2024 Festival Schedule
Benson Theatre - 6054 Maple St. - Omaha, NE
Friday, April 26
Please note: these films are not rated. Some films may contain sensitive and/or triggering content. Viewer discretion advised.
Doors Open: 5:00 pm
5:00 pm-7:00 pm: Red Carpet Happy Hour
Pick up your festival passes, take your photo on the red carpet, and enjoy a beverage from the bar!
7:00 pm: Opening Remarks
7:00 pm-7:30 pm: Short Stacks
Experimental Films
Sandcastle
Kate Ryan Brewer, Darmyn Calderon
Anew Anew (Mors Ordo)
Ian Tredway
Remember
Anton Mirny
Flower Arcade
Joi Katskee
Hemorrhage
Ruth Hayes
7:45 pm-8:00 pm: Stand-up Comedy
Comedian Lauren Vana
8:00 pm-9:30 pm: Friday Night Feature Film
Tony Bonacci
9:30 pm-10:00 pm: Filmmaker Q&A
Tony Bonacci - Director, The Headliner
10:00 pm-2:00 am: After Party at the Sydney!
Join us down the street at The Sydney (5918 Maple St.) to celebrate the opening night of the 2024 festival! DJ Crabrangucci will be spinning!
Saturday, April 27
Please note: these films are not rated. Some films may contain sensitive and/or triggering content. Viewer discretion advised.
Doors Open: 10:00 am
10:00 am-11:00 am: Coffee and Cakes
Pick up your festival passes and enjoy a coffee and pastry from Hardy Coffee in the Benson Theatre lobby!
11:00 am-12:30 pm: Art Doc Block
Short Documentary
Sack Race With Knives: The Curious Art of Kevin Titzer
Jordan Barclay
Feature Documentary
Story of a Painting
Vamsi B S
12:30 pm-1:30 pm: Lunch Break
Explore the Benson strip and grab something to eat!
1:30 pm-2:45 pm: Feature Documentary
The Fight for Black Lives
Micere Keels
3:00 pm-4:00 pm: Documentary Shorts
Videsh
Tejasvi Ginnela
Art + Science
Miles Landaw
Fragments: Photographer Jim Hendrickson
Chelsea Kavich, Joseph Carter
4:00 pm-5:00 pm: Afternoon Break
Stroll the Benson strip and support local businesses!
5:00 pm-6:00 pm: Happy Hour Mixer
Enjoy a beverage in the lobby and chat with local filmmakers!
6:00 pm-7:05 pm: Saturday Night Feature Film
Twenties
Joshua LaBure, Zachary Gutierrez
7:30 pm-9:00 pm: ULTRAcinema Curated Programming
Benson Film Festival is excited to present a selection of films curated by ULTRAcinema, an experimental film festival based in Mexico. The festival is committed to the exhibition of films that usually do not find a space on traditional screens, providing a professional and respectful environment for the art of cinema.
9:10 pm-10:00 pm: Short Stacks
Music Videos
Brand New
MJ Peters, Lauren Abell
Lady Revel - Jeanette
Wesley Rebarcak
The Way I Deal
Brent Scott Maze, Derek Maze
Car Colors - Old Death
Kyle Garrett
Narrative Shorts
[INSERT SHORT FILM TITLE]
Kory Orban
The Chicken Wing Apocalypse
Mike Machian
Alien Believers Group
Matthew Fuentes James
Privatize: Private Eyes
Lauren Abell, MJ Peters
10:00 pm-12:00 am: After Party at Krug Park!
Head down the street to Krug Park (6205 Maple St.) for the Saturday night after party! Enjoy craft cocktails and a live DJ!
12:00 am-2:00 am: After-After Party at 10Forward!
Sunday, April 28
Please note: these films are not rated. Some films may contain sensitive and/or triggering content. Viewer discretion advised.
Doors Open: 11:00 am
11:15 am-11:35 am: Short Documentary
Vonnie
Noah David Smith
11:35 am-12:35 pm: Short Stacks
Narrative Shorts
PIANO MAN
Jay Zaretsky
BUBBLES
Meri Dishnica
Pilgrim in the Basement
Wesley Rebarcak
Feedback Loop
Thomas Nelsen
North of Nowhere
Kalyea Halstead
Panni Sporchi
Riccardo Chiarini
12:35 pm-1:15 pm: Lunch Break
Explore the Benson strip and grab something to eat!
1:15 pm-2:45 pm: Sunday Matinee Feature Film
What We Find on the Road
Chaysen Beachem
3:00 pm-4:15 pm: Feature Documentary
Divisible
Lizzy Barrett
4:15 pm-5:00 pm: Film Discussion
Divisible
5:00 pm-6:00 pm: ULTRAcinema Curated Programming*
Benson Film Festival is excited to present a selection of films curated by ULTRAcinema, an experimental film festival based in Mexico. The festival is committed to the exhibition of films that usually do not find a space on traditional screens, providing a professional and respectful environment for the art of cinema.
*Rescheduled from Friday due to weather.
6:00 pm-7:00 pm: Closing Happy Hour at Benson Brewery