In 2007, Daniel DeFabio saw a big gray wall at Wiswall Park in Ballston Spa while listening to a summer concert there. Well, that’s not entirely true. He actually saw something more.
“I thought maybe it would be good for movie showings,” said DeFabio, who is a visual and graphic artist by trade. “I wanted to have more unique offerings, not just what people could watch at home … and have something for local families.”
Thanks to his vision, the Ballston Spa Film Festival is entering its fifth year and going strong. The event, which is set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3 and 4, this year, remains free.
A total of 39 films made by both local and international filmmakers, with an emphasis on films made by students, will be shown and juried over the two days. One winner for each category including best picture and best sound will be chosen. Screenings will be in Wiswall Park and at the Ballston Spa High School Auditorium. Screenings will start at 6:45 p.m. both evenings and are all family friendly.
The event has drawn around 1,000 total audience members in past years. This time, DeFabio and Festival Director Pam Grandin hope to draw closer to 1,500.
Funding for the two evenings of cinema came in part from a grant from the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway Foundation in the amount of $1,000 as well as one from Saratoga Program for the Arts in the amount of$4,400.
DeFabio is glad to see his brainchild grow from a from-scratch movement in its first year to a village institution. He also said local officials are considering closing off a couple of streets this year to accommodate the influx of movie fans.
“We’ll get as many as 450 people at a screening, it’s great,” he said. “It creates a festival kind of atmosphere and it’s a spectacle even if you didn’t plan on going to it.”
The event also considers Ballston Spa businesses and DeFabio has coordinated with many of them to offer later than usual hours. There will also be an after party at 51 Front Street (which is both the bistro’s name and address) on Saturday night starting at 10:30 p.m.
“It’s a very good community event, not only for Ballston Spa … but I think it’s a great thing to be doing here locally because we have filmmakers from all over the world who are submitting to us…and nobody wanted to see it go away,” Grandin said.
As the festival gains popularity, it’s also drawing more international artists. Russian filmmaker Mikhail Kanavz made the trip to last year’s festival for his film’s screening. This year’s festival includes six Russian filmmakers.
Filmmaker Dan Masucci of Scotia entered his film, “Dx ONE” to the festival. It’s about diabetes and depicts his family’s struggles with it. His son Nicholas was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in2008. He said he hopes the film raises awareness of the disease.
“It has been my goal for audiences to better understand the experience of what people with Type 1 and their families endure on a daily basis as well as simply enjoy a good film,” said Masucci. “Dx ONE” runs 18 minutes and will be shown on Saturday evening in the park.
Audiences can enjoy the festivities prior to the park showings along with kettle corn, cotton candy, ice cream and fun movie trivia.
There will also be one full-length motion picture shown Saturday afternoon at the high school (check the event website for a forthcoming time).While Grandin declined to disclose the title, she said that it features two animals on an adventure. One of the animals is named Otis, the other Milo. After that film there will also be a panel discussion with a composer about how music is incorporated into film.
The festival is presented by the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association. For a complete schedule of screenings visit bspafilm.org.
