​Fargo Film Festival 25

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 survivor’s journey), the category has much to offer for nonfiction fans among its eight selections.

For example, the incisively directed “Rooted” is an inspiring story about food injustice in North Charleston, South Carolina. The unexpectedly funny tale of gender-focused activism “The Day Iceland Stood Still” demonstrates the power of organization and collaboration.

Documentary Short

“I’m incredibly thrilled for audiences to see category winner ‘A Swim Lesson,’” said documentary short jury chair Tom Speer. “Bill March is a swim teacher, helping young children discover their power. There are many layers to this film, but my favorite is the purest example I’ve seen of personal growth when leaving your comfort zone. It’s the type of film someone of any age can learn from, and take that lesson with them.”

Speer also notes that honorable mention ‘I Am Ready, Warden’ was nominated for an Oscar this year. And that the other honorable mention, “The ABCs of Book Banning,” was nominated for an Academy Award last year.

“A third selection, ‘Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr,’ made the Oscars final 15 shortlist,” added Matt Olien, a co-founding member of the Fargo Festival. “All three are outstanding films and are representative of a strong 2025 category. There are at least seven to 10 more that are excellent as well. I know that Fargo Film Festival audiences really like watching short films, especially documentaries.”

Experimental

“One thing I love about our experimental films this year is the variety in the styles the filmmakers use,” said experimental category jury chair Janet Brandau. “While all are strong representatives of the genre, viewers can seek out a short one such as ‘Rain,’ a classic type of experimental filmmaking, if they want to get a sense of the category.”

“The category winner ‘I Would've Been Happy’ features gorgeous color work and movement in its animated imagery,” Brandau added. “The family story and themes are enhanced by the strong visuals. The two honorable mentions also bring different styles; ‘Matta and Matto’ with its vivid animation and somewhat surreal story, and ‘Mast-Del,’ propelling a deep storyline with stunning visual imagery.”

Volunteer Greg Carlson concurs with Brandau. “My favorite selection in the entire 2025 Fargo Film Festival is Jordan Wong’s fantastic ‘I Would’ve Been Happy,’” Carlson said.” “This movie only lasts 9 minutes, but it exquisitely represents the very best of experimental filmmaking by combining animation, abstraction, and documentary impulses into a dazzling, kaleidoscopic map built from embroidery, glazed ceramic tiles, quilted cyanotype fabric and computer-generated elements mixed with 16mm motion picture film. Do not miss it.”

Narrative Feature

Narrative feature chair Kyja Kristjansson-Nelson loves the sense of community and the casual atmosphere of the festival. “We host filmmakers from around the world who are eager to experience Fargo, hang out and talk to audiences,” Kristjansson-Nelson noted.

“Narrative feature ‘The Long Run,’ from filmmaker Mylissa Fitzsimmons, is a dramedy about an unlikely friendship that forms between two strangers as they share a cross-country road trip,’” added Beck. “Funny, poignant and original, this film is buoyed by incredible performances by British actor Fred Thomas and F-M native Nicole Rodenburg.”

Kristjansson-Nelson is also thrilled for audiences to be charmed by Rodenburg and Thomas in “The Long Run.” “The onscreen duo forge toward their Hollywood dreams, as we road trip along the highs and lows of life as an actor. Audiences may remember director Fitzsimmons (‘Everything in the End’), as well as Rodenburg (‘Glob Lessons’), from FFF 2022. We are so excited to include their work again this year!”

Narrative Short

“I'm very excited to show two of the funniest shorts I've ever seen at the Fargo Film Festival,” said narrative short jury chair Dominic Erickson. “One is ‘Wabi-Sabi,’ about a woman who suspects the man she’s dating has unusual motivations. It’s a rapid-fire comedy with a story that plays out really well. Another is ‘Revenge of the Language Master 1757B,’ which is about some children who discover an interesting function about a classroom toy. I predict audiences will laugh out loud at this one — they might've even had an experience like the characters.”

“I will be urging people to see some of the many outstanding narrative shorts that I found compelling,” added narrative short juror Karen Olson. “Particular favorites were ‘Room Taken’ from Ireland and ‘Hearts of Stone’ from Belgium. Both were sensitive, beautifully written and well-acted dramas that moved me. What I love most about FFF is the variety of storytelling from all over the world done in so many excellent ways. We share our humanity through films all week.”

Past festival co-chair and current Documentary Short juror Kendra O’Brien agrees with Olson about “Hearts of Stone,” saying, “It is a beautiful and unexpected story. I'm looking forward to seeing that with an audience on the big screen.”

“I'm excited for audiences to see many of the short films this year, especially ‘Room Taken’ and ‘Fortune,’” added Festival co-chair and Narrative Short juror Craig Roath. “They are a couple of my favorites.”

Student

The movies in the student category demonstrate promising future talent taking major steps in film programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The quality of the student work programmed indicates that the category is as competitive as any in the festival.

“We had three documentary films that I would recommend: ‘Where We Once Roamed,’ ‘Deer Divide,’ and ‘The Tale of Mari,’” said Jo Cavins, student jury chair. “The first two take on environmental issues and ‘The Tale of Mari’ is about a young filmmaker telling her mother’s story of being a cartoonist. Additionally, I particularly liked ‘Ash Wednesday’ for its humor about girls in high school and ‘Alph 27’ for an interesting storyline about immigration from other planets.”

2-Minute Movies and Other Programming

Carlson has produced the annual 2-Minute Movie Contest since the earliest years of the festival.

“I love very short-form filmmaking from local moviemakers as well as storytellers from around the world,” he said. “We put together a delightful menu of bite-size films that cover all sorts of genres and styles. Many of these movies are made by young kids and amateurs just getting started as moviemakers. There is something special about the heartfelt, handmade nature of a good 2-Minute Movie Contest entry that inspires me.”

Along with the 2-Minute Movie Contest, each evening showcase will focus on special programming. FFF25 will also hold their popular lunch panels, which give audience members a front-row seat to hear from professional filmmakers visiting Fargo to represent their movies in one of the most well-respected regional film festivals in the country.

“What I love most about the FFF is how it has helped put Fargo on the map for writers, directors, actors and actresses who have attended our festival,” said Olien. “They then spread the word as they return home about what an amazing and welcoming film festival we have.”

O’Brien can’t wait to get started. She urges attendees to experience the range of films the festival offers this year.

“Break out of your comfort zone and try a wide variety of movies,” O’Brien said. “You may surprise yourself with what you love. Also, remember that popcorn is a whole grain and totally counts as part of breakfast at a morning session.”

More information, including a list of the movies screening in the 2025 Fargo Film Festival, can be found at fargofilmfestival.com.