Dayton Independent Film Festival Returns for it’s Fifth Year
Terrance White | Managing Editor
(Photo Courtesy of The Dayton Independent Film Festival Website)
The Dayton Independent Film Festival (DIFF) is back for its fifth annual event, promising a weekend of films that celebrate Midwest filmmaking. Organized by the University of Dayton’s Department of Communication, the festival will run from Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Roger Glass Center for the Arts, 29 E. Creative Way, Dayton.
This year’s lineup includes 33 films, all with ties to the Midwest. The festival is organized into themed blocks of short films, highlighting different emotional tones and storytelling styles. The “perseverance” block will kick off the festival on Friday evening, followed by films with “twisted” plots and themes of “tension” on Saturday. The weekend will conclude Sunday with a series of “hopeful” films that promise to inspire.
Melanie Reindl, DIFF’s director of programming, reflected on how the festival has evolved over the past five years, mentioning “DIFF has changed so much in the past five years, but at its core, it maintains its goal of fostering a collective movie experience for the Dayton community, highlighting the Midwestern experience and Midwestern filmmakers. We are so thankful to be able to give our community filmmakers an opportunity to share their work with people in a fun and supportive environment.”
A special highlight of this year’s festival will be the screening of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary False Positive, which tells the story of Ohio track star Butch Reynolds. Reynolds, who overcame significant obstacles to break world records, will attend the screening on Saturday night.
Reindl also emphasized the excitement surrounding the festival’s new location: “This year, we are lucky to host our festival at the Roger Glass Center for the Arts, the brand-new arts building at the University of Dayton. This, along with a wide range of films, makes this year special! We know there is something for everyone at DIFF.”
General admission tickets are $8 per film block and can be purchased at the venue or through Ticketmaster. University of Dayton students can attend for free by presenting their student ID. For more information on the Dayton Independent Film Festival and to purchase tickets, visit daytonfilmfest.com.