A Weekend of Film Festivals, Nostalgia, and Community.

Me with NoID Film Festival Executive Director Matt Edwards. (September 26, 2026)

For a filmmaker, few things rival the magic of a film festival. Where else can you watch a new voice rise, connect with cinephiles from all backgrounds, and feel the thrill of sitting in a room full of strangers, listening in silence as they react to your work?

If the rest of Team Beau Ideal had anything close to the same expierence as me, last weekend must have felt like a dream. We had screenings at both the Local Sightings Film Festival in Seattle and the North Idaho Film Festival (NoID) in Coeur d’Alene. When Patrick told me we were going to show the film at two different festivals on the same weekend, only to later find out the screenings were in the same time slot, I was floored. It was obviously exciting, since it's already challenging to get into one festival, and these were our sixth and seventh festival appearances. However, having two screenings at the same time is madness! We wished we could share both experiences, but in the end, we knew the best way forward was to split our responsibilities: Patrick would head to Seattle while I went to Coeur d’Alene, and that meant the world to me since I have a fond history with the area.

So, excuse me while I take a short trip down...

Memory Lane.

It’s half missing, but my grandpa’s name is still there!

When I was a child, my grandparents had a cabin in Rockford Bay, on the west side of Lake Coeur d’Alene. I spent every summer there doing the kinds of crazy things you would expect from a 90s kid. So when I drove into town, it was like coming home. In an instant, so many years of memories came flooding back. Fortunately, my wife and I had a little extra time to drive around the lake and revisit these old stomping grounds. I even found our old sign that marked the driveway to our place. Sadly, the property was sold when my grandparents passed away, and the cabin has since been replaced. Still, that sign alone was enough to bring a tear to my eye.

As we kept driving, I pointed out the aerial marker balls hanging on the power lines, which I affectionately called “Grandpa’s marbles” as a child. I was behind the wheel, but I’m pretty sure I could hear my wife shake her head when I shared that. It’s good to know my sense of humor hasn’t changed in thirty-plus years. My grandpa would be proud.

Overall, I would say this bit of free time was a meaningful reminder for me. Every artist’s work, whether intentional or not, always includes hints of their personal history. I thought of the connections between Patrick and Beau Ideal (which you can read more about on the official site). I also thought of myself and A Tale of Delight, Escaping Freedom, and our upcoming film Gehenna. All three draw on my past, including a suprising fascination I have with bodies of water, which probably came from my summers at the lake. This isn’t a new idea, but I find it interesting enough to share just the same.

All right, let's get back to the festivals.

From left: Kelly Godell, Patrick D. Green, and Michèle Tredger repping Beau Ideal at the Local Sightings Film Festival. (September 26, 2026)

If there’s one thing nearly every film festival I’ve visited does well, it’s building community—not just between a filmmaker and their audience, but with fellow filmmakers, too. I felt that at NoID and I know Patrick, Michèle, and Kelly over in Seattle did as well. Filmmaking is a long and often lonely job. Except for time on set, almost every step is done in near total isolation. This is even more true with a micro-budget picture, where you’re having to wear multiple hats out of necessity. It shouldn’t be any surprise that most filmmakers I know lean towards introversion, myself at the top of that list. Still, humans need community, and film festivals are a home for those who thrive on creative connection.

After the credits rolled on Beau Ideal in CDA, there was a terrific Q&A with the audience. It’s fun noting how the questions subtly change with each viewing. Those asked during the Q&A and later at the After Party were spot-on with our goal for the film. I wish the rest of the team could have been there to take in the experience. After all, I was only one face of many, but Patrick, who deservedly has the most to say about his script, was busy answering another audience’s questions three hundred miles west of us. If we were to have any scheduling conflicts, I'd have to say this is a damn good one to have.

The After Party.

After the Q&A, we headed over to the After Party where we met in the basement of a gorgeous brick building near the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The filmmakers gathered together, and for a few hours we could just geek out over films and filmmaking. I got a few follow-up questions from earlier, but for the most part, we spent the time celebrating all that we had accomplished, making new friends in the process. I look forward to connecting with them again in the near future.

One of the biggest highlights from my half of the weekend came next, when Beau Ideal took home three awards: Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Eric Martin Reid), and Best Feature Film. The recognition was as exhilarating as it was humbling. There aren’t enough words to express how grateful I am to everyone who showed so much support. I’m looking at these awards on my desk right now. I can’t wait to get them in everyone’s hands. Well deserved, my friends. Well deserved.

A wild year.

From left: Lindsae Klein, Patrick D. Green, me, and Michèle Tredger at the world premiere of Beau Ideal at the Sedona Film Festival. (February 23, 2026)

I am endlessly proud to have been asked to join this crazy ride. I knew Patrick had written something special when I first read the screenplay in early 2022, but I didn't know just how special it would be. We had our world premiere at the Sedona International Film Festival this past February. Since then, we screened at the Oneta Film Festival, Beloit International Film Festival, Covellite International Film Festival, Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival, Local Sightings Film Festival, and North Idaho Film Festival.

For cinephiles and filmmakers alike, festivals are more than industry events—they’re vital gatherings that remind us why we fell in love with this craft. As Beau Ideal’s journey continues, Patrick and I are already hard at work on our next project, Gehenna, along with a host of other screenplays standing in line. I can’t wait for more opportunities to share stories with audiences who love the art form as much as we do.

So, to all film lovers and creators: keep exploring, keep connecting, and continue celebrating the art that moves us.

Onwards!