2023 Festival Schedule
The 2023 Benson Film Festival takes place Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 at the Benson Theatre. Stay tuned for updates about the festival schedule of events!
Please note: these films are not rated. Some films may contain sensitive and/or triggering content. Viewer discretion advised.
Friday, May 19
Filmmakers enjoy exclusive early entry to our Red Carpet Happy Hour event! Bring your business cards and chat with other filmmakers or enjoy a beverage and explore the Benson Theatre. Filmmakers receive one drink ticket.
5:00pm-6:30pm: Red Carpet Happy Hour
Pick up your festival passes, take your photo on the red carpet, and enjoy a beverage from the bar! Festival pass holders receive one drink ticket.
6:30-8:00: Friday Night Short Stacks
Mishandled / Samantha Marie Ware (LOCAL!)
Violent Textures of Nature and Flesh / Matthew Strasburger (LOCAL!)
I Watch You Paint / Tim Guthrie (LOCAL!)
Forever Happy Ending / Essi Sings
Packed Lunch / John W. Iwanonkiw
These Aren’t People / Ben Rosales
Horseshoe Hopes / Max Gilmore
Channel Surfing / Irma Cakaric
Wait / Andy Young
Melody / Chris Toro
Equinox / Elisa Valdes, Fernandes Posada
Phantom of the Desert / Doug Boethin, Michael Brown
Alligator Boots / Jesse Hughes
Where the Platter River Used to Run / Chris Machian (LOCAL!)
8:00pm-9:30pm: Friday Night Feature Film
Paper Dream / Ali Atshani
“An Iranian film about an albino teenage boy who falls in love with a young girl.”
9:30-pm-10:00pm: Filmmaker Reverse Happy Hour
Filmmakers are welcome to stick around after the feature screening to network and answer questions from festival guests in a casual setting in the theatre lobby.
Saturday, May 20
9:00-10:00am: Coffee and Cakes
Pick up your festival passes and enjoy a coffee and pastry from Hardy Coffee!
10:00am-11:00am: Local Feature Spotlight
Ramblin’ / Christopher Marshall (LOCAL!)
“Gwendolyn Pierce and McKenzie Jacobs were always inseparable. That is until college and adulting stood in the way. After a year apart and unforeseen circumstances, the two girls reconvene to journey back home. Along the way, Gwen and McKenzie are forced to face their pasts and rebuild the friendship and trust they once had.”
11:00am-Noon: Documentary Shorts
Bare Metal / Brandon Robert Gries, Ryan Freng, John Shoemaker
The Other Peloton / Brian Jenkins
Disappearing Man / Noah David Smith
Hello, My Name Is / Chris Machian (LOCAL!)
Hear insight from industry professionals about filmmaking in the Midwest! This year’s panel features Tessa Wedberg, Jason Fischer, Joshua LaBure, and Sharonda Harris-Marshall.
1:00pm-3:00pm: Documentary Feature
Love Art Revolution / Felix Semper, Pablo Semper
“The artist Felix Semper takes a sculpture of national hero Jose Marti to Cuba and collaborates with other artists and singers in Havana with his unique stretchable paper sculpture.”
3:00pm-4:40pm: Local Feature Film
In a Good Way / Joshua LaBure (LOCAL!)
“Margot and David had a once-loving marriage that fell apart, leaving them forced to live separate lives for years. However, they decide to meet up for a few days during a beautiful autumn in Omaha to see if their new versions can make their relationship work where their old selves could not.”
4:30pm-6:00pm: Happy Hour Mixer
Enjoy a beverage and chat with local filmmakers! Festival pass holders receive one drink ticket.
6:00pm-7:30pm: Documentary Feature
Romantic Chorus / Jeff M. Giordano
“An independent animated-documentary focused on sexuality and romantic connections featuring 21 diverse interviews from a wide range of genders, cultural backgrounds, abilities, and sexual orientations as they discuss Sex, Monogamy/Polyamory, Fear and Technology.”
7:30pm-9:00pm: Saturday Night Feature Film
Provo / Emma Thatcher
“A self-destructive ex-Mormon finds out her estranged abusive father is on his deathbed in Provo, Utah – so she road trips across the country to reckon with her past.”
9:00pm-10:00pm: Saturday Night Short Stacks
GAME / Jeannie Donohoe
The Commercial! / Jim Menza
Train / James David Washington
Are You Awake? / Gabriel Caste
A Tender Date / Tanesha Morris
Dead Enders / Tyler Walker, Fidel Ruiz-Healy
10:00pm: Closing Party
Join us down the street at The Sydney (5918 Maple St) to celebrate the closing of the 2023 Festival. DJ Crabrangucci will be spinning! Festival pass holders receive one drink ticket.
