From John Priddy-

Because so many have wondered and asked, I thought it might be helpful to share a few facts about Windrider Forum’s inception. A few years ago, my brother/partner Ed and I were intrigued by the idea of “doing something” in and around the Sundance Film Festival. Meanwhile our long-time friends Craig Detweiler and Will Stoller Lee thought the idea of a Fuller and Biola class-for-credit would be very interesting. But then, when Pastor Lenny Perata, his staff and community at Park City, Utah’s Mountain Vineyard came on board, we began to believe we just might be able to pull off a major event during Sundance. Dick Staub interviewed Ed and me last year during the festival, and Bill Kinnon produced a video that covers more of Windrider’s history and back story.

Our once-modest vision has become bigger than we ever imagined, largely due to our many friends and partners worldwide. Together we prove the old adage that “many hands make light work.” Last year — Windrider’s — co-founder Will Stoller- Lee  led the forum in Colorado into its 3^rd year, where the quality of films and filmmakers was outstanding.  Mary Cass — from Focolare and Net One – served as the catalyst for our first Windrider and Angelus Film Festival European collaboration. In Rome, we showed Hilla Medalia’s award-winning To Die in Jerusalem and screened Angelus Award winners in both Rome and Loppiano, Italy.  Mary Cass is currently preparing for our next European adventure as we head to Prague in March.  Imbi Kinnon linked us up with Wycliffe College, Imago and other sponsors for what turned out to be a superb first-ever Windrider Toronto. The ever talented Bill Kinnon voluntarily produced the media and publicity. Together the Kinnons went above and beyond, hosting all the filmmakers in their lovely downtown Toronto home.

Dick Staub, friend/author/cultural commentator and a “regular” at Windrider, broadcasts Kindling’s Muse, podcasts that have become popular with many attendees and film aficionados alike. His interview last year on the “Importance of Sundance” deserves a hearing:  In it, he encourages Biola’s Lisa Swain, Fuller’s Craig Detweiler and Taylor University’s Jim Spiegel to explore the theological and cultural reasons why people of faith should interact with independent cinema, a discussion that lines up perfectly with my own ideas about Windrider.

For me, our forums are all about “community, connecting and creating space for conversation.” I am thrilled that, increasingly, people of faith are looking deeply into the art of independent film. The power of story, combined with cinematic excellence, draws us into themes that resonate with our core. Also, most films we see at Sundance and Toronto will never make it into local theatres — they are often passion projects, made for reasons other than commercial success. Therefore, Windrider becomes an important venue, one that provides the space for films and filmmakers to connect with an audience.

Throughout history, there have been sages who encourage people to not only look, but also to see. At Priddy Brothers, we consider independent filmmakers among the poets and sages of our times. We see our job at Windrider as helping separate the wheat from the chaff as we look not only for films that will resonate with the forum’s immediate audience, but also for filmmakers who have something to say. Actually, we are searching for sages. One of the most exciting things that happens when you find sages and create space for them, is that there are always such wonderful surprises. Last year’s Windrider event tops my list! 

A scene from Geoffrey Haley's film "The Last Word."

As a good example of what I’m talking about, take Geoffrey Haley and his offbeat comedy, The Last Word. Starring Wes Bentley, Winona Rider and Ray Romano, our audience was deeply impacted by the story of a solitary writer (Bentley) who makes his living composing other people’s suicide notes, but after meeting the sister of a recently deceased client, finds his reclusive life and secret career upended by an unusual romance. Despite the fact that this is a wonderful film that explores important themes, the challenges are huge when it comes to getting it (and other independent films like it) to market. Unfortunately, as a result, few moviegoers have the privilege of seeing films like this. 

Director, Geoff Haley

And few get to meet the filmmakers up-close-and-personal, as we did when Haley attended a Windrider conference session the day after his world premiere during Sundance ‘08. One of Hollywood’s most accomplished camera operators (it will take a while to read all his credits on IMDB), Haley is known as the one who shot the famous “floating bag scene” in the Academy Award-winning film, American Beauty. But, it is his  tenderhearted “filmmaker’s perspective” that makes him a true sage for our times:

“Success as a filmmaker is as varied as filmmakers themselves. In my eyes, having the ability to make a personal statement with a film is my ultimate goal. If that statement is heard by a large number of people, that’s icing on the cake.”  – Geoffrey Haley

Staub would agree, and said this about our time with Haley:

“If art is the language of the soul, this interview conducted by Craig Detweiler reveals the soul of an artist. [It is ] a deeply personal, revelatory discussion of Geoffrey’s spiritual journey and his exploration of hope, the meaningful life and death.”

To get into the right frame of mind, take time to revisit (or discover for the first time) Staub’s Kindling’s Muse podcasts from Windrider ‘08: http://www.thekindlings.com/index.php?s=windrider&sbutt

-John Priddy