Organizing the inaugural Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival has been an exercise in building a network of participants and contributors. Scott Dunham, the festival manager, provides insights into role of universities, the city of Windsor, and John Kelly in bringing it all together.
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This weekend will mark the inaugural running of the Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival. As with many non-profit undertakings, organizing the festival has been an exercise in building a network of participants and contributors. Scott Dunham, the festival manager, provides the highlights of getting this year's festival together:
- From the beginning, the commitment was to develop the festival with "Detroit style" using resources from Michigan and Windsor. The organizing committee specifically ruled out using one of the canned approaches available for purchase so as to maximize the contribution from local Michigan groups.
- Significant contributions have come from two academic institutions whose missions coincide with the goals of the festival: Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies.
- Windsor has provided an important link into the Canadian film industry and into the Toronto Film Festival, a major North American festival.
- While the festival has been a coalition effort, John Kelly's leadership as festival director has been the glue that holds it together.
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