Oil Valley Film Festival

The Oil Valley Film Festival is an annual American film festival in Oil City, Pennsylvania.

Oil Valley Film Festival
LocationOil City, Pennsylvania, United States
Founded2015
LanguageInternational, with English Subtitles
Websiteoilvalleyfilmfestival.weebly.com

The festival takes place at the historic National Transit Building and the Oil City Library. The festival comprises competitive sections for American and international narrative and documentary films, both feature-length films and short films, and a curated block of out-of-competition selections. Audience favorites in feature and short categories, as voted on by the attending audiences, receive prizes separate from jury prizes. The festival also includes a screenwriting competition.

Festival Programming

The Oil Valley Film Festival consists of film programming over a three-day period. Day one provides the juried short film program. Day two provides the juried feature film program, with a social event for filmmakers and audience members to interact. Day three provides the audience members to watch a curated program consisting of films chosen by the festival's director. Beginning in 2017, the festival began with various panels of discussion featuring filmmakers, actors, and producers from the selected films. Topics for each panel vary.

History

The Oil Valley Film Festival was founded by Matt Croyle in 2015, to bring new and established cinema to the underrepresented region of Venango County, Pennsylvania, with the first festival taking place September 1–3, 2016.[1] It is the first international film festival of its kind in Pennsylvania's Oil Region. Croyle stated that his ambition was to bring art house works to an audience who would not normally be able to see non-mainstream films.[2]

The founding of the festival garnered attention from established industry publications and organizations, ultimately resulting in partnerships with Videomaker Magazine and The Writers Store.[3]

In the festival's inaugural year, the feature film Audience Prize was awarded to Vincent Pereira for his 1997 film A Better Place, one of the lesser known View Askew Productions films, produced by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier. A Better Place screened out of jury competition, in the curated block, but was chosen by the audience as their favorite feature of the festival. Filmmaker Zach Daulton, of Ohio, was awarded the short film Audience Prize for his film 'Mayfield.'

In its first year, the Oil Valley Film Festival received submissions from twelve countries on five continents.

On August 25, 2021, the festival was named one of the Top Ten Virtual Film Festivals for September by Filmocracy, due to the festival's online option for viewers.[4]

The 2022 festival featured more high-profile creatives than previous iterations including Oscar winners Cloris Leachman and Olympia Dukakis, in their final screen roles, along with Louis Gossett Jr., Tatum O’Neal and George Chakiris. [5]

The 2023 festival remained a draw for high-profile creatives. Appearing on screen were Abigail Breslin, Jacqueline Bisset, Tom Arnold, and Mercedes Ruehl, with Breslin co-directing a television pilot titled 'Cannibals'. The in-person festival remained without an online streaming option for the second year despite the draw. [6]

Addition of an online screening element

The 2020 Oil Valley Film Festival partnered with the streaming service Festivee to bring the selected films to audiences digitally. This decision was made because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

The streaming element stayed in place for the 2021 Oil Valley Film Festival, and festival director Matt Croyle has expressed interest in keeping the festival hybrid to accommodate global viewership.

Notable Guests and Interviews

2020: Writer and director James Merendino of SLC Punk and the multifaceted D.B. Sweeney of Eight Men Out, The Cutting Edge, and Memphis Belle.[8]
2021: Natalie Metzger, producer of Werewolves Within, The Beta Test, and Thunder Road, along with screenwriter Jason Usry.[9]
2022: Suzanne Romero, Executive Director of The George A. Romero Foundation, along with filmmaker Al White, and editor Michael Foster.[10]
2023: Sarah Booth, Canadian actor. [11]

