Big Eddy Film Festival returns this month

The 15th Annual Big Eddy Film Festival returns Sept. 24 to Sept. 27. Events take place at the Tusten Theatre at 210 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg unless otherwise noted. This year’s theme is “Stories from the Other Side: Magic, Delight, Outsiders, and The Unseen.”

The festival features everything from documentary to animation and everything in-between.

Film screenings range from $15 to $20 and an all access pass is available for $150. For more information visit Bigeddyfilmfest.com.

This year, the festival welcomes a new director, Liza Bennett. Bennett is an actor, writer, director, and community organizer based in Sullivan County. A graduate of the Juilliard School, she began her career in Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave” and later opposite Al Pacino in “The Merchant of Venice” on Broadway. She’s since built a rich career across television, film, and theater.

She is co-founder and executive director of The Field Office, a creative hub in the Delaware Valley dedicated to creative sustainability. Now, she’s bringing that same spirit to the Big Eddy Film Festival and joining a legacy of championing adventurous storytellers.

“I’m thrilled to join Big Eddy Film Festival in its 15th season, and to be of service to such a fantastic and fearless creative community. I can’t wait to see you all at the movies,” Bennett shared.

The Big Eddy Film Festival opening night film, “Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu,” will be shown on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Tusten Theatre. This documentary feature follows comedians Bob Odenkirk and David Cross as they tackle one of the world’s most grueling hikes — and each other — in a high-altitude meditation on friendship, mortality, and profoundly absurd comedy.

The film’s director, Michael LaHaie, will be joining us for a live Q&A after the screening.