The Twin Cities Film Festival is back for the second time since COVID and I had the privilege to attend and get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making a smooth running and enjoyable cinematic experience for everyone.
The festival is held at the ShowPlace ICON Theater and Kitchen at the West End in St. Louis Park. With it being so close to BSM, there are many students who have been able to intern in many different aspects of the festival including business and marketing. I shadowed one of the junior business interns, Sophie Corneliuson, on opening night.
With an event like this, publicity is everything. Because of this fact, one of the first tasks we were sent on to generate some last minute exposure was to go to the other local companies (specifically restaurants) and give them things like branded coasters and posters.
This is when the excitement began. As we crept closer and closer to the beginning of the actual event, photographers and reporters from various news sources including Fox News started to arrive as well as the filmmakers and the guests. At 5:00, the makers of the first film, Stories Behind the Menu, took the red carpet. This lasted about half an hour with the creators of this film back and forth across the carpet doing interviews and taking pictures. I thought it was really cool to see all the excitement and hustle bustle of being at a real Hollywood movie premiere, on a much smaller scale of course.
This particular film, like many others showcased at the festival, was local; it was an original documentary by Chaz Sandifer and Julie Burton who run a business in Minneapolis centered around encouraging others to interact with people that they wouldn’t normally talk to, while sharing a meal. It was really cool to hear them talk about their film and also see all of their friends who attended the festival to support them.
After the film concluded, there was an adults-only reception in the Twin Cities Film Fest Lounge right next door to the theater. At this reception, food from Sandifer and Burton’s restaurant was provided (and it was delicious).
Keep in mind, I only attended one night. There were many other films and there will continue to be many more over the next few years. It was an enlightening experience and I would recommend attendance to everyone who is a fan of film.