Local film festival back for second year
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> One local film festival is back for its second year, bringing a diverse slate of shorts for event-goers to enjoy.
Founded last year by festival president Shane Frasier of of Acquired Taste Booking, The Behemoth Short Film Festival showcases up and coming cinematic talent from around the world.
The second annual Behemoth Short Film Festival will take place on Saturday, April 15 at the Saratoga Arts Center at 320 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Showcases will begin at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. and 8;15 p.m., respectively.
The Behemoth Short Film Festival’s goal is to bring unique voices to new viewers and broaden the audience’s horizon by delivering something different. “This program is meant to be fun in general, bring something fresh to the area that will entertain them for a few hours, have them researching new and emerging directors/talent and have them appreciate the art of short filmmaking,” Frasier said.
In the weeks leading up to the big event, Frasier has been busy collecting submissions and creating a program that is diverse, unique and fun.
The response to Behemoth Short Film Festival’s call for submissions was larger than last year, said Frasier, a Saratoga Springs resident. So, instead of showing two screenings of the same short films, like at last year’s inaugural event, he opted to have an all ages screening early in the evening, followed by a second showcase with more extreme content at the later session.
Instead of leaning toward Frasier’s favorite genre of horror, the 2017 Behemoth Short Film Festival will present a variety of different flicks. “This year, I’ve received more animated pieces which helps, and I’ve researched for shorts which bring a little more drama, comedy and light heartedness to the festival as a whole,” he said.
Audience members in each session will be allowed to vote on their two favorite shorts, and the winning film directors will receive prizes.
Frasier went to school for film, and always had a dream of starting something like the Behemoth Short Film Festival. “I like bringing something different to the area and last years lineup of shorts were certainly eclectic,” Frasier said.
Looking ahead, Frasier would love to someday present a full-length film festival.
For more information about the upcoming festival, visit the The Behemoth Short Film Festival 2017 Facebook page.
Tickets are available for $10 per person online at Brown Paper Tickets, under the event title “The Behemoth Short Film Festival 2017.”