Fargo Film Festival 25
February 19th, 2025
By Lizzie Allan
The silver anniversary of the annual Fargo Film Festival will take place from March 18 to 22 at the Fargo Theatre. From its beginnings a quarter of a century ago, the showcase of cinematic talent across multiple categories promises something for every film lover. More than 100 movies will be shown from Tuesday to Saturday, with many visiting filmmakers in attendance.
Tickets and a variety of pass options will be available at the Fargo Theatre. In addition to animation, experimental, student films, narrative shorts and features and documentary shorts and features, special guest Molly Ringwald will share stories about her career in a post-screening conversation at the closing night session, following a showing of “The Breakfast Club.” Only a very small number of tickets for that event remain.
“I love that once a year, our community comes together to celebrate film,” said Festival Director Emily Beck. “Connecting filmmakers and film lovers is a joyful and deeply rewarding experience. One of the things that makes a film festival special is the opportunity to see a film and then hear from the people that made it. If you’re attending the Fargo Film Festival for the first time, I’d recommend checking out our website or on-site listing of what films have filmmakers/actors in attendance. Prioritizing those screenings is a great way to dip a toe in the world of film festivals.”
Animation
Over the years, the Fargo Film Festival has championed innovative animated films, including many Oscar-nominated shorts. Animation jury chair and longtime volunteer John Beaudine said, “I’m extremely proud of the lineup in the animation category due to the variety of different animation styles such as stop motion and CGI and also how many of the films selected are from countries across the globe.”
“‘Dragfox,’ this year’s animation category winner, is the one I’m the most excited to share with those attending the film festival,” Beaudine continued. “Not only is it well made, but the way the filmmakers present a story they call ‘a celebration of the differences within the LGBTQ+ community’ is more timely now than ever.”
Beck agrees. “‘Dragfox’ is a beautiful story about finding your authentic self and celebrating the things that make us unique,” she added. “Sir Ian McKellen provides the voice of the titular fox. His performance is humorous and emotionally resonant. I love this perfect little movie.”
Documentary Feature
The 2025 documentary feature jury was led by Matt Voltz. Category winner “Film Is Dead. Long Live Film!” will appeal to devoted cinephiles and film buffs through its look at the vanishing world of 16mm motion picture film collectors and the efforts to save and preserve forgotten, lost and obscure movies.
In addition to honorable mentions “Call Me Mule,” (a modern-day nomad saga) and “For the Living,” (which links contemporary bicyclists to a 10-year-old Holocaust…
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