Louisiana was the talk of Sundance this year.
Louisiana International Film Festival’s “Voodoo Love” party returned a few weeks ago to the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, and LIFF Executive Director Chesley Heymsfield says the event was packed with more than 700 filmmakers and industry guests.
The party featured a performance from CC Adcock and the Lafayette Marquis and food from Cody and Samantha Carroll of Hot Tails Restaurant. LIFF hosted the party at Epic Night Club in Park City, Utah.
The Sundance experience was just the beginning for LIFF in 2014. This year’s festival is set for May 8-11 in Baton Rouge. Though a location has not yet been determined, LIFF announced a mentorship program in partnership with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge as a part of this year’s festival. JP Morgan Chase Foundation awarded the Arts Council a $50,000 grant to target a new film training program at Old South Baton Rouge youth.
The mentorship program will include classes with local and non-local industry veterans in an effort to create networking opportunities with other film communities and bring exposure to Baton Rouge’s industry talent.
“We want to provide people with the training necessary to bridge the gap between their education, life experiences, local employment opportunities and dreams,” Heymsfield says. “LIFF aims to help build a platform for those who would not otherwise have access to the film industry.”
The mentorship curriculum will continue after the festival with more specific training geared toward job placement. The bigger goal is developing a “sustainable film community,” she says.
This year’s artistic director for the film festival will be Dan Ireland, and Ian Birnie will serve as program director. More information about the festival and film screening lineup will be made public soon via lifilmfest.org.
