The fifth year of the Connecticut Film Festival in Danbury was expected to close this past weekend after six days with its largest crowds yet and upping what it offers. Sitting in the dark is now only part of a larger economic equation.
“Our mission continues to be to show thought-provoking and daring films that motivate people,” said Tom Carruthers, executive director of the Connecticut Film Festival.
“It brings people to Danbury and to enjoy the festival, but they also eat here, shop here and stay in our hotels,” said Mayor Mark Boughton.
Boughton said if festival attendance meets expectations, it will be one the largest events ever hosted in the city.
Carruthers said that this year the festival showed that it is committed to keeping participants current about contemporary mass communication, having added interactive and digital media, video games and emerging music elements to the festival along with additional workshops.Â
Dave Bonan, the festival’s director of interactive programming, said several pioneers of the free software movement were expected to speak at the interactive portion of the festival. Scheduled speakers included Steve Pick, developer of Celtx, a fully functional, free screenwriting program. Information was also provided on free alternatives to Microsoft Word, Publisher and Excel.
“There’s nothing like what we have,” said Bonan in advance of the festival.
Bonan said the rareness of the programming has drawn experts from all over North America.
“We are trying to provide information that is relevant in today”™s world, and opportunities for cross-pollination for those who love film,” said Carruthers.
The event penned in a lineup of more than 130 independent films from across the world and 100 workshops and panels.
 “People are drawn to film festivals because they have a desire to see more meaningful films” said Carruthers.
The festival was to open with a screening of “TiMER,” which had its world premiere at the TriBeCa Film Festival last month.
Highlights were to include the award-winning “Children of Invention,” by Tze Chun, which closes the festival and a benefit presentation of “No Kidding, Me Too,” a documentary by Joe Pantoliano, the Emmy Award-winning actor, who lives in Wilton.
The majority of the featured films were slated for the Palace Theatre that was renovated and reopened last year after being closed for 13 years.
The Connecticut Film Festival Concert Series also debuted this year with more than 70 musical performances over the six days and nights of the festival (June 2-7).
The festival has spent the past few months traveling around to state showing the films in various municipalities.
Carruthers said there was upwards of 8,000 people in attendance at the festivals past closing events and that the festival is expected to generate $2 million in festival-related spending this year, nearly double last year”™s amount.
Andrea Gartner, executive director for CityCenter Danbury, said the event and its sustained growth could give Danbury a bigger share of the $14 billion in tourism dollars spent in the state annually.
“If Danbury can get a bigger piece of that pie, it’s good for everyone,” said Gartner.
She said the Danbury economic engine may owe positive outcomes in the near future to the festival.
“The Connecticut Film Festival isn”™t just a local phenomenon,” said Carruthers. “We”™ve drawn top independent films from across the country and all four corners of the world in addition to the cream of the crop right here in Connecticut.”
Carruthers said that with the with the success of “Slumdog Millionaire” at this year”™s Academy Awards, independent films are actually becoming more mainstream and more in demand by the American public as they have developed a unique following based upon the underlying topic and theme presented, whether it”™s lifestyle, cultural or political in nature. He said the popularity of the independent film industry has also attracted more prominent actors, like Emma Caulfield and Joseph Pantoliano.
