Oxford International Film Festival facts for kids
| Location | Oxford, Ohio, United States |
|---|---|
| Language | International |
| Website | http://www.oxfordfilms.com |
The Oxford International Film Festival was an exciting event that celebrated movies! It started in Oxford, Ohio in 2007. A person named J.C. Schroder created this festival.
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Discovering the Oxford Film Festival
J.C. Schroder, a film director and producer, started this festival in 2006. He owned a company called Star Com Productions. He wanted to create a special place for filmmakers and movie fans in Southern Ohio. There wasn't a big film festival in that area before.
The very first festival worked with a group called the Miami Association of Filmmakers and Independent Actors (M.A.F.I.A.). This group was made up of students from Miami University. The festival also got help from people and groups from all over the country and even other parts of the world. It quickly became the biggest film festival in the region.
The festival was held near the university campus, about 40 miles north of Cincinnati. The first Oxford International Film Festival happened from April 5 to 8, 2007. It took place at the Marcum Conference Center. Many people and news outlets around the world became interested in it. In its first year, the festival received 530 movie entries from 41 different countries!
The festival also helped start a non-profit group called the Miami Film Association. This group was created to help manage the festival. The Miami Film Association also works to support movie programs for the community and students all year long.
Amazing Movies and Awards
The very first movie shown on opening night was called Wrath of Gods. It was a US Premiere by Jon Gustafsson. This film featured famous actors like Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgård, and Sarah Polley. Wrath of Gods also won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature. This means it was the favorite documentary movie chosen by the people who watched it!
Festival Highlights and Growth
By 2008, the Oxford International Film Festival was the biggest international movie event in the Ohio Valley region.
The festival first started in Oxford. However, it was planned to move to the Savannah Center in West Chester, Ohio starting in 2009. In 2008, many people thought the festival was one of the fastest-growing festivals in the Midwest. This means it was getting bigger and more popular very quickly!
In 2009, a magazine called MovieMaker Magazine listed the Oxford International Film Festival as one of its "Top 25 Film Festivals Worth the Fee." This was a big honor, showing that filmmakers felt it was a great place to submit their movies.
Festival Dates Over the Years
- April 5–8, 2007
- April 10–13, 2008
- July 23–26, 2009
- October 8–16, 2010
