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This week at The Tryon Theatre is The Tryon International Film Festival, celebrating its 10th year of bringing global cinema to our beloved hamlet. This festival was founded by local residents Beau Menetre and Kirk Golwitzer. Today, Beau \ still spearheads this celebration of a cinema, aided by a hard-working and dedicated team of partners. The original date of this festival was the first week of October, which sadly coincided with the devastation of Helene. While the initial cancellation was a disappointment, the festival has luckily been rescheduled and will occur this upcoming weekend, Friday, November 22, through Sunday, November 24, with countless opportunities for exploring a love of film. 

As with any festival, the selection of these films is an intentionally designed opportunity to provide a platform for filmmakers and creative voices who are otherwise unrepresented in the studio system. Predominantly, the delineation between festival films and studio productions is their budgets, with studio films having the total weight of the industry behind them. Alternatively, festival films are mainly produced through crowdfunding and private investors, with the filmmakers and cast themselves often assuming many production costs. These smaller budgets create practical constraints but don’t limit the scope of the films. Creativity often flourishes within constraint, and small films are often stellar examples of the artistic heights achievable despite a robust budget. At the same time, it is important that potential viewers adjust their expectations accordingly, not only for budget but also for content. 

The lack of the studio connection also means there is no appeal to advertisers inherent to the film’s production, allowing for more niche, and at times provocative, voices to be expressed. Some of the films for the festival will inevitably tell a focused and nuanced story, completely detached from the experience and or interest of some of the audience, a guarantee of any festival. However, the guarantee is not only that of risk but also a promise of exposure to new and otherwise unreachable expressions of art and creativity. 

The Tryon Theatre is the main location for the festival’s feature-length films, both narrative and documentary, while other smaller downtown venues will host the festival’s short film. And while viewing film is, of course, the heart of any film festival, expanding one’s understanding of film is another inseparable element, education is just as important. In pursuit of this balance, The Tryon International Film Festival’s offerings include many classes and other educational opportunities, as organized by one of the festival’s most dedicated partners, Ashley Crane. 

We at The Tryon Theatre will enjoy this filmic exploration with all of you for the first time, as equal an audience as anyone else. So, while we will be available for any and all theater-related needs, any scheduling or programming concerns should be directed to the readily available and appropriately “t-shirted” festival volunteers. For anyone seeking more information on ticketing, programming, or scheduling, please visit www.tryoninternationalfilmfestival.com.