LIBERTY FILM FESTIVAL
LIBERTY FILM FESTIVAL—A BREATH OF
ENTERTAINTAINMENT FRESH AIR
by
Ken Eliasberg
Is it possible that a politically conservative (but honest, accurate, and thoughtfully put together) film can emerge from the miasma of Holllywood? Until fairly recently I would not have bothered to even ask the question, let alone answer it in an affirmative manner. Yet, it is not only possible, it is likely. I don’t know whether an enduring new wind is blowing east from that bastion of left-wingers, but I have to tell you that the Liberty Film Festival is, at the very least, a temporary breath of fresh air. One can only hope that it sinks permanent roots. Actually, one can do more than that; one can see for him (or her) self. How? By attending the upcoming festival which starts on November 10th and runs through the 12th. As I have frequently urged you to do in the past don’t take this writer’s (or, for that matter, any other writer’s) word for it. Attend! The price is reasonable, the content interesting, entertaining, and provocative, and the crowd thoughtful and engaged. All the details for attending the festival are set forth on the festival’s website, http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com. You are not required to attend the entire festival if to do so is either inconvenient or not of your choosing. But I urge you to take a look at the website and select at least one or two films as a way of getting your feet wet.
Let me tell you a bit about this endeavor and its creators, 2 very bright and enterprising Yale graduates with a strong background in both film and Hollywood. They are Jason Apuzzo and Govindini Murty, a married couple who felt that Hollywood had become particulary closed off to any view but that of the left-wing elites. In Govindini’s words—“We just grew very uncomfortable with the fact that our side was not being allowed to get their films made, or if we were making our films, that the mainstream studio system, the distribution apparatus and the mainstream film festivals would not pick them up. The infrastructure of the town is run by the left and they are literally blacklisting the right and not allowing their work to be shown. It’s a very bad situation because the public thinks that there are only liberals in this town and there are actually a lot of good conservatives who are doing a lot of good work, but it needs to be seen.”
And that was the couple’s intent in creating the festival—to serve as a vehicle for providing balance to the very unbalanced material that now issues from Hollywood. And they have done an excellent job. I have seen a number of the films that they have made available, and I have found them to be accurate, interesting, and, possibly most important, entertaining. All their films are listed and can be purchased via their aforementioned website.And the appeal here is not just to conservatives—there is already too much of that on the left; people of a similar bent or bias talking to just one another. I recommend the festival to independents and lefties with an open mind (or at least a fairly open mind—if there are any left in this town). I think that you will not regret it. For the details as to time, place, and price, I refer you to the previously mentioned website. Come out for an afternoon or evening of entertainment and enlightenment; I guaranty that you will find it a rewarding experience.
The festival has also launched the successful on-line film magazine, LIBERTAS, which has become the premier forum for conservative thought on film, with over three million hits a month.
Finally, should you be unable to make it down this year, films can be separately purchased in DVD format. The only problem with this approach is that it deprives you of mingling with an interesting crowd and enjoying the panel discussion that is part of the program. If the choice is open to you, I recommend coming on down. I look forward to seeing you there.