REFLECTIONS FROM THE 25TH ANNUAL AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL
Andria May-Corsini, Director of “Mama Dragons,” looks back on the screening in the Documentary Shorts program
ABOUT: Barbara Morgan and Marsha Milam founded Austin Film Festival in 1993 to celebrate the art of storytelling through film. Known as the “Writers Festival,” AFF recognizes the writer as the core of the creative process in filmmaking. Diligently seeking strong examples of written and visual storytelling, AFF screens the highest caliber narrative, documentary and animated films. With over 150 regional, national and world premieres each year, AFF features everything from highly anticipated Hollywood fare to breakthrough independent filmmaking.
*Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity
Why did you attend Austin Film Festival?
We attended the Austin Film Festival because our film, Mama Dragons, was officially selected to the program. We premiered it in July at Outfest (LA) but were happy to see it screened twice in Austin.
How did this compare to other festivals you’ve attended?
This festival in particular was really cool to attend because the film was screened twice and we were able to see it with two different audiences in two different spaces. I participated in a Q&A after both screenings, which was really great. In both screenings there were moms who were either in need of the Mama Dragons or could have used them in the past. It was really cool to see the connections taking place in person.
It was also awesome because Great Big Story hosted a brunch celebrating diversity both in front of the camera and behind. We had two of our Mama Dragons with us and their husbands which made the day even more special.
What were some projects that stood out?
We were able to see a lot of really great films the short films that played in our block were all so incredible in different ways; there were some fun and quirky films and then some that were more serious in tone, but every single one was incredible in its own way.
We also saw some feature length narrative films, a few that stood out were Green Book, which was incredibly charming and heart warming, Ben is Back (Peter Hedges new film), and lastly The Favourite by the director of the Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos).
Describe how you felt going into your screening Saturday afternoon.
I don’t think seeing your film played in front of a packed house ever gets easier or less nerve-racking, at least it hasn’t for me. There are so many variables in play: Will playback go according to plan? How will people react? At the end of the day it always works out though, and getting the story out into the world and maybe touching or helping someone feel less alone makes the nerves all worth it!
Were the audience reactions what you expected?
The audience in both screenings were very receptive to the film and we had a lot of people come up to us afterwards and share their coming out stories, or how their culture maybe didn’t embrace their sexuality, which of course meant the world to me.
How did the Mama Dragons react to seeing their story on the big screen?
We had two of our main characters, Neca and Jill (along with their husbands), in the audience for the first screening. It was great to be able to watch it with them. There was another Mama Dragon in the audience who drove up from Houston with her husband; they had never seen the film and she felt very well represented, which of course was great to hear.
Looking back, is there one thing that made this an unforgettable experience?
I think the brunch was the highlight as it was really cool to see all these people come out and celebrate not only the Mama Dragons but diversity in general. Now more than ever, it is so important for other voices to be heard and I am always grateful to work for a company that not only supports diversity but champions it.
