The deadCENTER Film Festival was founded in 2001 in
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...
. The festival was named "deadCENTER" because it is located in the exact center of the United States. Although presenting over a hundred films, and an international assemblage of filmmakers, deadCENTER has remained focused on being open to independent local filmmakers.
The festival runs for five days every year in June and has attracted notable actors including
Spike Jonze and
Rinko Kikuchi
(born ; January 6, 1981) is a Japanese actress. She was the first Japanese actress to be nominated for an Academy Award in 50 years, for her work in ''Babel'' (2006). Kikuchi's other notable films include '' Norwegian Wood'' (2010), which s ...
. The deadCENTER was named one of the 20 Coolest Film Festivals of 2010 by
MovieMaker Magazine
''MovieMaker'' is a magazine, website and podcast network focused on the art and business of filmmaking with a special emphasis on independent film. The magazine is published on a quarterly basis.
See also
* List of film periodicals
Film period ...
.
MovieMaker magazine: 20 Coolest Film Festivals: 2010
01 December 2010
Founding
In the spring of 2000, filmmakers and brothers Jayson Floyd and Justan Floyd travelled to Muskogee, Oklahoma, for the inaugural Bare Bones Film Festival. Sharon Ray, a film producer, educator, and entrepreneur who had grown up splitting time between Muskogee and Los Angeles, launched the festival so that she and her husband could meet other filmmakers, share best practices, and increase their knowledge of the film industry.
The Floyd brothers loved the festival. But they believed it could better serve the Oklahoma film community if it were based in Oklahoma City. So, the following June, they launched their own festival at the Oklahoma Contemporary space at the State Fair grounds. They called it deadCenter for its location in the deadCenter of the country and the deadCenter of the calendar year.
That first year, most of the films were short films made in Oklahoma. The Floyd’s mother cooked hotdogs and set up concessions. But, the community of filmmakers that was created that first year established a solid foundation for the thriving, statewide film industry that exists today.
References
External links
*
Film festivals in Oklahoma
Tourist attractions in Oklahoma City
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