to make her daddy proud. P-Star Rising has sold out screenings at Tribeca, HotDocs, and many others. This documentary is a film fest heavy-hitter. Don’t miss out on this screening, get your tickets now! P-Star Rising plays 8:15 Saturday, January 16 @ The Oriental Theater.