A last horizon for Teche Area creativity has arrived

Cox Communications Quality Specialist Mark Boyance has been attending film festivals around the nation for many years. He’s dabbled with shooting and editing motion picture projects as a hobby but never considered it as a career.

However, seeing his work on the big screen at the San Antonio Film Festival, where he was nominated for best special effects, caused him to want friends and family to see local projects on the big screen. He knew other filmmakers would feel the same way he did and was inspired to bring the concept to reality.

“Mark was at the first movie showing for Teche Classic Movies,” said Jason Bayard. “The next day he called me. He was impressed with the way the screen looked, the image quality, and said, ‘I’ve been thinking about a film festival and I need your help to do it.’ I said whatever I can do I’ll do it. I put him in touch with the IPAL people.”

The first year for the Iberia Film Festival is underway with growing interest from local artists.

“I’ve attended the (Lafayette film festival) the last two or three years and they’ve grown,” said Boyance. “I’ve attended many others, but doing it, seeing people react to it while sitting in New Iberia is something else. There are people making films just for the festival.”

Boyance said there have been early submissions from a filmmaker in Nebraska, two films that were shot on iPhone and a student’s project created on Powerpoint. Thirteen others have been promised for the festival and locals including Paul Schexnayder are working to complete new projects. Bayard is submitting two finished films with another in production.

Will the Berry Queens be involved? Probably.

“Mark has a great vision. He’s a talented person with such a clear vision and understanding of the scale of it without getting out of control. That’s so wise,” said James Edmunds who has taken his projects to other film festivals. “(This festival) is stimulating some local artists to complete projects and it’s getting people together. Someone will consider doing a project if they know there is a place to showcase.”

Edmunds said in a 2016 interview with The Daily Iberian, “We have a disproportionate number of people who do well in the arts,” said James Edmunds, retired publisher and movie making hobbyist. “The arts breed the arts. One of the great things about working in the arts here, audiences are really alert and openly embracing.

“Rather than being disadvantaged in a small town, you’re ‘advantaged’ here because you are supported in the thought that you should pursue things with interest and content. It’s a great confidence to do what you feel you should do,” he said.

Edmunds and Boyance are working together to create a video promoting the festival. Both would like to see submissions, but the festival is also for the audience.

“Whether or not you do a film, take advantage to attend a film festival,” Edmunds said. “They’re tremendously creative especially to see a group of films together. We can do anything in New Iberia.”

More Than Film Shorts

Initially Boyance said they were planning just one day of screenings July 28 at Essanee Theater. Then he learned that visual artist Paul Schexnayder had started another one of his “collections” based on movie posters. The decision was made to include an exhibit during the festival and an opening night event was planned.

“It’s a parody of famous movie posters with a Cajun twist,” Schexnayder said. “For example, Claws instead of Jaws. I’ll have to get it back from the owner for the show. Jady Regard bought it already. Another is the Attack of the 50-foot Cajun — she’s a beauty.”

There will be a full collection of paintings in “Schex Goes to the Movies” on exhibit as part of The Iberia Film Festival Opening Night Reception July 26 at Clementines on Main. In addition, his sister Becky Schexnayder will premiere a portion of her longer documentary 10-years in the making.

“Tou’ les Jours c’est pas La Meme” (Every Day is Not the Same) is based on the life and performances by the legendary blues artist Carol Fran. At 84, Fran is still performing and supporting new or established blues artists. She will give a live performance following the screening of her short bio-pic.

“It all started when I was working on a museum exhibit about J.D. Miller who recorded all these people in the mid-1990s,” said Becky Schexnayder. “I like the blues and my degree is in anthropology. I presented the idea of finding the ones (Miller) recorded that were still living. Carol was in Lafayette. The money for (the Miller project) wasn’t enough to cover an additional documentary, so I took it on myself. That’s was 10 years ago. Besides a lot of footage, a deep friendship has formed with Carol.”

Becky Schexnayder said the original reason for the documentary was to preserve Fran’s story, but as time has elapsed, a legacy has emerged that will be part of the film’s history.

“She’s taken her music around the world,” Schexnayder said. “The National Endowment for the Arts gave her a grant five years ago and she goes into French immersion schools with her music.”

One student in particular has taken a liking to Fran. Schexnayder said their relationship has given the documentary a new layer projecting the impact of the artist on future generations of musicians.

Still Time to Enter

Four categories will kickoff the Iberia Film Festival, all are listed as short films of any genre including Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Animation and Experimental which includes music videos. Length for a “short” is considered up to 15 minutes.

“Just like artwalk, we didn’t know we had that many artists until they had a place to show. We hope this will be the same for filmmakers,” Paul Schexnayder said.

The deadline for early submission has past, but regular submission is $30 through June 20, late and final submissions should be in by July 6 with a fee of $50 for each submission.

Sponsors thus far for the festival include Cox Communications, Teche Classic Movies, Iberia Performing Arts League and Bayou Teche Museum. Organizers are still seeking additional sponsors in order to establish the festival as a free or inexpensive ticketed event. Prices have not yet been set for the opening night reception or entrance to the screenings waiting until closer to the July 26-28 activities to see what sponsor support is received.

Sponsorships begin at the Actor/Actress level for as low as $50 to $100 per sponsorship. Appreciation for donations will include two complimentary tickets to the event, prominent display of sponsor name on the theater screen between showings and in the program. Levels and benefits increase with Executive Producer Level at $300, Screenwriter Level at $500 and Director Level at $1,000. The top sponsorship will receive four complimentary tickets, four drink tickets, logo prominently displayed on theater screen between showing and in the event program, acknowledgement in media interviews and written press releases, ability to place promotional materials at events and acknowledgement of the sponsor on Iberia Film Festival social media sites. Middle sponsors are various combinations between the two levels.

Question and answer sessions will follow the screenings with visiting filmmakers and actors. A meet and greet also is on the schedule.

As a separate item, but in keeping with motion pictures, Teche Classic Movies will present, “Jaws” Friday night between the Iberia Film Festival Opening Reception July 26 and the day of screenings, Saturday, July 28. The movie is $10 and concessions will be sold including adult beverages, as a fundraiser for Essanee Theater renovations. Bayard said the choice of movie coincides with the end of the annual Shark Week.

For more information about the Iberia Film Festival or to submit an entry, visit IberiaFilmFestival.com or call the director, Mark Boyance at 256-1938.