Tallahassee Film Festival & UNFILTERED: The Truth About Oysters
In 2007, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation selected Tallahassee as a location for a pilot project partnering with renowned economist Richard Florida. The project, called the Knight Creative Communities Initiative, involved selecting 30-35 Tallahassee residents to participate in an intensive training workshop on the concepts of Florida’s book, “The Rise of the Creative Class.” These “Community Catalysts” then developed and implemented ideas based on the concepts that would improve Tallahassee’s “sense of place.” In theory, the implementation of these ideas would enhance the community’s ability to attract and retain members of the creative class which Florida’s research pointed to as a primary economic driver in thriving cities.
KCCI Class #1 identified multiple projects to implement. Proudly, three stand strong today: Sustainable Tallahassee, Get Gaines Going and the Tallahassee Film Festival.
The Film Festival was thought to be a logical concept with one of the nation’s premiere film schools located in our “back yard”. Right from the start, the leadership of the Film Festival included many community members who were not part of KCCI. In particular, Chris Faupel who is currently the Festival’s Executive Director, has been with the organization since its inception and is arguably responsible for its survival.
KCCI Class 1 member, Chucha Barber, helped to establish the Film Festival 15 years ago and in 2023 she will be screening her recently produced documentary entitled UNFILTERED: The Truth About Oysters. “It’s really amazing how life sometimes comes full circle, Chucha shared. It does, by the way, ‘take a village’. The Festival would not have been a reality without the contributions of those first KCCI members as well as the many community volunteers and those like Chris who continue to carry the torch. Similarly, without Josh McLawhorn, who directs the film and served as lead cinematographer, along with his wife, Gaby Rodeiro (editor and animator) and Mike Campbell Associate Producer there would be no film. Some of my best friends are people I met during KCCI Class #1 including Nolia Brandt who along with her husband, Bill, has been a huge supporter of the film.”
To check out the trailer visit oyster.film
To buy your tickets to the 2023 Tallahassee Film Festival visit tallahasseefilmfestival.com
To donate or support the Tallahassee Film Festival contact [email protected]
Please join us September 2, and 3rd as we celebrate 15 years of the Tallahassee Film Festival – one of the many contributions of the “creative class” to the quality of life in Tallahassee.
