The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to be sponsor of the eighth annual Red Dirt International Film Festival taking place March 12-14, 2021. Over 130 genre-spanning films will be presented at this year’s event, including short films, features and documentaries as well as 36 screenplays that will be workshopped by actors and critiqued by industry professionals. Due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, the majority of the festival will take place virtually with all selections, including films, music, panels and special events, presented to passholders and attendees via an on-demand streaming platform on the festival’s website, accessible via smart televisions and devices.
This year’s festival headlining guest is screenwriter James V. Hart, whose credits include classic films such as Steven Spielberg’s “Hook”, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, “Muppet Treasure Island”, “Contact” and the miniseries “The Hot Zone”. Hart also developed the HartChart software, a toolkit for both beginning and seasoned writers that helps them more effectively map their stories when creating screenplays. Hart will be doing a live streamed panel on screenwriting during the festival, which will then be available on-demand all weekend. Additional film panels will take place throughout the festival in similar format featuring esteemed national and local filmmakers and talent with more to be announced in the days ahead.
In addition to the streaming selections, the Red Dirt International Film Festival will present passholders and ticketed guests the opportunity to attend two private events that will implement socially distanced guidelines, including masks, at the festival’s home in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For the first time in its 45-year history, Eskimo Joe’s will host an after-hours event from 9:00 p.m. to midnight on Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13, featuring select films and pre-recorded musical bands. Additionally, Morning Mimosas will offer attendees of age the chance to network 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. each morning at the Best Western Cimarron Inn through the festival’s run.
“Red Dirt Film was founded to bring more cultural diversity, more film arts, and more inspiration not only to Oklahomans, but to everyone worldwide who engages with what our selected artists have strove to create,” said Damon Blalack, executive director of the festival. “It was a wonderful sign in year one, to have films representing all seven continents, even Antarctica (!), and even international participants who showed up in-person. So it is with great pride that this year we can make the best of a difficult environment we’ve all faced, to make Red Dirt Film’s music, panels, special guests and the highest number of films yet, accessible to audiences, no matter where they’re located in the world.” He continues, “While there are a limited number of in-person events this year, being able to share the majority of the Red Dirt Film festival experience to an unlimited audience is a rare treat, which I hope will cultivate more opportunity, not only for the highlighted artists, but also to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds, no matter where they’re located. Thanks to all who help make it happen!”
Students with a valid ID will receive free access to all online activities and physical events while tickets to all events for the general public can be purchased on the festival’s website.
For more information on the festival’s schedule, merchandise and ticketing, visit reddirtfilm.com.
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About Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma’s film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, visit okfilmmusic.org.