The North Carolina Justice System is sponsoring a film called “Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook,” which is about gerrymandering, a recent hot topic in the news. Another one of the many films offered is a short called “Boxed,” which is an Academy Award nominee. Wright and Johnson are excited that their festival puts a positive spotlight on Fayetteville. Every year, they said, people in the film industry who come to the festival are excited about what Fayetteville has to offer. “The filmmakers who come in are enchanted by Fayetteville, saying things like, ‘it’s a well-kept secret,’ and ‘I hope I can come back next year,’” said Wright.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Tourism Development Authority, the Indigo Moon Festival can advertise outside of the community to bring more people to the area to see the films.
New to the festival this year is a decision from the board to give 100% of the box office to Connections of Cumberland County. Additionally, the opening night film is “The Dog Doc.”
“We are partnering with the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society for this screening and asking people to bring dog or cat toys or food to the screening, which we will then pass on to FAPS,” Wright said.
These kind efforts make the festival the most philanthropic of its kind in North Carolina. The motto of Wright and Johnson’s organization, Groundswell Pictures, is “film inspires change,” and those involved in the festival are putting those words to action.
A variety of films are offered at the film festival every year, from animations to documentaries. To decide which film to see, Indigo Moon has created a movie matchmaker, which is a short quiz on the event website that customizes a list of movies for the people who take it. Since movies overlap over several locations, this feature will help attendees find a movie that matches their tastes.
The Indigo Moon Film Festival opens Oct. 11 and runs through the 13th. Ticket prices vary. Visit http://www.indigomoonfilmfestival.com/ for more information on the movies offered, the different venues and to purchase tickets.