For the past four years, the Rivoli Theatre in Seward has been the site of a unique event.
The festival is “committed to bringing together established and first-time filmmakers from across the state of Nebraska to celebrate their art,” according to its website.
This year’s festival kicks off Friday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m. with a mixer. Films begin at 6 p.m. The final film will start at 12:48 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28.
Connie Greger and Cheryl Vajgrt of the Rivoli have watched the festival grow over the years. Festival organizers connected with the Rivoli in 2020, but that event was canceled because of Covid.
“The first year was an experiment,” Greger said. “Mom loved it.”
Mom is the late Julie Wisehart, owner and operator of the Rivoli. Greger and Vajgrt are her daughters.
“The first year was small, but it went great,” Greger said.
The filmmakers have to have ties to Nebraska, Vajgrt said. The first year, 2021, drew 60 viewers for the weekend. Last year saw over 300 people come to watch films, and Vajgrt said they’re hoping for 500.
The disappointment for both is there aren’t many from Seward who come.
Films are made in varying lengths and different genres. Anything from animation to horror to romance is fair game.
“Last year, one was three hours,” Greger said.
That filmmaker has family in the Seward area and has brought a film every year, she said.
“Some are awesome. Some are weird,” Vajgrt said.
The festival is not a competition, but films are ranked with the higher ranking showing during prime time, Greger said.
This year’s festival will feature a film dedicated to Wisehart, who passed away Jan. 18.
“That will kick off the festival,” Greger said.
Some filmmakers create their entire piece at the theater.
“People love the theater,” Greger said. “Flatwater are our biggest fans. We just want more from in town.”
The Rivoli staff doesn’t have any film responsibilities during the festival. However, they run the concession stand throughout the festival, which means a lot of hours, Vajgrt and Greger said.
There’s not a lot of time to watch the films being shown, they said, but their father, Chuck, likes to go. This year, Vajgrt said, there are a couple films she’s like to watch, as well.
While they run the theater, neither Greger nor Vajgrt has any desire to create a film.
“Mom wanted to write a screenplay,” Greger said.
The Flatwater Film Festival starts Friday, Sept. 26, and goes through Sunday, Sept. 28. Saturday and Sunday screenings go all morning and afternoon on both screens at the Rivoli.
The cost is $10 for the entire weekend to watch as many films as one would like. There’s plenty of seating, with 230 seats for screen one and 70 for screen two.
In addition to showing films, the Flatwater Film Festival offers film-related classes during the weekend. This year’s sessions are Writing Your Feature Film Screenplay, NIFP, Pitching Your Film (for financing and development).
Last year, Vajgrt said, the classes centered around animation.
Greger and Vajgrt said working the festival organizers has been fun.
“The people are so nice,” Vajgrt said.
“They are like family now,” Greger added.
Vajgrt said they’re always willing to jump in and help wherever needed during the weekend.
The Rivoli will open its back patio so filmgoers have a place to mingle and chat.
See more about the festival and review the schedule for the films at www.flatwaterfilmfestival.com.
