What Led Me Here Today
“I loved the idea of volunteering a little to be able to sit and watch some movies I might not see anywhere else. So awesome! I got to meet so many wonderful people living right here in Oklahoma that I would have never met otherwise. These people loved film too, and they had all these interesting takes on film.”
dC Blog: Staff Edits with Jamie Loy
“I finally decided that I wouldn’t be happy until I had at least tried acting. So I did, and I’ve been doing it ever since and love every minute of it. As I started working on more productions, I began to pay attention to everything happening behind the scenes, which gave me a deeper appreciation for film. Through all of my experiences—from acting to film school—the thing I love most about film has never changed: filmmaking is all about teamwork, and together we create something bigger than any one person.”
Chair Chats: Josh Porter
“This fall, Cliff Crull and I launched the first Nitty Gritty Film Festival in Ponca City, Oklahoma—built with grit, heart, and a lot of hard lessons. Seeing filmmakers and audiences bring the Poncan Theatre to life made every challenge worth it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours—and it proved that asking “What if?” is how meaningful things begin.”
Staff Edits
The next generation of Oklahoma filmmakers made their mark in New York City as Lost and Found, a short film created through deadCenter University and Oklahoma City Community College’s Youth Camp, was officially selected to screen at the All American High School Film Festival, one of the largest showcases for emerging student filmmakers in the country.
For many of the students, the experience was not only a milestone in their creative journeys but also their first opportunity to see their work play on the big screen, at none other than AMC Times Square.
Board Voices
Through this festival, I’ve met countless friends, many now like family, and built a life far more rich and interesting than I ever imagined. Each summer, we gather not just to celebrate film, but to engage in something deeper: the exchange of kindness, the bridging of differences, the quiet power of showing up together.
Programmer’s Corner
“In 2017, after a few years of development, I remember standing on set, looking around at an excited, hardworking, and talented cast and crew looking to me for “direction.” I had to sit with that moment for a while. I had busied myself with getting all the pieces together, I forgot to savor the pride and feeling of accomplishment I felt having brought a life-long dream of mine to fruition. Every day on set brought me an immeasurable amount of joy. The film went on to make its world premiere at the DeadCenter Film Festival where it took home the “Best Oklahoma Film” Award. Seeing the film during two sold out screenings amongst friends, family, and curious strangers was one of the most heartening and emotional experiences of my life. After 2 years on the festival circuit, the film secured distribution and is currently available on streaming.”