A Report from Tim Yasui's Susquehanna Film Festival
Here’s the thing about major film festivals: the movies that screen there are independent in the financial sense, yet many of them have recognizable stars whose participation makes it easier to acquire funding. To see true indies, you often have to look to regional festivals.
Tim Yasui's Susquehanna Film Festival, which took place right outside Williamsport, Pennsylvania from September 19-21, is an excellent example. Thirty-three local, national, and international movies were screened at the beautiful District Cinema, with many of the directors in attendance. These were genuine indies, born from the blood, sweat, and tears of their makers. Many genres were represented, including drama, comedy, horror, and documentary. The variety of the line-up was impressive.
I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the inaugural edition of the festival, where I screened two movies that nicely exemplify its spirit.
Hello! My Name Is Blotto: The Movie! - If you were around in the 1980s, you probably remember the song “I Wanna Be a Lifeguard” by Blotto. It was an unexpected radio hit and got constant airplay during the early days of MTV. Despite the tune’s popularity, Blotto never fully broke into the mainstream. Fans and fellow musicians adored them, though. Director Rob Lichter tells the unusual story of this unique band in his enlightening, often hilarious documentary. Surviving members of Blotto appear on-camera to reminisce about their formation, the writing/recording of their signature song, and the various frustrations faced during their career.
Chief among those frustrations was a lack of easy marketability. As serious musicians who incorporated intentionally silly lyrics into their works, record companies didn’t know where to place them in the musical landscape of the era. Efforts to go more mainstream ironically took away what was special about them. That struggle kept them in the realm of being a cool “underground” band. The movie is filled with amazing archival footage of performances and television appearances, along with cameos from celebrity fans like MTV’s Martha Quinn and Blue Öyster Cult guitarist Buck Dharma (who collaborated with them on the song “Metal Head”). I laughed a lot at Hello! My Name Is Blotto because the tales the guys tell are often riotous. This is a very entertaining look at a rock group that stood apart from the crowd.
The Haunted Forest - One of the questions I’m most frequently asked is, “How do you sit through all those horror movies?” People who dislike blood and gore seldom get the chance to experience the magic of horror. That’s what makes Keith Boynton’s The Haunted Forest so special. In form and tone, it’s a slasher flick. The director never shows the actual kills, so sensitive viewers can enjoy the eerie vibe without worrying about losing their lunch.
Filmed at an actual Maryland horror attraction called Markoff’s Haunted Forest, the movie details what happens when teenage Zach (Grayson Gwaze) begins working at a Halloween haunt. When a tragic death occurs on the property, owner Mark (Cedric Gegel) wants to capitalize on it. But then other disturbing events begin taking place that make it appear the business is being targeted.
The Haunted Forest works as a horror tale. It’s got strong performances, an awesome location, and some very clever ideas, most notably a bit involving chainsaws. At the same time, something more is going on under the surface. Boynton’s story thoughtfully tackles the theme of morality, as Zach doubts whether the park should be open under the circumstances. There’s a definite place in the market for The Haunted Forest, and I hope it gets wide exposure.
I’m not the only one with an appreciation for these two movies. Hello! My Name is Blotto: The Movie! went on to win the SFF’s award for Best Documentary Film, while The Haunted Forest won Best Horror Film. Other winners were Old River (Best Pennsylvania Film), Gods of Cable City (Best Short Film), Ball Is Life (Best Student Film), The Wild Man (Best Drama), Vampire Zombies from Space (Best Comedy), and Autistic Mode (Best Animation). Old River also took the prize for Best Picture. Best Director went to Daniel Temons for My Puppeteer’s Life Journey: A Daniel Story.
Tim Yasui's Susquehanna Film Festival had an extremely promising first year, and its obvious dedication to promoting independent cinema is exciting.
© 2025 Mike McGranaghan