Oceanside International Film Festival had big plans for its 10th anniversary but those had to be scrapped as COVID-19 forced the event to go online.
Held every August since 2009, the Oceanside International Film Festival, or OIFF. normally takes place in the historic Brooks Theater (established in 1936). But as with film festivals everywhere, it has been forced to create a virtual version of its in-person event.
"We were really excited to celebrate our 10-year anniversary," said OIFF Managing Director Lou Niles. "We were even launching a sustainability and social consciousness related initiative, which would have been very timely. So we've had to go virtual and explore different platforms. We were lucky to find one and we're just about ready to go. We had to make the decision probably about maybe two and a half, three weeks ago. So we are just scrambling to get everything loaded into the platform and get it ready to deliver these great films to the public."
With a home base next to a beach, OIFF has taken much of its personality from the community. There is a distinct love for surfing, skateboarding, the outdoors, and music.
The first film I happened to cue up to watch was "Unnur," and the opening shots were breathtaking aerial drone footage of Iceland. It made me crave the outdoors and wish that I could be watching this film on a big screen in an icy cold cinema. Many of the films this year remind you of the vast world that we have been mostly sheltering at home away from. "Unnur" opens our eyes to the beauty of Iceland from the perspective of a surf-loving dad and his daughter, whereas "The Roads Most Traveled: Photojournalist Don Bartletti" shows how a single image tells an epic story.
In the documentary, Bartletti explains, "I learned that, you know, I can hide behind the camera only so long before I can't see through the. Can you find it because tears are coming down my eyes? But I couldn't stand to do that. I would do something else. I shouldn't do it. It's not for everybody. The goal here is to teach viewers this is what happened behind the scenes. The struggle of people in failing countries."
A festival is at the mercy of what films are available but Niles and programmers Sterling Anno and Carly Starr Brullo-Niles always manage to find gems that reflect the festival's personality.
"We were lucky," Niles said. "The programming team of Sterling Anno and Carly Starr Brullo-Niles, they really go through that, and assess what do we have? We really like to have themed blocks that may not be just documentaries or just love stories. It might be a mix in there. They're tied together somehow by another thread that's moving through the stories, and we have some really beautiful films. So hopefully it'll be kind of inspiring where you're trapped inside and you can live vicariously through these films and not be like, I wish I could get out there."
The films in the festival have been curated into eight themed film blocks: Dark, Sustainable, Golden Hour, Lineup, Culture, Change, Coming of Age, and Arthouse. Plus there will be four separately ticketed feature-length films.
While festivals all prefer delivering a physical, in-person event, there are some benefits to the virtual experience.
"The unique thing about the virtual festival is that film fans will have an extended time period to be able to watch all of the 45 films if they so choose," Niles explained. "The first set of films launches on Saturday, Aug. 15 with a second set of blocks opening on Aug. 16. All the films will then be available until midnight Aug. 23."
The virtual ticket options are to purchase a Film Block for $10 or enjoy all of them plus the feature films for the bargain price of $35. Attendees will be able to log in from their phone, laptop, desktop or tablet and enjoy the films from the comfort of home or wherever they may be.
The festival will also still present its annual awards, which will be announced Sunday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. through OIFF's Eventive page.
Full schedule of films is here.
