You’ll laugh.
You’ll cry.
And you’ll be inspired to become a better human being.
Maybe in a span of 8 minutes and 5 seconds. Steve Michalik was.
“The fact that a short film could have that kind of impact on me,” Steve says, his voice trailing off.
He shook his head.
“That’s the power of story.”
And that’s the impetus behind the Solange Film Festival, which will return to the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from May 14-17. Steve serves as president of Portage Learning, an online educational institution in Beaver Falls that sponsors the event. While one might be surprised by higher education collaborating with filmmakers, he said it makes perfect sense.
“Education isn’t limited to educational institutions,” he explains. “The stories we share really do shape our world and teach us in unique ways. We’re hoping to build community — and inspire change in our communities — through the power of personal stories.”
In addition to the work of established artists, attendees to this year’s event will see something new — a short film from students taking part in the Solange Young Filmmakers Program. During three weekends in March, five high schoolers from western Pennsylvania wrote a script, recruited actors, shot the scenes, and then edited the audio and visuals for “Island in the Sky.”
The young creators will introduce their work and take questions from the audience on Saturday, May 16.
“It was kind of fun to be a fly on the wall for the process,” says Ben Hinkelman, a film director at Portage Learning who led each workshop. “They’re all pretty sharp kids.” Even so, the curriculum featured in the second weekend of instruction left them in the dark.
“Boy, that was fun,” Ben recalls, laughing. “A storm caused the power to go out, so we had to bring in an electric generator, and use a lantern for light. We really had to be creative, so it was definitely a learning experience for all of us.”
And that, Liz Ours emphasizes, was the plan all along.
“Our youth have their own unique perspectives and stories to tell,” says the executive director of the film festival and a member of the Solange board. “We want to give them a platform and teach them how to do it well through film.”
Portage Learning is no stranger to festivals. It has a talented film team of its own and has had a feature selected and screened at another event.
During the past year, members of the Solange board attended the noted Tribeca, Sundance, Nashville, and Washington West festivals to get a better feel for how to organize and pace the upcoming weekend in Pittsburgh.
So, what prompted the name? Solange is a Latin word derived from “sol,” which means sun, and “ange,” which means angel. Over the years the French have adopted it as a name meaning dignity or solemness, and the festival board felt it fit the theme perfectly.
“We hope to inspire and challenge our audience by giving attention to films that tell overlooked stories with dignity, respect and compassion,” Liz stresses. “We were blown away by the quality of work entered. We’re confident our audience will be, too.”
Entries were submitted from filmmakers around the globe, and 33 were selected for the second annual festival. Twenty-eight of them are short films and five are feature length. They will be shown in two-hour blocks, with the directors fielding audience questions in-between.
The event will kick off on Thursday, May 14, with a special screening. Legendary producer and writer Rick Sebak will be on hand to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of “The Strip Show,” his documentary that pays homage to the vibrant Strip District of Pittsburgh.
Liz said the weekend will be laidback, casual, and fun. Food, drinks, and merchandise will be available each day.
“Anyone is welcome to join us. Come for a block or for the entire festival.”
She smiled.
“We promise you’ll leave with a new sense of hope for what our community can become.”
That’s the power of story. Even if the power happens to go out.
If you’re going …
What: Solange Film Festival
When: Thursday, May 14, through Sunday, May 17
Where: Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville
Cost: $15 per block of films; day and weekend passes will be available
More information: Visit solangeff.com to buy tickets and see a complete list of showtimes
Comics use stand-up to express their resilience and spirit during rising conflict in 'Palestine Comedy Club.'
‘Reggae Girlz’ follows the Jamaican women’s soccer team on its inspiring journey to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The documentary ‘Empire Skate' chronicles the rise of New York skateboarding culture and the global brand Supreme.
In ‘Color Book,’ a widowed father attempts to bring joy to his son with Down Syndrome by taking him to his first professional baseball game.
