Behind the Scenes

Special guest and Mohawk Elder, Tom Porter, opened the film festival with a prayer.

What truly makes a film festival unforgettable? It’s not just the stunning films and vibrant atmosphere; it’s the dedicated team of individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring it to life.

One of our primary goals for this festival was to establish a leadership committee of arts and culture organizations from the Cannon River watershed to help shape our event. We were thrilled to welcome Michael Johnson from the Northfield Arts Guild, Patty Salmon from Make It, Waterville, and Francisco Murillo from the Northfield Public Library to our team.

The first challenge was to develop a theme for the festival. After thoughtful discussions, the committee chose “resilience” — a tribute to our ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity. During the planning process, Francisco shared his enthusiasm:

“I loved getting to see all of the submissions that were sent in, each offering a unique perspective on nature and what it means to be human.”

From a remarkable pool of 125 submissions, 92 films were evaluated, leading to the selection of 9 exceptional entries. These films were categorized into important themes, including agriculture, youth and the environment, and Indigenous perspectives and solutions, each reflecting critical issues and encouraging meaningful discussions within the community.

Next came the exciting task of selecting screening locations. With our watershed covering an incredible 1,400 square miles, finding the perfect spots was quite the challenge. Thanks to our committee's collaboration, we narrowed the choices to four fantastic venues: Tilion Brewing in Cannon Falls, Corks & Pints in Faribault, Imminent Brewing in Northfield, and Mineral Springs in Owatonna.

With their guidance, our team orchestrated the most successful festival yet! We welcomed over 200 enthusiastic attendees, showcased 9 amazing short films, and featured a special guest (or several) at each screening. Looking ahead, Michael expressed his hopes:

“I hope future festivals continue to educate us about global water issues so we can cross-pollinate ideas and deepen our understanding of what environmental stewardship can look like right here at home.”