ArtsFest Film Festival

The first-ever ArtsFest Film Festival will feature 13 films by aspiring young film makers that run the gamut from animated shorts to sci fi horror. The films will be shown at The Picture House in Pelham (175 Wolf’s Lane, Pelham; 914-738-7337; www.thepicturehouse.org) in three segments; each segment will be followed by a 20-minute Q and A session. Admission is free but audiences are encouraged to visit the snack counter.

Segment 1 (at 12:15 pm) features five short films (less than 5 minutes in length) and two longer films (15 and 20 minutes each); the themes include comedy, animation, puppetry, drama and a psychological thriller.

Segment 2 (at 2 pm), “Autistic Mode,” features five short films created by animators who are on the autistic spectrum and sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of neurodivergent creators.

Segment 3 (at 4 pm) includes one short film (9 minutes) described as a dramedy and two longer films, a psychological thriller called “The Daughter” (27 minutes) and a dramedy with political themes called “Apologetically Black” (45 minutes). All of the films are intended for mature audiences.

NRCA President Theresa Kump Leghorn says the Film Festival was inspired by several young film makers who asked if ArtsFest could include more cinema. “We called a meeting of interested parties in June, and it took off from there.” ArtsFest committee member Andi Stix volunteered to help organize the group, which included Clayton Bushong, Executive Director of The Picture House; film makers Delano Allen and Bob Clark; and judges Ross Cooper, Frank Harts and Craig Padawer.

Bob Clark says that given the short time frame putting the festival together was a challenge, but the end result is a schedule of varied films: “ We've got comedy, horror, sci-fi, drama, anime, dance, puppets, detectives, musicals-- something for every kind of audience that exists, and possibly a few that haven't been invented yet.”