Historic flooding, power outages, a hurricane and even a pandemic have tried to halt the Indigo Moon Film Festival in recent years. But, as the saying goes, the show must go on.

Organizers Jan Johnson and Pat Wright seem to have a knack for weathering what storms may come and manage to deliver a film festival Fayetteville can be proud to host.
Scheduled for Oct. 7 to 9 this year, the festival begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at the Cameo Art House Theatre in historic downtown Fayetteville.

“Pat and I founded the film festival seven years ago,” said Jan Johnson, one of the festival creators. “And [international submissions] just kind of happened. We called for entries, and we accepted entries from all over the world.”

Johnson and Pat Wright created the Indigo Moon Film Festival to bring the “cultural art of film to this region” and celebrate the art of storytelling before a diverse audience.

“Our opening night film is ‘Mission Joy, Finding Happiness in Troubled Times,’ which is a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. It’s just a wonderful film” that will make you smile, Wright said.

After “Mission Joy” ends around 9, ticketed guests are welcomed to reconvene a few doors down from the Cameo at the Skyview on Hay event center for the “opening night reception,” till 11 p.m.

“[Fayetteville happens] to be an open enough minded community to appreciate foreign films, [and] some of the finest films come from foreign countries,” Johnson said.

“All the people and filmmakers who are in town [will be gathered at the Skyview]. It’s a nice little soiree” with live music and food, Wright said.

On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Indigo Moon Film Festival will take a deep, sturdy breath before showing more than 50 films at three separate theaters all day long.

“From 10 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. [on Saturday] we show films . . . at the Cameo, the Loge and the Arts Council,” Wright said. “We’ve got 55 films from around the world, as well as a ‘locals block’ where we’re showing four films from local filmmakers,” Wright said.

Categories include short and feature documentaries and narratives, student films, the NC connection (for filmmakers connected to the state), horror shorts and features, and animated shorts. Be prepared for “blocks” of short films of the same genre that will play back-to-back.

“We’ve got several short blocks” at different time slots on Saturday, Wright said.

The Indigo Moon Film Festival will host films dealing with a diverse range of subject matter, such as a Palestinian man with autism who travels with his disabled sister to the Dead Sea for medical treatment; Black Panther Huey P. Newton’s trial for killing a white policeman during the height of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement; and extraterrestrials are on the schedule.

In fact, there are too many intriguing films on Saturday’s playlist to name. Best stop what you’re doing right now and check IndigoMoonFilmFest.com/full-schedule-of-films for Saturday’s complete goings on.
Remember, cinema lovers, parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays in downtown Fayetteville.

“Park once for free on Saturday and spend your day downtown going to the movies . . . out to eat and meeting filmmakers,” Wright said.

Downtown restaurants like Antonella’s, Archway Burgers, Dogs and Beer, Blue Moon Café and Coffee Scene at Prince Charles, plus shops like A Bit of Carolina, City Center Gallery and Books, Fabulous Finds boutique and The Downtown Market of Fayetteville are all within walking distance of the festival and a great way to relax cinema weary eyes.

Then on Sunday, there is the awards barbecue, where jury awards are presented to the filmmakers that have been selected. Everybody that comes to see a film gets to judge it and say whether they liked it or not, Wright said.

Awards will be given on Sunday at the Skyview on Hay, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“After the barbecue is done, we show the opening night film one more time at 1 o’clock, and then we show the jury award winning films for a second time,” Wright said.

If you would like to spread the art of storytelling through whatever means you can, please visit IndigoMoonFilmFest.com/support.

“We have a lot of support from the community. We have . . . individual, corporate and grant sponsors,” Wright said.

There are a lot of ticket options, from four VIP selections, student and day passes and even singles. Prices range from $100 for VIP tickets to $10 singles. Tickets for The Indigo Moon Film Festival can be purchased at IndigoFilmFest.com/buy-tickets. Tickets can be picked up at The Rainbow Room box office, at 223 Hay Street. Note VIP tickets do not reserve seating.
Fayetteville is made up of an eclectic group of people that appreciate foreign cinema, and the festival appreciates all peoples and nationalities, Johnson said.

The list of films is set for this year's festival, but planning is already in the works for next year. If you would like to find out how to submit a film for next year's festival, please visit FilmFreeway.com/IndigoMoonFilmFestival.

In addition to the festival, Pat Wright and Jan Johnson run Groundswell Pictures. Groundswell Pictures’ goal is to make and show films, teach filmmaking and support filmmakers through fiscal responsibility.
Groundswell Pictures is a not-for-profit organization that makes films that change the way people see the critical issues that shape our world.
From the recovery efforts in Haiti to the effects of desegregation, child pornography and Hollywood blacklisting, Groundswell Pictures is committed to educating the public and creating a groundswell of social change through film.

Groundswell Pictures is responsible for this event. Visit GroundswellPictures.com for more information or to contribute.
The Indigo Moon Film Festival will take place the weekend of Oct. 7,8 and 9 in downtown Fayetteville, around the Hay Street corridor.
Remember to visit IndigoMoonFilmFest.com/ beforehand to find out details about each film. Plan to arrive early to secure your place in line, as each venue is open seating.