Award winners

2022 Awards[12]
AwardFilmIndividual(s)
Best Picture - Feature, Narrative or DocumentaryBeyond the LakeDir. Dominic Porcari
Best Picture - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryHeavy PettingDir. Brendan Prost
Best Director - FeatureBeyond the LakeDir. Dominic Porcari
Best Director - ShortHouse of Brotherly LoveDir. Max Kane
Best Director - Documentary, Short or FeatureShepherds of the EarthDir. Iiris Harma
Outstanding Achievement in Lead Acting, FeatureBeyond the LakeDavid Socolar
Outstanding Achievement in Lead Acting, ShortReturn to SenderAllison Tolman
Outstanding Achievement in Supporting Acting, FeatureNot to ForgetCloris Leachman
Outstanding Achievement in Supporting Acting, ShortHouse of Brotherly LoveBrooke Gardner
Special Jury Prize in ActingDelilahRainey Qualley
Special Jury Prize in Voice ActingIt's Always SomethingStephen Fry
Outstanding Cinematography - Feature, Narrative or DocumentaryShepherds of the EarthVisa Koiso-Kanttila
Outstanding Cinematography - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryIt's Always SomethingBryan Perido
Best Editing - Feature, Narrative or DocumentaryMatch StruckEric Randolph
Best Editing - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryAping Edwin PorterBen Simon
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - FeatureAren't You the Family?Angelise Milton
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - ShortCandybyteDiana Foronda
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - PilotCanajoharieDean C. Cummings
2021 Awards[13]
AwardFilmIndividual(s)
Best Picture - Feature, Narrative or DocumentaryShellfishDir. Hunter Hopewell
Best Picture - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryA Godless CountryDir. Jesse Richardson
Best Director - Feature, Narrative or DocumentaryThe Colour of SpringDir. Paul Andrew Kimball
Best Director - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryRent DoDir. Gavin Michael Booth
Outstanding Achievement in Lead ActingShellfishSavanah Joeckel
Outstanding Achievement in Lead ActingBone CageTaylor Olson
Outstanding Achievement in Supporting ActingA Godless CountryBrent Dunner
Outstanding Achievement in Supporting ActingRent DoSarah Booth
Outstanding Cinematography - Feature, Narrative or DocumentaryMy Ture FairytalePablo Diez
Outstanding Cinematography - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryFloraMichal Babinec
Best Editing - Feature, Narrative or DocumentaryThe Game is Up: Disillusioned Trump Voters Tell Their StoriesMarlis Ernst: Lead Editor
Best Editing - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryCongratulations (Mabrook)Sarah Iseley
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - FeatureThe Bridge BuilderMichael Greene
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - ShortThe Boy Who Never ExistedLaura Wagner
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - PilotThe Wolfe-PointeJulianna Pitt
2020 Awards[14]
AwardFilmIndividual(s)
Best Picture - Feature, Narrative or DocumentarySockeye Salmon. Red FishDir. Dimitry Shpilenok
Vadislav Grishin
Best Picture - Short, Narrative or DocumentarySac de MerdeDir. Greg Chwerchak
Best Director - Feature, Narrative or DocumentarySockeye Salmon. Red FishDir. Dimitry Shpilenok
Vadislav Grishin
Best Director - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryAnnaDir. Dekel Berenson
Outstanding Achievement in Lead ActingSalting the FlyRory James Leech
Outstanding Achievement in Lead ActingSac de MerdeArielle Haller-Silverstone
Outstanding Achievement in Supporting ActingGhost in the GunHaley Camille
Outstanding Achievement in Supporting ActingBuffalo & TroutBrooke Coleman
Outstanding Cinematography - Feature, Narrative or DocumentarySockeye Salmon. Red FishDimitry Shpilenok
Nikolay Shpilenok
Outstanding Cinematography - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryWe Hear RunningJordan Lavery
Best Editing - Feature, Narrative or DocumentarySockeye Salmon. Red FishAnna Sukhova
Best Editing - Short, Narrative or DocumentaryChokerSunghwan Morgan Francis
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - FeatureModern ArtLaurence Fuller
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - ShortPaddy's Tonsorial EmporiumRonald C. Milburn
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - PilotHometownAdam Dietz
2019 Awards[15]
AwardFilmIndividual(s)
Best Picture - Narrative FeatureThis World Won't BreakDir. Josh David Jordan
Best Picture - Documentary FeatureMaking Coco: The Grant Fuhr StoryDir. Don Metz
Best Picture - Narrative ShortWays to Look at the MoonDir. Katherine Clark
Best Picture - Documentary ShortOutspokenDir. Emily Harger
Best Director - FeatureA Black Letter DayDir. Ekaterina Tarasova
Best Director - ShortScrapDir. Leena Pendharker
Best Actor - FeatureLast CallSarah Booth
Best Actor - ShortStill YoungAdrian Ross-Jones
Best Supporting Actor - FeatureThis World Won't BreakRoxanna Redfoot
Best Supporting Actor - ShortA Black Letter DayIgor Shugaleev
Outstanding Cinematography - FeatureLast CallSeth Wessel-Estes
Outstanding Cinematography - ShortMinor KeyJose Martin Rosete
Best Editing - FeatureThe AstronotTim Cash
Best Editing - ShortScrapSunghwan Moon
Audience Choice Award for Best Picture - FeatureLast CallDir. Gavin Michael Booth
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - FeatureThink ForwardDavid Keogh
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - ShortHomefulnessDan LaTourette
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - PilotAlmostElena Lockleis
2018 Awards[16]
AwardFilmIndividual(s)
Best Picture - Narrative FeatureBlueDir. Gabriela Ledesma
Best Picture - Documentary FeatureYou Racist, Sexist, BigotDir. Pita Juarez
Matty Steinkamp
Best Picture - Narrative ShortDomesticatedDir. Juan Francisco Viruega
