A Humboldt State tradition since 1967, the event is the world’s oldest student-run film festival. In a nod to Douglas Adam’s “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe,” festival organizers are focusing on the number 42, which in the book represents the ultimate answer to every possible question—the meaning of life, the beginnings of the universe and so on. Thus the organizers are seeking films that ask meaningful questions.
Local Film Maker’s Night begins the festival on Sunday, April 19. This event features a full reception and screenings of local films and media shorts. Later that evening, the festival screens Dark Side of the Rainbow in which The Wizard of Oz soundtrack is replaced with Pink Floyd’s album Dark Side of the Moon. The result is moments where the film and the album appear to correspond with each other.
The festival continues with Experimental & Animation Night on Wednesday, Documentary Night on Thursday, Narrative Night on Friday and Best of the Fest slated for Saturday.
Workshops are peppered throughout the week with filmmaker Damon Packard presenting on Wednesday, April 22 at noon in the Van Duzer Theatre.
Packard, who has been called “the most visionary filmmaker of his generation” by PopMatters, will present “The Struggle of the Independent Filmmaker,” followed by a screening of his science-fiction movie Space Disco One and his short films, including the cult classic Dawn of An Evil Millennium.
“I’m especially looking forward to Wednesday’s experimental and animation screenings, as well as Damon Packard’s screenings that afternoon. I think pretty much every film in our Wednesday line-up is just stellar. Damon Packard’s earlier screenings may be a bit polarizing. People either love him or hate him, but he certainly has an impact. Did we mention he’s not for the squeamish?” says co-director Aimme Hennessey
On Thursday, filmmaker Tom McPhee presents “How to Distribute Your Movie Once It’s Shot.” McPhee’s most recent work, An American Opera: The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever, will be screened after his presentation followed by a question and answer session by the artist.
Finally, Brian O’Halloran of the film Clerks will present “How to deal with inevitable production problems as they arise” on Friday. O’Halloran’s presentation will be followed by a screening of his latest work, Brutal Massacre: A Comedy, which has been described as “A Spinal Tap of horror” by Fangoria.
All workshops and screenings are free to students and $5 otherwise.