DFF 2022 | Sharp Stick

Sarah Jo is a naive 26-year-old living on the fringes of Hollywood with her mother and sister. She just longs to be seen. When she begins an affair with her older employer, she is thrust into an education on sexuality, loss, and power.

The Driftless Film Festival

Founded in 2009 by filmmakers Darren Burrows and Nicholas Langholff, the Driftless Film Festival was born of a love for independent films, an appreciation of the unusual region, and the joy of spending a weekend immersed in the charm of Mineral Point’s galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. It is this delightful marriage of place and cinematic story that is the core of the Driftless vision today.

The DFF holds screens for each of its films in the Mineral Point Opera House. Beautifully restored in 2009, the MPOH retains the atmosphere of its origins as a 1915 vaudeville house. Brought to life by film screenings and live performances year-round, the Opera House is both an elegant testament to Mineral Point’s passion for preservation and a showcase space for some of the best entertainment in the region.

Each year the festival hosts filmmakers from across the country. Special guests have included Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Seinfeld, Little Red), Anthony Arendt (Muscle Shoals, Avatar), and Matt Adams (We Cause Scenes) among many others. Not only do visiting filmmakers present revealing Q&A discussions during the festival, but the weekend provides an opportunity for filmmakers and attendees to mingle outside the screenings. Friendships form over coffee at the local diner and drafts at the main street bars. This opportunity for one-on-one connection kindles the union of film and community at Driftless.

From popular festival hits to locally-produced art, the Driftless Film Festival seeks to showcase the most thought-provoking, innovative, and creative independent cinema of our time. These films will hit home in a place that feels like home. We welcome you to join us.