Support the 2024 Light Matter Film Festival

Hi everyone. This is James Hansen, the co-founder and curator of the Light Matter Film Festival, "a major East coast showcase of experimental film and video..." (Michael Sicinski, In Review Online).

Light Matter is gearing up for our fourth annual festival to take place in Alfred, NY from November 1-3, 2024. Our opening night will feature a retrospective shorts program of films by Jodie Mack followed by the exhibition opening of Jodie Mack's Ultraviolet in the Fosdick Nelson Gallery. I am also excited to announce Light Matter will twist itself into an international co-production this year with additional new programs presented in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 6 and December 7. Very exciting development! Our 2024 lineup(s) for Alfred and Buenos Aires programs are scheduled to be announced in late September / early October. Submissions are still being accepted with no entry fee.

Light Matter is a small DIY operation. My university affiliation provides the venue, luckily, and the tremendous support of the School of Art and Design has helped provide snacks and coffee. Visiting artists often stay with community members who volunteer to share their homes for the weekend. The community does all they can to support the festival and I'm grateful for this support.

But the festival doesn't cost nothing. The majority of the costs related to the festival have come out of my pocket. I'm willing to do this because I love and care about the festival. It means a lot to me to showcase the work of both emerging and established artists to our experimentally-inclined art community and to interested audiences around the world. I've been amazed by the response to the festival and I want to keep doing more. I keep being told the way to solve this is through entry fees, but I have been totally resistant to funding the festival in that manner.

...which is why I'm here on GoFundMe asking for some financial support.

First and foremost, there are expenses simply to run and manage the website. This year, I'm facing a nearly 40% increase in costs (now reaching around $550). I am setting the GoFundMe goal at this amount in hopes of offsetting this cost to myself.

Anything beyond this amount would be extremely useful. I have big plans for the year and any amount beyond the initial goal would contribute to:

1. fees for special presentations / film rentals

2. paying our volunteer graphic designer

3. up front costs for merchandise (t-shirts, posters, etc.)

4. travel stipends for visiting artists

Any amount given would mean so much to me. All contributors will receive a thank you on the festival website and in our program. You'll also receive perennial goodwill and gratefulness from me.

As a small festival in a not exactly trendy location, the most I can hope for is that Light Matter offers something to the culture of the experimental film, video, and media art both in and beyond our local community. I hope that when you look at the programs, you find new artists to love, established artists to celebrate, and a desire to continue supporting experimental art wherever you are. It is in that spirit that I ask for your support, whether it be through a contribution, a re-post, or simply telling your friends and peers about the festival.

Thanks for considering.

-James