Big Bear Film Summit

Big Bear Film Summit’s first in-person fest brought filmmakers up to the mountains

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Film festivals always take their personality from the people in charge and in this case, the Big Bear Film Summit was one of the friendliest, most supportive film festivals at its core that you could ever hope to experience. You can always streamline, increase budgets, perfect systems, but you just can’t buy that underlying feeling of getting the big cosmic hug. For that reason alone, the Big Bear Film Summit holds A LOT of promise as a destination fest going forward, because who doesn’t want to get a big cosmic hug while having their film screened in a prime vacation (and location) spot.

Lane Michael Stanley’s Addict Named Hal leads awards for Big Bear Film Summit 2021 wraps celebratory 2nd year and first in-person outing with filmmaker awards

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Co-Founders Gabriel Horn and Michael P Hanson, said, “As filmmakers AND film fans ourselves, it was a thrill to see this this weekend instantly become a joyous coming together of the people who make the films with the people who love the films. Big Bear once again lived up to its reputation as a place that embraces the moviemaking spirit, with a rustic setting that is beloved by the people that make those movies. Our award winners exemplified that spirit, both with their wonderful films and with how they immediately felt at home in this amazing locale. We absolutely expect to see several of them returning to make their next films here.”

Dorie Barton’s WELCOME TO THE SHOW at Big Apple Film Festival Review: takes you on an journey defined by your own imagination

By Luke Y. Thompson 5 years ago

Now imagine that instead of having those conversations inside a dorm room, you find yourself inside a world made entirely of such questions. That’s what this movie calls The Show, initially presented as an experimental theater piece but soon proving to be far more encompassing than that, like some adult conceptual version of The Phantom Tollboth crossed with extreme haunts like McKamey Manor or Blackout.

Lane Michael Stanley’s Addict Named Hal Opens Big Bear Film Summit 2021 for in-person return in June after last year’s virtual debut

By John Wildman 5 years ago

BBFS CEO Gabriel Horn, added, “So many people – not just filmmakers and others in the film industry – have a new hope right now as we work our way back from the pandemic, so we thought it would be a great theme for this year’s edition of the Big Bear Film Summit. However, a constant is the quality of the films we have selected for BBFS. Only this year we will have the great pleasure of hosting our attending filmmakers and film fans against the backdrop of this gorgeous and historically Hollywood-friendly area.”

Noah Warner’s THE TRAP DOOR AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE leads The Big Bear Film Summit Film Lineup for Debut to be made in Virtual Space

By John Wildman 6 years ago

BBFS CEO Gabriel Horn, added, “The priority with a film festival always begins and ends with the films and filmmakers, so while we will wait until next year to celebrate the art of independent cinema against the backdrop of this historically Hollywood-friendly area, celebrate those films we will. The debut of the Big Bear Film Summit will be a testament to the ability of the filmmaker to persevere.”

Gabriel Horn from The Big Bear Film Summit Annc’s Debuts with Film & Music Fest in June

By John Wildman 6 years ago

“The goal of BBFS is to insure that domestic and international artists, producers, and film directors attend the festival and participate in discussions about their work and about the art of filmmaking, and that they are given the opportunity to see what our region has to offer, in the hope that they will return to make subsequent films here benefiting from a new proposed regional film incentive program” said Executive Director Michael P. Hanson.