I remember November 12, 2008. In Williamsport, it was a cold and chilly Wednesday night. Yet, despite the frigid temperatures Downtown Williamsport was alive and bustling with artists and their supporters. The 2008 Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Pennsylvania Awards Ceremony were held at the Community Arts Center that evening. Every hotel room in Williamsport had been booked for the affair. After the ceremony, people paid $20 a head to attend a reception at the 4th Street Grill in the Genetti Hotel. It was jam packed with art lovers! By all accounts, the night, the entire week, was a rousing success for the city. Well, that was five months ago. Can we recreate that civic enthusiasm? Can we do it again? It will probably be years before the Governor’s Awards gala returns to Williamsport. What do we do in the meantime?

I suggest that we have a film festival; the Billtown Film Festival.

One of the reasons for the Governor’s Awards’ success was that the recipient of its 2008 Distinguished Arts Award was the international film star, Michael Keaton. Yes, a Hollywood film star right here in Williamsport! Incredible! Actually, Williamsport has lots of contacts in entertainment industry. Families in the Williamsport area have relatives that have done very well in Hollywood and New York City. Having celebrities come to Williamsport is not so far fetched. We’ve got connections! With a big name personality as a draw, people from around the region will come to a film festival in Williamsport.

Secondly, everybody likes movies. Whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster or a low-budget independent film, movies are still a comparatively inexpensive entertainment experience. The national average for a movie ticket is only $7.17. And although movies can be viewed at home with DVD players, there’s something magical about sharing the experience with strangers in a darkened theater.

Recently, film students of Lycoming College held a screening of their works at the CAC. The subject matter of the films ranged from the poignant to the bizarre. Seeing their work on CAC’s 60-foot screen was a kick! Technological advances have reduced the cost of film making, allowing students to produce high-quality visual works of art.

The creative spirit of film and video is alive and well in Williamsport.

The Billtown Film Festival Group on Facebook.com has 70 members to date. Indicating some interest in the momentum that was started last November, the site’s membership grows slowly, whether that interest evolves into organized group action remains to be seen. It takes 18-months to organize a film festival but doing things by committee is a slow process. To speed things up I made some “executive decisions”. The Billtown Film Festival is tentatively scheduled for April 22-24, 2010. It will have an open competition to filmmakers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The theme of the competition, entitled ScreenGreen™, will be environmental protection and conservation. (Earth Day is on April 22nd.) Filmmakers will be invited to submit their work on such subjects as natural resource conservation, alternative energy solutions, natural gas drilling, modern farming, coal mining, urban esthetics, neighborhood cleanup projects, etc.

There is a lot of work to be done. But, it is possible to bring a film fest to Williamsport. We have great venues to screen films. We have a wealth of creative talent in our area. We have the experience of the Governor’s awards to use as a guide. It is just a matter of connecting the dots.

Ultimately the Billtown Film Festival proposes to bring diverse segments of our community together. It is hoped that the BFF will stir meaningful dialogue about the important issues of the day. It will support the blossoming arts community and enhance the economic well-being of the city and region. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

For more information about the Billtown Film Festival, check out the group’s page on Facebook.com. (You will be requested to join Facebook to participate. Joining is free.) Or contact Richard James at billtown_ film@rcjamesdesign.net.

Make the dream a reality. Help bring a film festival to Williamsport!