31-03-2025
Beloit filmmaker shares independent film with her hometown
BELOIT, Wis. (WTVO) — A local filmmaker comes back home to share her work with her community during the 20th anniversary for the Beloit International Film Festival.
Mallie McCown created the film 'Dear Luke, Love Me.' MCown said she used real-life experiences as her inspiration.
'I was like, 'you know what? I want to make this movie and nobody's going to make it except me,'' McCown said. 'I'm going to have to be proactive and be my own advocate and make this happen.'
McCown said bringing her film back home to show her community was heartwarming.
'This feels really full circle for me,' McCown said. 'I was born and raised in Beloit. Me and my sister and best friend would take our dad's video camera, and we would just take our summers and film movies.'
The festival's Operations and Hospitality Manager Sabrina Krejci said the event has grown in popularity over the years.
'We started off 20 years ago as a four-day festival then progressed to a ten-day festival,' Krejci said. 'We have seen the growth more and more throughout the 20 years, and I don't think it's stopping. I think we continue to grow every year from the filmmakers that submit to the people that come because there's new generations. The same people that were involved 20 years ago have now passed on that love of independent film to the community, to their grandchildren or their kids.'
Krejci explained how the submission process works.
'Normally we get anywhere between 500-800 films submitted,' Krejci said. 'Our film selection committee and reviewers have to go through every one of those films and watch them. Some get multiple reviews and then we have to narrow it down to 100.'
This year's festival has , and McCown said she's thrilled to be a part of it.
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