Recap: Louisiana Int’l Film Fest

On Sunday, Chesley Heymsfield was all smiles outside Cinemark Perkins Rowe.

Heymsfield, the Louisiana International Film Festival executive director, says she was delighted with the response of the weekend long movie event.

“I’m always impressed how the festival is able to influence people,” she says. “A lot of the hard work that has gone into this, it really comes to fruition when you have people actually show up. They’re getting engaged and very honored to watch the film with the filmmakers. That’s something that is exceptional for us to be able to do.”

The event kicked off last Thursday in New Orleans then shuffled into town Friday, screening state premieres across multiple venues as well as hosting industry discussion panels.

Some of the films screened were The Iceman, an action drama starring Michael Shannon, and The East, a sleeper hit at the Sundance Film Festival. Both films were shot in Shreveport.

Heymsfield says that around 25 filmmakers as well as studios and distribution companies came to the festival’s debut.

The response from those filmmakers was also positive, she says.

“It’s great to get that response from veteran filmmakers that they enjoyed the festival,” she says. “They were very well received. They said the people are warm and hospitable. They’ve told me this has been professionally organized, and it’s more than what they expected for a first year film festival. That’s important to us because the filmmakers took a chance with us, too.”

Writer/actor Alev Aydin came to Baton Rouge from New York Saturday for the state premiere of his film Lonely Boy. Aydin says he was happy to see patrons in the theater, enjoying his film.

“This is inaugural year, and they’ve programmed a strong lineup,” Aydin says.

“We’re honored to be a part of that lineup. The patronage here is very strong. We’re happy to be a part of this community and show this film here.”

With all the positive momentum, Heymsfield isn’t content to take a break. Already, she is thinking about how make the festival better and among the plans are year-round events to keep the festival in Baton Rouge’s mind.

“What we wanted to do is create something for the entire state to participate in,” she says. “We’re trying to overcome any internal competition between cities and people. We want to come together and share a common vision for the state.

That’s how we’ll continue the film industry here. It’s an obvious idea, and it’s one that’s working because everyone can look at it and say, ‘Oh, this is absolutely needed.’ If you’re not going to start an international film festival to represent the state now, when are you going to do it? If we don’t capitalize on this, then when will we do it? We want to continue to build the momentum. We’re planning for next year, but also next month.”

LIFF has announced winners of its inaugural Golden Boot Awards.

Leslie Zemeckis picked up Best Documentary Award for Bound by Flesh. Alev Aydin and Troy Daniel Smith won Best First Feature for Lonely Boy. Dennis Quaid won for Best Acting for his performance in At Any Price. The Audience Award Winner was a tie between Twenty Feet From Stardom and Disconnect.