Introducing something new and innovative to the Castleton community is exactly what Communication Professor Michael Talbott had in mind when deciding to bring an International Film Festival to campus.
Featuring six foreign films throughout the month of March, the inaugural edition of the Castleton International Film Festival aims to bring exciting films from around the globe to the Castleton-Rutland community.
“College was key to expanding my horizons,” said Talbott, explaining that he discovered his passion for foreign cinema after attending a number of international film festivals held by his undergraduate institution.
Showings will take place on Tuesday and Thursday nights beginning on March 3. All the screenings will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Herrick Auditorium and are open to the public and free of charge.
Featured films include Declaration of War, Le Havre, In the House, Bad Blood, A Screaming Man and A Town Called Panic.
This year’s screenings are made possible by the Tournées Festival grant, administered by the FACE, French American Cultural Exchange, in partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, which works to increase cultural awareness on college campuses.
“I’m most excited by the possibility of making this an annual, and sustainable, event. If there’s enough interest, we can host future festival without relying solely on grant funding,” he said.
Talbott explained that many Castleton students have little exposure to foreign cinema and a lack the familiarity with the international film arena. He sees the festival as a way to create more exposure to the genre, while allowing students to become more culturally diverse.
“I hope our students attend some of these screenings and discover that films from other countries can be just as entertaining, exciting, and enchanting,” Talbott said. “Long-term, I hope screening foreign films can help to cultivate an ongoing interest in foreign cultures among our students.”