With films ranging from high budget to no budget, different cultures all around the world, and many different styles; the Mosaic World Film Festival is a melting pot of life and media.
The festival was held from September 13th-15th, 2024. The MWFF showcases films from places like the UAE, Iraq, France, and all around the globe. The screenings are personal and cordial, more toned down than a regular movie theater.
(Photo by: Jazmyn Austin)
Students from Christian Life High School started the festival 17 years ago as a philanthropy project. They began by accepting cans of food and other donations for charity. They were first sponsored by the Rockford Public Library, who are still sponsors. At first it was inside of the library with only 5-6 different films.
Jerry LaBuy, a professor at RVC, took over running the festival in year three when the students went off to college. The Mosaic World Film Festival eventually moved to the Nordlof Center in downtown Rockford.
(Photo by: Jazmyn Austin)
The MWFF opens its submissions every year on October 1st. They accept films until mid-June. Jerry rebranded
the festival from just student work to include worldwide work with between 350-400 films submitted each year.
“I’ve got a love for world cinema, and I just didn’t really think there was a big presence of that in this city.” says LaBuy. “I was glad to bring it to the area.”
Jerry picks judges from around the world. These include industry friends and past winners of the festival from the US and the rest of the world. The fest showcases shorts as well as feature-length films.
(Photo by: Jazmyn Austin)
Kyle Owen, a film teacher at Auburn High School, brought nearly 80 of his students for a field trip Friday.
“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” says Owen. “The kids actually had a lot of fun. They experienced exactly what I hoped for them.”
Harlem High School instructor Nicholas Stange also brought students to the festival for the same screening.
Kyle says, “Our students come from different populations, have different ideas, yet they’re all so connected. The fact that these two schools have access to all the things we do and all of these creative kids. I really think we should be working together, not against one another, and maybe try to create even more opportunities for students who are interested in filmmaking in this area. That’s a big goal with both Stange and I.”
(Photo credit: Ryan Heller)
Isaac Frazier is an RVC Mass Com student. He participated in the Motion Picture, or “MoPic,” class this past summer. In the class he made a film called Vincent. His film was screened the Friday night of the festival.
“It’s both exciting and nerve-racking,” says Frazier. “I am nervous about what the perception is going to be of the film. If people are going to like it, if people aren’t going to like it, but also I think that it’s good. So I’m excited to hear from other people, even if they think it’s bad I’m excited to hear their opinions.”
Steve Spremo showed his first film ever, Ice Cream. Sladoled the Saturday night during the regional filmmakers section. His film follows the story of a man sent to get ice cream in a place where everyone speaks different languages.
(Photo by: Jazmyn. Austin)
“I mean I enjoyed writing it. I enjoyed directing it, but I would also say that the film would have never been possible without all of the work of all of the talented people that were involved in it,” says Spremo. “Everyone that was involved really was amazing in what they did. I think that the collaboration and getting everybody to work together to make this project was probably my favorite part.”
The MWFF will be back next year with more films from around the world. Then, you can see different films from all sorts of walks of life for yourself.
If you’re looking for more info on the festival visit: https://mosaicfilmfest.com/
Thanks Jazmyn for the recap of MWFF! I loved everything screened, keep it up!