March 14, 2005

HOW TO MAKE YOUR FILM AS SHORT AS YOUR STORY

Swartzwelder co-leads workshop at Damah 2005

Along with Dave Anderson of Compass Arts, writer-director-producer Rik Swartzwelder was invited to lead a workshop as part of the Damah Film Festival's inaugural year in Hollywood. Having traveled the festival circuit virtually non-stop for two years with his film "The Least of These," Swartzwelder offered some informed and rather unique insight into what kinds of films have the biggest impact at film festivals. Entitled "How to Make Your Film as Short as Your Story," Anderson and Swartzwelder's workshop detailed common mistakes often made by first-time filmmakers and provided attendees with numerous practical tips to help make their next efforts as tight and effective as possible.

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The Damah Film Festival, founded in 2001, is dedicated to exploring spiritual experiences in film. For more info, please visit www.damah.com.

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A graduate of The Florida State University’s Graduate Motion Picture Conservatory, Rik Swartzwelder is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has screened at over 120 film festivals, internationally, and garnered over 40 major awards—including the “Student Emmy” for his highly acclaimed master’s thesis film, “Paul McCall,” and the Crystal Heart Award from the Heartland Film Festival for his multiple award-winning 35mm short, “The Least of These.” Rik has also sold two feature scripts, one treatment, and is currently prepping to direct his first feature.

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