Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF Intern, Rochester, NY.

Just as one of the busiest weeks of my life draws to a close, another busy, exciting week is just getting started.

Of course, I am talking about FLEFF. 

It's an exciting, fun filled week packed with various lectures, films, musical performances, multimedia presentations and guests. How am I going to make it to everything while still keeping up with the essentials like eating and sleeping? Sleep isn't essential, that can hold off for a bit.

But not in vain! No, of all the events I plan on attending, these three are keeping my excitement levels to a maximum. Make sure to check them out!

#1 GRRR: Love and Revolution- Riot Girl NYC and I Dream of Mummers (Monday, April 1, 4:00-5:15, Park 285). I can't help but agree with what fellow intern Kim wrote in her previous post. I too consider myself to be an up and coming feminist. Whether is is coming to college and constantly being exposed to different view points, being involved in FLEFF and witnessing art and media from around the world, or taking classes from FLEFF co-director Patricia Zimmermann, discrepancies between male and female privileges has been increasingly brought to my attention. Seeing this film which discusses issues such as rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism and female empowerment via rare, archival footage will only increase my knowledge and give me more perspective. 

#2 White Scripts and Black Supermen (Wednesday, April 3, 4:00-6:30, Park 285). Along the same vein, this film intrigues me because it promises to ignite conversation about a social injustice that most people don't think twice about: this being racism and how it is portrayed in the media. I love comic books and superhero movies as much as the next person. But when I think about the last superhero film I watched, (I'm going to say The Avengers,) only Samuel Jackson's Nick Fury comes to mind. I am intrigued to learn about this topic that I have never given much thought to and to engage in conversation about what I learned.

#3 Carmina Burana (Tuesday, April 2, 8:15pm, Hockett Recital Hall, Whalen Center for Music). It may have not been in The Avengers, but the cantata's opening piece O Fortuna has been featured in countless other action films as well as football games! After a month or so of listening to the piece, I can assure you that there will be nothing like watching it performed live before your eyes. Music has a way of bringing people from all different backgrounds together. Sitting it a room with, experiencing this epic, dynamic, and sometimes downright hauntingly beautiful piece of music is guaranteed to bring people together. Either that or we'll all be pitching in on ear plugs to somewhat dull the mighty blast that will come from the 16 piece trombone troupe. (!!!) 

Are you excited about FLEFF yet? What a silly question, of course you are! See you there. Which event are you most looking forward to?

 Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF blogger, Rochester, NY

When asked to reflect upon my FLEFF experience thus far, I don't know where to start. 

So far, I've had to the opportunity to interview and write about significant and influential artist, participate in countless flash mobs, Skype with international names such as Enrico Aditjondro, talk to fellow filmmakers at Cinemapolis about FLEFF and work with a close knit group of fellow bloggers.

And that's only what I've done so far.

The festival is coming up in about a month, but this Sunday, March 3rd, is the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase at Cinemapolis! The lineup was just released, check it out here! After that we will continue preparations for the festival from April 1st to April 7th. Only time will tell exactly what I have to look forward to, but if it's anything like the past two months, it will be engaging, fruitful, and flat out enjoyable. 

With all these things I have been engaged in, I have hardly had time to look back and realize how much more knowledgable about FLEFF. This time last year I heard whisperings of FLEFF from my friends and from the various social medias college students take advantage of. Little did I know that in a year I would be an important part of the blogging team, constantly receiving updates about the festival and assignments to push it out. I now feel as though I am part of something much bigger, and yet it still feels very personal and intimate. 

My time in festivals has been full of excitement, speed, social media, and conversations. I cannot wait to see what else I see in the coming months! What have you learned from FLEFF?