Take a moment to think back to your childhood. Do you recall the fun video projects you made on your iPod or camcorder? From stop motion to vlogs to showing off your dance moves, those small films sparked a curiosity for filmic creativity.

That creativity lives on with many people, and with present access to smartphones and applications, it is easier than ever to make our everyday visions come to life. 

While the idea of creating a film is daunting, we make short films without realizing it. 

The shots of our dog running in the field to montages of our family members being together, beautiful moments are in front of us every day, and we are lucky enough to capture them with the swipe of a finger. 

Incredible tales are all around us. It just takes a bit of poking around to bring those stories to a screen. Whether you want to tell those stories yourself or enjoy tales told by other people, your local city likely has perfect access to this curiosity: film festivals. 

Attending local film festivals not only allows you to learn about people in your community but it garners support for small filmmakers. Making movies isn’t solely for blockbusting production companies; it’s for everyone. 

With the popularity of short-form media taking over social media platforms, film festivals create the space for long and short films to be shared organically. As always, watching a film in a theater with other people is a magical experience. When it comes to smaller towns and their film festivals, a sense of community is boosted, keeping the spirit of filmmaking and storytelling alive.

A local story is just as impactful as a bestselling documentary broadcasted in worldwide theaters, and film festivals are here to prove it. 

For those that would like to be a part of the film festival without making their own movies, there are so many opportunities to get involved. Participation ranges from volunteering at concession stands to passing out tickets to handing out shirts in order to keep the festival going strong. 

Overall, by attending film festivals and even making your own everyday movies, you can help keep the spirit of local filmmaking alive for the next generation of storytellers. 

Article Courtesy of Katie Mann

If you are a first-time filmmaker, here is an article from MovieMaker.com to help you find and enter your first festival!

Feature image via unsplash.com and Chandler Media