Access Framingham to debut a film festival in November. How you can enter your own movie

FRAMINGHAM — Are the next Oscar-winning filmmakers lurking somewhere in MetroWest? A new film festival organized by Framingham's local access TV station is seeking to find out.

Access Framingham is hosting its first ever Access Film Fest, seeking out the best short films being made across the region for a festival that will take place this November. The festival is currently seeking entries, which can be made online at www.filmfreeway.com/AccessFilmFest.

Access Framingham Executive Director Jason Daniels said the project was first brought to his attention by several community members. Daniels said he had experience helping organize film festivals in previous jobs he has held in local access television, including in Easton, Medfield and Lowell, and said that the festivals are a great way to foster greater engagement in any community.

"This is a great opportunity for folks to show off their work, whether they are are new to filmmaking, or they are one of our numerous film professionals working in MetroWest," Daniels said. "It's a great way for us to engage with the community, and to let the public know about unique services that we can provide."

Access Framingham will lend equipment and provide training to budding filmmakers

Those unique services include assistance in filmmaking, with Daniels noting that Access Framingham is ready and willing to lend training and equipment to local filmmakers.

"We can provide extra training and equipment to anyone who wants to make a film, that is part of what we offer to the community and we are dedicated to helping aspiring filmmakers," Daniels said.

Diana Porter, a Framingham based actor and director, said that festivals provide the glue for many filmmakers to promote their work and meet others in the community.

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"Local festivals give creators a chance to show their work in the community, they are more than just screenings, they bring people together," Porter said. "As an actor I've met directors at festivals who I went on to work with, and as a director I've met many members of my crew through festivals."

Rules for the contest include a 20 minute time limit for each submission; the submission must either be in English or contain English subtitles, and the deadline for submissions is Sept. 6.

The festival will be giving out awards for the best submissions, including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Editing, Best MetroWest Film and Best Student Film. A judging panel will be responsible for selecting the winner.

"We are really focused on promoting the work of different creators, and hoping to bring the film community together here in Framingham," Porter said.

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Festival encourages local filmmakers to present their best work

Ashes Homon-Rahall always had a passion for filmmaking, but packing up and moving to Hollywood never seemed practical for the Grafton-resident, who instead went to college and got a bachelor's degree in science. However, the goal of being a filmmaker never left her, and last year her and her husband, Patrick Rahall, launched their own film production company, Magenta Manor Productions.

Homon-Rahall made her directorial debut with her short film, a horror film titled "Sweet Dreams", which she has entered in the Access Film Fest.

"The film is about a woman who will do just about anything for a night of good sleep," Homon-Rahall said. "Anyone that has a partner knows what its like to be falling asleep next to someone, and how vulnerable you both are while you are sleeping. It has universal appeal because of the subject matter, people that have seen the film have come up to me and said that I told their story."

Homon-Rahall said that having local festivals helps connect artists to different people in the industry, and noted that particularly in New England horror filmmaking, there is a ton of local talent that is looking to network and share their work.

"There are so many talented people here, and people that I have met by going to different conventions and festivals," Homon-Rahall said. "I love film festivals that choose to amplify the local voices and artists. I love Access' main purpose is to give these filmmakers a platform for what they are creating."

The festival will take place on Nov. 9 with a special screening of all the entries. Daniels said that Access Framingham will also be showing a reel of all the films on the Access Framingham station after the festival has concluded.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Access Framingham hosting film festival this fall for local directors