Photo courtesy of Rogue Festival

Experimental films from Fresno’s eighth annual Rogue Festival explore loss, remembrance, growth and fear.

“The Rogue is a great opportunity to meet other people and see lots of art and performances,” said Susana Sosa, who is in charge of the experimental films section of the festival.

There are five filmmakers set for the show. Two films are from the same filmmaker; some films are narrative, some are non-narrative. Sosa said typical submissions are non-narrative.

“I have two films,” filmmaker Michele Ainz said. “’Perspective,’ an experimental dance piece focusing on different viewpoints and angles and ‘Pet Friendly,’ an experimental dance piece focusing on two young girls’ nostalgic memories of their first pet.”

The films are scheduled to show in succession and the whole show lasts about and hour. The films will be alternated so everyone’s film has a chance to be shown first and last.

Filmmaking free-for-all

Sosa is spending her fourth year as a Rogue Festival volunteer. She said the most difficult part is getting the filmmakers to get their films completed and get them in before the deadline.

“To tell you the truth there are three films that I haven’t yet seen because the filmmakers haven’t submitted them. I’m waiting to see those,” Sosa said.

There were no submissions from either Fresno State or Fresno City students this year, Sosa said, disappointed.

Unlike other shows, Sosa said, the films at the Rogue Festival are not juried and no one is turned away. “The only time you’d be turned away is if there wasn’t enough time to plot someone in,” she said.

Films’ topics include homelessness, inner cities

Sosa is excited about the 17-minute documentary “Grow,” from a returning presenter who grew up in Fresno. The film is about a young African-American kid growing up in Los Angeles and the garden he has.

“Grow” was created by Challengers Boys and Girls Club member Justin Fulcher, 14, and Kellen Prandini, a visual anthropology graduate student at San Francisco University.

“This documentary was made to show people that South Central Los Angeles does have a chance and its communities can make the world a better place,” Fulcher said.

Another video Sosa is looking forward to is “Homeless Dog” which chronicles the experience of homeless woman Pam Kincaid.

Filmmaker Teresa Flores said the film is based on a poem Kincaid wrote and is a real tribute to her life.

“It [‘Homeless Dog’] is a memorial to her life’s courage and struggle,” Flores said.

Anyone interested in attending The Rogue Festival should visit http://roguefestival.com for more information.