Film Fest Celebrates Local Storytellers at Historic Local Theaters
The four-day festival screened 13 original short films, handed out awards across nine categories, and launched a new 48-hour filmmaking challenge — all free to the public.
(Ripley County, IN) — For four nights in early June, the old marquees of two storied Indiana theaters lit up for something homegrown.
The Ripley County Community Foundation wrapped up another successful Ripley County Film Fest on Saturday, June 6, capping a week of screenings at the Damm Theatre in Osgood and the Gibson Theatre in Batesville. The event drew filmmakers and audiences from across Indiana and neighboring states for 13 original short films, Hollywood features, and a Grand Finale Awards Ceremony that stretched late into the evening.
Each evening offered a curated program of short films followed by a popular feature, drawing what organizers described as strong attendance throughout the week. All screenings were free and open to the public — a priority the foundation says is central to its mission of making the arts accessible to every community member.
“The Film Fest is a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community.”
— Amy Streator, Executive Director, Ripley County Community Foundation
And the Winners Are…
The Grand Finale Awards Ceremony spotlighted standout work across six categories. Balloons, directed by Isaiah Henderson, took home the top two prizes of the night — Best Overall Film and the People’s Choice Award, the latter decided entirely by audience votes throughout the week.
Other award winners from the main festival competition:
| Award | Film / Recipient | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Best Story | Knees in the Dust | Joe Herbert |
| Best Cinematography | Spare Me! | Brady Domingo |
| Best Acting | Shannon Gibbs as Hannah in Going Out | Bonnie Weinzapfel |
| Best Special Effects | Ivan | Tristan Bennett |
| Best Overall Film | Balloons | Isaiah Henderson |
| People’s Choice | Balloons | Isaiah Henderson |
48 Hours to Make a Movie
One of this year’s most talked-about additions was a 48-Hour Film Challenge sponsored by Ripley County Tourism. Teams were handed a required prop and a required line of dialogue, then given two days to write, shoot, and edit a complete film — a pressure-cooker format designed to push creativity and collaboration.
The challenge grew out of a Filmmaking Masterclass held earlier this year by Genesis: Pathways to Success, which gave participants hands-on techniques for fast-turnaround production. This year also introduced a new collaborative model: newcomers who weren’t ready to lead their own project could join an experienced filmmaker’s team as actors, writers, camera operators, or crew.
48-Hour Film Challenge winners:
| Award | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | The Final Image | Joe Herbert |
| Best Use of a Line | Boo! | Elijah Mills |
| Best Use of a Prop | The Final Image | Joe Herbert |
| People’s Choice | Boo! | Elijah Mills |
Behind the Scenes, on Stage
The festival’s Grand Finale closed with a filmmaker panel moderated by Drew Urban, a film content creator and Digital Marketing Coordinator for the Indiana Youth Film Festival and Boiling Cactus Productions. Urban led a conversation that offered audiences a rare look at the creative decisions behind the films they’d just watched.
Free popcorn — a crowd favorite courtesy of the Ivy Tech Foundation — was on hand throughout the week. Additional sponsors included The Napoleon State Bank, The Stitch in Time, and Daffodilly’s Flowers & Gifts.
Keep It Going
The Ripley County Community Foundation invites individuals and businesses to support the future of the Film Fest by contributing to two dedicated funds: the Ripley County Endowment for the Arts and the Ripley County Filmmakers Fund. More information on the festival and how to donate is available at rccfonline.org.
