Indie Memphis and Greater Memphis Chamber’s Young Professional Council, SoundCheck, will join forces for the second annual kickoff party of the 2016 festival.
This free event, with wine and snacks included, will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday at Circuit Playhouse in midtown.
“Growing up we always knew to never take anything for granted,†Ivon Wuchina, 25, of Primm Springs, Tennessee, said. “Getting to be a part of festival like Indie Memphis was a dream come true.â€
Ivon and his twin brother, Eyan, had three short films accepted into last year’s festival.
They are in their last semester of graduate school at the University of Memphis.
“Filmmaking by definition is a very collaborative medium of art,†Eyan Wuchina said. “It incorporates every kind of art which is why it’s great for people who aren’t filmmakers or who are students to go.â€
Indie Memphis Executive Director, Ryan Watt, 35, said there are going to be new surprise announcements and giveaways at this event.
“The kickoff party started last year because there were major changes to the festival,†Watt said. “We expanded to a whole week and moved some of the venues downtown.â€
SoundCheck, a group that hopes to connect young professionals with business leaders, is co-hosting the event along with six-year sponsor Duncan-Williams Inc.
“Students should attend if they want to learn about Indie Memphis,†Watt said. “It’s a great way to get plugged in. We have several events we do all year long, not just the festival.â€
Paul Williams, a graduate student of film and video production at the University of Memphis, said he’s going.
“I want to find out who’s coming to visit this year,†Williams said. “Other than watching the films, the panels are the best part.â€
Indie Memphis is always looking for volunteers in several different areas including, but not limited to, photography, crew and marketing.
“Last year I didn’t know about any of the parties or anything until I started to volunteer,†Williams said.
Professor Steven J. Ross, 66, of Film and Video Production at the University of Memphis said he might go.
“We are lucky to have a festival with a national reputation like this one and they do so many other things,†Ross said. “To be a part of something larger than yourself.â€
Ivon Wuchina, Eyan Wuchina and Paul Williams said they are going to submit their films to the festival this year.
“We offer free submissions to Memphians,†Watt said. “This includes all current Memphis residents and surrounding counties, as well as students and people shooting films in Memphis using local cast or crew.â€
Eyan Wuchina (left) and Ivon Wuchina (right) at the 2015 Indie Memphis film festival. The Indie Memphis 2016 kickoff party at Circuit Playhouse on 51 S. Cooper at 5:30 p.m. on March 29 will announce this year’s festival venues.
Eyan Wuchina said there are going to be several people there interested in things other than film.
“If you want to make it in whatever career your pursuing, it’s important to network,†Ivon said.
Watt said sponsors and attendees also show up to hear what Indie Memphis is up to so the festival can get the funding they need to make the event big in the fall.
“It’s a great way to showcase the art of Memphis and around the world,†Eyan said. “Indie Memphis is one of a kind.â€
