The Yellow Springs Film Festival is excited to announce its annual Mini-Fest this spring, with a new addition this year: an expansion to Dayton! The event kicks off at The Brightside in downtown Dayton, featuring a special screening of the cult classic Cecil B. Demented to celebrate its 25th anniversary, along with a Q&A session with its legendary director, John Waters.
The Yellow Springs Film Festival, which began in 2023, is a newly established film festival that has received widespread acclaim from attendees, media, and both local and film communities. For the first time, the festival is extending its reach beyond Yellow Springs, with organizers hosting an event in Dayton, thanks to generous support from The Berry Family Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to host one of our all time favorite directors screening one of his finest — and to expand into Dayton for our first event outside of Yellow Springs will hopefully engage more film fans in the Miami Valley,” Yellow Springs Film Festival Co-Founder, Eric Mahoney, shared with us. “The Brightside is such a fantastic room and we love partnering with them in bringing exciting events to town.”
Waters, who began his filmmaking career in the mid-60s, is renowned for his low-budget, provocative films that garnered a devoted fanbase, including Hairspray, Cry-Baby, and Pink Flamingos, among others. This event offers a rare chance to explore the creative genius of one of cinema’s most fascinating directors!
Cecil B. Demented offers a thrilling cinematic experience. The story revolves around an independent film director and his rebellious team of teenage filmmakers who abduct a top Hollywood actress, forcing her to star in their underground project.
Limited VIP tickets are available for an intimate post-event Q&A with Waters. Grab yours now and be part of this extraordinary celebration!
How to Go?
Thursday, April 17th
Doors 6pm / Show 7pm
The Brightside, 905 E 3rd St, Dayton
$35 general admission seated
$100 VIP – Limited VIP tickets are available for an intimate post-event Q&A with Waters.
Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ysff-presents-cecil-b-demented-screening-with-john-waters-tickets-1247234555129?aff=oddtdtcreator
Gearing up for its second year, the Yellow Springs Film Festival (YSFF) is back with an outstanding lineup of independent films, stand-up comedy and live music taking place Oct. 4-6.
YSFF is proud to announce its kickoff party Friday Oct. 4th with a live performance by Comedian and Musician Reggie Watts. Reggie, who most recently starred as the bandleader on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden will bring his formidable voice, looping pedals, and his vast imagination to town, blurring the lines between music and comedy. This will be followed up by Opening Night featuring a screening of the film, The Uninvited (World Premiere SXSW 2024). The film will be followed by a in person conversation with Writer / Director Nadia Conners and will feature a zoom Q&A with star of the film Walton Goggins.
Other Special Events throughout the festival include the new documentary, Eno on musician Brian Eno (known for producing David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads, among many others). A conversation between Director Gary Hustwit and filmmaker Steven Bognar will follow the screening.
Stand-up comedian Dave Hill will also be performing on Sat Oct 5th. Dave Hill is a comedian, writer, musician, actor and radio host. He has appeared on Inside Amy Schumer, The Jim Gaffigan Show starred in the Joel Levinson film Boy Band, filmed here in Dayton in 2018 and recently been opening for Tenacious D. In addition, a 30th Anniversary screening of Pulp Fiction will take place featuring live music from the soundtrack, a costume contest and audience trivia.
Closing Night of festival will take place Oct 6th and will feature a special 25th Anniversary screening of the film, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai starring Forest Whitaker and music by RZA. The movie will be followed by a in person conversation between Director Jim Jarmusch and YSFF Founder Eric Mahoney with audience Q&A to follow.
In addition, this year YSFF will be giving out the first ever Julia Reichert Award, a $3,000 prize presented by PNC Bank and given to an emerging female documentary filmmaker to help support a current project. Reichert, a long time Yellow Springs resident and Oscar winning Director was a creative force and each year this award will be given in her name. The event will feature the new short documentary, Julia’s Stepping Stones, Directed by Julia’s partner in film and love, Steven Bognar.
All films and events will take place at the historic Little Art Theatre and The Foundry Theater at Antioch College. YSFF is produced by Hotshot Robot Productions operated by Founder / Executive Director / Programmer Eric Mahoney and Creative & Artistic Director Ian Jacobs in conjunction with the Yellow Springs Community Foundation.
The inaugural Yellow Springs Film Festival (YSFF) is bringing in the celebrities for their weekend-long festivities. Due to popular demand (sell out) of Fred Armisen’s “In Conversation With…” special event, festival organizer’s have added a special event live music performance “Comedy For Musicians, But Everyone Is Welcome” featuring Armisen.
The festival will also present a retrospective of the career of longtime Yellow Springs resident and Academy Award® winning director Julia Reichert, featuring film posters, interviews and excerpts of her incredible body of work available free to the public.