What do Sundance in Utah, and Cannes on the French Riviera, have in common with Downey, besides glamour and scenery? 

An international film festival is what, called GlennFest, one that’s driven by a passion to explore the art of movie making and to produce the magic that comes when a live audience shares that experience. And Downey’s Glennfest is free.

This year’s theme, “9 Luft Ballons,” means helium-filled party balloons. 

“We here at GlennFest Film Festival love movies of all shapes and time lengths,” said founder Glenn Stephens, “and want to share them with the world! But this year there has been a difficult choice for festivity holders. We are waiting till we can show film live in a theater.  Otherwise we’ll go dark.

“Our first festival target date,” said Glenn, “was October 5.  But now we’re hoping that Los Angeles Country will reach Stage 2, or Tier Red, by the third week of October. That’s when movie theatres will be allowed to open on a limited basis. So our new target is October 15.”

Glenn and I met recently for a socially distanced interview at Norm’s. It was the most normal thing I had done lately, like going to an outdoor café.  Lots of Downeyites were there enjoying lunch and everyone wore a mask except to eat. We sat amid awnings and umbrella, our service was attentive, and the menu choices inviting and large. Social life is picking up at last.

Right now Glenn is watching to see when the County Department of Public Health will lift the restrictions on live audiences, and that depends on containing the spread of the coronavirus.  

“Even though we insist on the live theatre experience, when the present ban is lifted, the next stage, called the Red Tier, will only allow indoor arenas to be 25% full, moving up to 50%,” said Glenn. “Our biggest single audience ever was 300. Average is more 100-150.  So our venues will accommodate that.”

Alternatively, Glenn is looking at a pop-up drive-in site, with moviegoers sitting in their cars, as Plan B.  Glennfest could occur either at a professionally equipped drive-in, or else Glenn will have to rent speakers for the sound portion while the film is projected on a building wall. Equipment can be had that will plug in to a car’s stereo radio. Glenn has found ways to overcome every challenge. 

In 2012 GlennFest was born, and Downey has been the beneficiary ever since. The Festival boomed from a small, single weekend event to a multi-day celebration of films in various languages and from various countries. Billed as “Movies of Special Interest,” Glenn’s approach is like the Energizer Bunny: he never stops beating the drum for unusual niche films.

“There are excellent works of filmmaking,” Glenn said, “that may not get the opportunity to screen in areas that don’t have art-house theaters, because they lack broad commercial appeal. In other words, not every one’s cup of tea.”

Of the over 3,000 film festivals in this country, most are holding virtual online screenings. 

“But Glennfest Film Festival promotes the movie theatre experience,” said Glenn, “and at this time we have no plans for a virtual festival or online screenings.” A future Patriot article will give dates and places for each offering.

What the movie viewer ultimately will see is the iceberg’s tip of a year of complex preparation.  

“Negotiations,” Glenn said. “With the film’s director or the distributor, whoever has the North American rights to the movie. Then we negotiate with the theatre or venue for a realistic price we can pay to play.  Remember, we don’t charge admission. Right now the Studio Movie Grill, the Downey Theatre and the Epic Lounge are the active choices. We’re keeping this in Downey.”

“This year we’ll have six full length features,” said Glenn.  “All Nighter; This Changes Everything; The Color of Medicine – The story of Homer G. Phillips  Hospital; Steam Room Stories – The Movie; Salva’s Journey – Secret of Snow; and Freedom Love Gold.  Another, Give or Take, is pending.

“And we have 20 short Films that will be grouped into two screenings. One of those has won the Bea Platt Romano Award,” which Glenn is dedicating to “our dear friend and supporter, Bea, who was an amazing creator and supporter of the arts in Downey.  Join us in celebrating Bea.”

Every year Glennfest tries to include a screening specifically reserved for children and adults with special needs, and has gotten sponsorship from Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia and Union SEIU721.

“Glennfest’s mission,” said Glenn, “is to bring to the general public quality films of special interest, through a two-week-long film festival. We look at films that have won awards from previous film festivals. If they meet our criteria for movies we try to get our hands on them.”

One of those criteria is, will this be of interest to a group in Downey. And what an exciting array of films for 2020 Glennfest has to offer. A thumbnail sketch shows a suspenseful documentary called “Freedom Gold Love,” a  thriller about a single Hungarian family who use a train to steal the state treasury, gold bars and the precious crown of St, Stephen, right from under the Nazi’s noses.  

“This means a lot to me personally, said Glenn, “because my name is Stevens, and there is a family connection with Hungary.”

“Steam Room Stories will be Downey’s first scratch and sniff movie,” said Glenn. “Viewers get a postcard-sized instruction cards with numbers that correspond to moments on the screen. For example, it’s an image of a rose, and you scratch it, you can smell the aroma of the flowers.”  

“Steam Room” is basically the story of a stolen fashion secret and a scheming heiress’s efforts to regain control of a company.  

A chorus of beefcake guys acted by amateurs work in the steam room. “They are innocent of acting technique and are just having fun showing off” says a review.  “We maybe be able to get the guys to come to Downey for the showing,” said Glenn.  “The LBTG webcast has shown Steamroom featurettes and now it’s a movie.”

In deep contrast, a film called “Slava: Snowshow,” shows a surreal train trip to the northern most towns in Siberia by a troupe of Russian clowns. “A Hospital of Color” documents the first hospital for all Black patients, an elite response in St. Louis to the segregated and inferior treatment Blacks were receiving there in the 1920’s.

Glennfest will show over 20 short films too, one as short as a minute, none more than 15 minutes. “Henry and Edith” is a French flic about a senior couple who accidentally watch porn movies, and somehow that saves their marriage.

“This Changes Everything” is an explosive exposé of women in Hollywood and how sexual harassment in the movie industry is being brought to a stop. Finally.  

“Supporting the movie theatre experience during these trying times has been a challenge, Glenn said. “We could use the help of local volunteers, and more sponsors.”  Each year Glennfest is aided by sponsors to keep it admission-free, a feature you will not find at many other film fests 

“Name recognition comes with the highest tier, the Sponsor,” Glenn said.  “And preferential seating in the theatre, and an exclusive meet with the writers, producers and the talent, as actors are called now days.  We try to find special interest groups who would like their cause to be better known.” 

With Hollywood as the filmmaking capital of the world, many who work in the industry live right here, Long Beach or Lakewood for instance, and they are eager to come and help promote their shows.

“We have a surprise gift for patrons,” Glenn said.  “You can’t buy it for love or money, but you can wear it to Glennfest and eat your popcorn and sip a Coke through your straw with it on.”

Glenn got into producing a film festival accidentally.  Long story short, he first got noticed when on a shoestring budget he put on an event for his union that gave everyone at the Norwalk Civic Center a free lunch.  There were mariachis, food trucks, vendors, and Glenn got an award.  From there he planned a film festival for his birthday, and now he can’t stop.  

When is that birthday date? October 8.