Sioux City International Film Festival to highlight the world’s best short subject movies

Do you remember the car crashes, the special effects or the lavish scenery?

More likely, you’ll recall the characters, the plot twists and how it made you feel by the time the final credits ended.

That’s the magic of cinematic storytelling and is the focus of the 19th annual Sioux City International Film Festival, which will showcase short films in two-hour genre-specific blocks, Oct. 3 – 6 at the Promenade Cinema, 924 Fourth St.

However, the film fest will actually kick off with a free screening of “Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary” – a film which follows three RAGBRAI riders on the road to peace, redemption and clarity on bikes across the state of Iowa – at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St.

“I think audiences will really enjoy ‘Shift’ because it’s centered on interesting people with compelling stories to tell,” explained Sioux City International Film Festival (SCIFF) president Leslie Werden.

An English professor and chair of Morningside University’s Humanities Department, Werden is all about storytelling, especially in film.

“Movies are a universal language and I incorporate it in all of my classes,” she noted. “Even in my public speaking class, I’ll show a scene from (the 1987 romcom) ‘Broadcast News’ to illustrate a point.”

In large part, that is because movies can reflect or change a way a person thinks of himself or the world around him.

This is why Werden is a fan of “No Right Way,” a quirky comedic feature film that will be the official opening of this year’s film fest.

Telling the story of tween Georgie (Ava Acres) and her unique relationship with older half-sister Harper (Chelsea Bo), “No Right Way” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Promenade Cinema.

It will be followed by a live Q&A with Bo (who, in addition to be the movie’s co-star is also its writer and director), producer Sean Drummond and a few more “No Right Way” cast members.

“I think ‘No Right Way’ is a quintessential indie movie,” Werden said. “It proves you don’t need a massive budget if you have a compelling story to tell.”

Which is also true with SCIFF’s lineup of short subject films, which has always been the highlight of the festival.

More than a dozen community volunteers joined the SCIFF’s board of directors to view and rate more than 190 movies made of directors, actors and writers from around the world.

The top 60 films – in the categories of Comedy, Drama, Documentary, Horror/Thriller/Sci-fi/Fantasy and, new for this year, Midwest High School and College-made – will be shown Oct. 4, 5 and 6.

All will be up for the coveted Siouxsie Award – SCIFF’s equivalent of the Academy Award – which is handed out a ceremony taking place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5.

Some of this year’s standouts will include “Last Call,” a drama starring Tom Holland (the big screen’s Spider-Man); “Red, White, and Blue,” a drama which stars Brittany Snow (“Pitch Perfect”) and has already been nominated for an Oscar; and a scathingly satirical “The Anne Frank Gift Shop,” starring Chris Perfetti (of TV’s “Abbott Elementary” fame).

“The quality of films from all over the world, including those from our region and various parts of the U.S., continues to be impressive,” Werden said.

Although she acknowledges a preference for comedies, Werden was especially taken with this year’s lineup of documentaries.

That included “Did You Forget Mr. Fogel?” which tells the story of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel who is, currently being held prisoner in Russia; and “The Inside Singers,” which is about a choir made up of volunteer participants and inmates currently serving time in Iowa prisons.

“Short films are often passion projects,” Werden said. “They are often movies from new directors or something a more experienced director wanted to see hit the screen.”

Budding local moviemakers may get helpful tips from SCIFF’s lineup of panels and workshops on topics ranging from practical screenwriting to what Hollywood is really looking for in scripts.

Each workshop is led by industry professionals who are eager to share the tricks of the trade.

Now comes the twist, Hitchcockian ending. Why do top-notch moviemakers come to Sioux City each and every year?

According to Werden, SCIFF has developed a sterling reputation over the years.

“We treat people well,” she said with a smile. “That includes our special guests from around the world as well as the ones who are right here in the community.”

Now in its 19th year, the Sioux City International Film Festival is the longest-running festival for movies in the state of Iowa.

So what’s in store for next year’s fest, which will be year 20?

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Werden said. “After all, the key to a great story is keep the audience in suspense, right?”