Best Picture - Documentary ShortOne Year on a BikeDir. Martijn Doolaard
Best Director - Narrative FeatureBlueDir. Gabriela Ledesma
Best Director - Documentary FeatureYou Racist, Sexist, BigotDir. Pita Juarez
Matty Steinkamp
Best Director - Narrative ShortSnowDir. Alex Murawski
Best Director - Documentary ShortNobody Dies HereDir. Simon Panay
Best Actor - FeatureBlueCallie Schuttera
Best Actor - ShortAinhoaAurelia Schikarski
Best Supporting Actor - FeatureAfter Hours TradingAriana Livingston
Best Supporting Actor - ShortSpoken WordLance Reddick
Outstanding Cinematography - Narrative FeatureRegionratCarlos Jimenez
Outstanding Cinematography - Documentary FeatureFlin Flon: A Hockey TownSoren Neilsen
Christine Ng
Outstanding Cinematography - Narrative Short88 CentsMatthew Petrunak
Outstanding Cinematography - Documentary ShortOne Year on a BikeMartijn Doolaard
Best Editing - Narrative FeatureThe Song of Sway LakeTodd Holmes
Gabriel Wrye
Best Editing - Documentary FeaturePoured in PennsylvaniaDoug Metz
Best Editing - Narrative ShortGuardBrian Philip Davis
Best Editing - Documentary ShortNobody Dies HereSimon Panay
Audience Choice Award for Best Picture - FeatureBlueDir. Gabriela Ledesma
Audience Choice Award for Best Picture - ShortDomesticatedDir. Juan Francisco Viruega
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - FeatureBlind-SightedDavid Keogh
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - ShortCherry GlazedChristine Sherwood
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - PilotPeace, Love & Law EnforcementLorraine Portman
2017 Awards[17]
AwardFilmIndividual(s)
Best Picture - Narrative FeatureBlockbuster - A Life in Moving PicturesDir. Vlado Priborsky
Best Picture - Documentary FeaturePassfireDir. Jesse Veverka
Best Picture - Narrative ShortThe EliminadoraDir. PJ Gaynard
Best Picture - Documentary Short1,000Dir. Abdullah Washington
Tom Weber
Best Director - FeatureMeadow BridgeDir. Tijah Bumgarner
Best Director - ShortThe BouquetDir. Julien Segard
Roman Carciofo
Best Actor - FeatureMeadow BridgeMicah Gilkerson
Best Actor - ShortThe BouquetDavid Brenot
Best Supporting Actor - FeatureMeadow BridgeKate Morris
Best Supporting Actor - ShortDerelictWilliam Waddell
Outstanding Cinematography - FeatureBlockbuster - A Life in Moving PicturesCosta Konstantinou
Edgar Pfandler
Daniel Steiner
Outstanding Cinematography - ShortDerelictHank Vohrer
Best Editing - FeatureMeadow BridgeManuel Aranda
Jose Arriaga
Juan Fernandez
Nerea Muguerza
Best Editing - ShortThe BouquetJérémy Pitard
Audience Choice Award for Best Picture - FeatureMeadow BridgeDir. Tijah Bumgarner
Audience Choice Award for Best Picture - ShortThe BouquetDir. Julien Segard
Roman Carciofo
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - FeatureDay of ReckoningLorraine Portman
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - ShortBrier HillJonathan Stiffy
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - PilotAdriftMichael Snow
2016 Awards[18]
AwardFilmIndividual(s)
Best Picture - FeatureFigurineDir. Hans Olson
Best Picture - ShortMayfieldDir. Zach Daulton
Best Director - FeatureFigurineDir. Hans Olson
Best Director - ShortLighthouse KeeperDir. Nadia Shmeleva
Best Actor - FeatureFigurineKelly Goetz
Best Actor - ShortMayfieldJohn Adrian Riley
Best Supporting Actor - FeatureExit ThreadHilary Connell
Best Supporting Actor - ShortA Box Came To BrooklynJack Haley
Outstanding Cinematography - FeatureFigurineMike McLaughlin
Outstanding Cinematography - ShortThornbirdAnthony Watkins
Best Editing - FeatureEscapesManuel Aranda
Jose Arriaga
Juan Fernandez
Nerea Muguerza
Best Editing - ShortVesselB.A. Lewandowski
Audience Choice Award for Best Picture - FeatureA Better PlaceDir. Vincent Pereira
Audience Choice Award for Best Picture - ShortMayfieldDir. Zach Daulton
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - FeatureArvin Lindemeyer Takes CanarsieD. Ferrara
Outstanding Screenwriting - Screenwriting Competition - ShortDeadhorse LickCharles Hall

References

  1. Frye, Drew. "First annual Oil Valley Film Festival to launch in September". Venango Extra. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  2. Keil, Bill. "Film festival to showcase local and international talent". Titusville Herald. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  3. "Oil Valley Film Festival on FilmFreeway". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  4. "Top Ten Virtual Film Festivals of September". Filmocracy. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  5. "Oil Valley Film Festival will feature Oscar Winners". Venango Extra. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  6. "Oil Valley Film Festival returns for its 8th year". Venango Newspapers & The Derrick. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  7. Delp, Aly. "2020 Oil Valley Film Festival to Go Digital in Response to Global Coronavirus Pandemic". Explore Venango. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  8. "2020 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  9. "2021 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  10. "2022 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  11. "Sarah Booth Interview with Matt Croyle - 2023 Oil Valley Film Festival". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  12. "2022 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  13. "2021 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  14. "2020 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  15. "2019 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  16. "2018 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  17. "2017 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  18. "2016 Festival Wrap-up and Winners". Oil Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
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