When Liza Bennett took the reins of the Big Eddy Film Festival, she says she saw an opportunity to bring together two things that have shaped her life in the Delaware Valley: a love of the region and a commitment to creative work.
The actor, writer, director and community organizer is the festival’s new director as Big Eddy prepares for its 15th season in Narrowsburg this fall.
Bennett, a Juilliard graduate who has worked in film, television and theater, says what excites her most is the chance to support the area’s creative community.
“I think we have a weird little festival and it can really support those sort of outsider voices,” Bennett said. “We have so much talent and creativity here.”
Bennett moved to the area three years ago. She says the community has embraced her family creatively and in other ways, and she sees the festival as another way to serve the region.
For Bennett, that means thinking of a film festival as more than a series of screenings.
She wants Big Eddy to emphasize the experience of being in the Delaware Valley — including unconventional screenings, immersive events and opportunities for filmmakers and audiences to connect outside a theater.
“When people come and they visit us,” Bennett said, “I feel like they’re saying things like, ‘Oh my gosh, I met three people at dinner and they told me to go over here and now I have new friends and I went and jumped in the river and it was magical.’”
That sense of connection also informs the festival’s focus on emerging filmmakers.
Bennett says young creators need a place where they can find people who can help them navigate an increasingly difficult industry.
“Emerging filmmakers, they need a place and a voice and a platform,” she said.
She hopes Big Eddy can bring together established artists with younger filmmakers, creating opportunities for collaboration that might not otherwise happen.
This year’s festival theme is “Stories From the Other Side,” reflecting what Bennett describes as a cultural fascination with ghosts, the unknown and things that seem bigger than ourselves.
The festival will also address issues beyond filmmaking. Its opening Big Eddy Ignites event will focus on rural health care, featuring three short films followed by a community conversation.
The 15th annual Big Eddy Film Festival is scheduled for Sept. 24-27 in Narrowsburg. Bennett says the festival’s film slate will be announced Sept. 1, with additional guests and events to be announced.
Among those planned is a screening of Neil LaBute’s new film “Murderers,” with LaBute and lead actor Gia Crovatin participating in a Q&A.
For Bennett, the festival is also part of a larger effort to make creative careers sustainable. Through her work at The Field Office, she helps emerging artists learn about finances, grants, pitching and the practical realities of making a living in the arts.
“If you can’t pay your bills, you can’t afford to go make art,” she said.
Image: Liza Bennett is the new director of the Big Eddy Film Festival. (BIg Eddy Film Festival)