Tucked away in the scenic Pocono Mountains, between Scranton and Philly, is Jim Thorpe, a destination town that looks like it belongs in a Hallmark Christmas movie. There are countless boutiques, restaurants, bars, and yes, a train. It’s the perfect place for an independent film festival. Now in its fifth year, the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival returns on April 21-24. Its founder and executive director, Todd Morris, spoke to us about the upcoming fest, including the impressive horror slate.
What inspired you to start a film festival?
The original idea to start a film festival in Jim Thorpe came to me back in 1991 when I first visited the town on a weekend getaway from New York City. I was enchanted by this quaint little hamlet nestled in the Pennsylvania mountains that reminded me of a miniature Victorian village you’d find under a Christmas tree. It’s the ideal location for a film festival. The shops and restaurants are conveniently condensed into a fairly small area so everything is totally walkable. And there’s so much history here, not to mention the big beautiful 1881 Mauch Chunk Opera House that I instantly knew would make for a perfect screening venue.
It was a challenge when we first started back in 2017, with no money, no sponsors, and no track record for running a festival. But following our second year, the townspeople and local businesses started taking us more seriously after seeing the quality of our films and how professionally we operated. I think it helps that I produce TV commercials for a living because I treat each festival as I would a disciplined commercial production. Every year, I bring in my trusted tech crew from New York City to create the highest-quality screenings with the best possible picture and sound that we can deliver. And throughout the festival, I do my best to stay on schedule and keep the audience engaged. Add to that the slate of top international films we curate, and I believe we’ve exceeded most expectations.
Which films are you most excited about screening this year, both horror and non-horror?
We have 10 excellent features that really run the gamut. One of my favorite horror films that I’ve seen in recent years is When I Consume You. I had no idea what to expect. I’ve seen a million horror films, and I’m a big fan of the genre. This one was one I’d never seen before.
I’m also excited to see Zalava. I have not actually seen it yet from beginning to end, but I’ve heard awesome things about it. I also love that it’s an Iranian horror film. It did so well on the festival circuit. In terms of non-horror films, I’m very into Streetwise. I love any sort of twist on the gangster genre. Anchorage really took me by surprise, too, not because I had any doubts about the filmmaker.
What goes into scheduling and choosing the slate of films?
I basically chose films that I would want to see. It has to be a good film. It has to entertain. It has to hold my attention. It has to show me something I haven’t seen 1,000 times before, and it has to be fairly competent.
What are some of your goals and plans for future festivals?
Our long-term goal for JTIFF has always been to become a major player in the film festival universe. I’ve worked in the film business for over 30 years and made my own indie features, including a controversial cult film back in the 90s that ended up taking me to over fifty festivals around the world. So, I’ve been very fortunate to be able to screen my work for audiences throughout the US, Europe, Canada, and even Africa. I’ve attended the biggest film parties in Cannes, rubbing shoulders with cinema royalty, and I even sat on the Jury of a genre festival in Porto, Portugal. All of these experiences fueled my passion and taught me what’s necessary, from the point of view of both a festivalgoer and a filmmaker, to build JTIFF into a world-class film festival.
If people are coming to Jim Thorpe for the first time, what’s one business you recommend they visit and support?
I’m making it easy for people to check out one of the best venues in this area, the Stabin Museum. He has an amazing compound up West Broadway, the main drag. He’s an artist first, so he has a whole gallery that he’s created, a giant sprawling structure. There’s a restaurant, and he’s just created an up-and-coming jazz lounge. That’s definitely one of the top places to visit. Obviously, if you come to the festival, you’ll see the beautiful 1881 Mauch Chunk Opera House. There’s also a great new bar that’s opening up, which will be the location for our closing night party, Ouros, right up Broadway, close to the opera house.
If one wanted to submit a movie to JTIFF, how it’s done?
It’s very simple. Go to our website: jimthorpeindiefilmfest.com and click the red button that says “Click to Submit on FilmFreeway.”
JTIFF will open with Hatching, which premiered during Sundance’s Midnight section in January. Tickets for the fest are on sale now. The full slate of films can be viewed here.
