The third-annual Anti-Hero Film Festival took place on Friday, April 7 with a celebration and screening of 13 selected films at MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater. The film festival was hosted and film submissions judged by Dorothy Lipsius, Vincent Diaz Bonacquisti, and Willow Tyler, former cohorts of MCA Denver teen leadership programs.

I emailed with Dorothy and Vincent who shared their perspective about the Anti-Hero Film Festival that seeks to share and celebrate perspectives, narratives, and experiences that have been left out of history by highlighting the voices of women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

What is your name, pronouns, and grade?

My name is Dorothy Appel Lipsius, I use she/her pronouns and I am an 11th grader 

What is the name of your film?

I am not a filmmaker and thus did not submit a film so I do not have an answer for this one. 

Share a brief synopsis of your film.

N/A 

What was the most fruitful or fulfilling part of the film festival for you?

It was really fulfilling to me to see so many young filmmakers come together. I know some of the people who submitted work and it felt very fulfilling to see them so excited about their work being recognized. I think it's kind of rare these days for there to be an in-person event that is so accessible where teen art can be showcased formally so it was good to see so many kids so excited about it. 

The guiding ethos of the Anti-Hero is that "to tell your story is a sacred act." How was this embodied on the night of the film festival? What was the experience like witnessing these films be showcased to the broader MCA Denver community?

I think a lot of the filmmakers felt like their stories in the films were very personal so there was a sense that we were all taking part in something important in being privy to the films. A lot of people showed up to support their community which reflected a kind of shared support and community within "anti-hero" identities. 

What visions do you have for Anti-Hero moving forward into the next months and the next year?

I hope that we have more people getting involved in future years and months. This year we had a lot more range in styles of filmmaking which was really awesome and I hope that we can keep it going into next year. I see the point of Anti-Hero being as an opportunity to uplift teen filmmakers and their stories and I hope more teens see that and get involved by submitting more films and in being future leaders of the event

What is your name, pronouns, and grade?

Vincent Diaz Bonacquisti, He/They, 12th grade.

What is the name of your film?

NHS Walkout 2022.

Share a brief synopsis of your film.

My film contains footage from the North High School student-organized walkout in May 2022. This walkout protested the termination of one of the few Chicano teachers at North and advocated for improved equity in the demographics of North’s administration and curriculum.

What was the most fruitful or fulfilling part of the film festival for you?

The most fulfilling part of working on the Anti-Hero film festival to me was seeing how it helped give a platform to the youth filmmakers in my community. I was thrilled by the quality of the films submitted and am proud to have helped them share their work.

The guiding ethos of the Anti-Hero is that "to tell your story is a sacred act." How was this embodied on the night of the film festival? What was the experience like witnessing these films be showcased to the broader MCA Denver community?

My community treated the films like a sacred act on the night of the film festival. They were respectful, and receptive, and celebrated the stories being told in each film. It was touching to see my community turn out for our local artists.

What visions do you have for Anti-Hero moving forward into the next months and the next year?

In the future, I’d like to see Anti-Hero lean more into the competition aspect of the film festival. I love the idea of attracting so many skilled filmmakers that winning becomes a community-regarded feat.

MCA Denver celebrates teens whose development hinges on challenge and risk. Teens are trying on their own identities, discovering their place in the world, and pushing the boundaries of what they know and what they want to discover. For more information on the Anti-Hero Short Film Festival and all teen leadership programs, visit www.mcadenver.org/teens.