Emberlight Festival

This screening is a barrel of laughs! We couldn’t possibly think of a better way to kick off our 2022 film festival than with seven of our most charming, clever and comedic short films. These light-hearted comedies hail from Australia, India, New Zealand, Spain and the U.S. You’ll meet two anxious middle-aged singles on their first date, a couple on a road trip who can’t stop arguing until their temperamental GPS gets fed up and tries to fix the situation,…

From tap dancing to ballet, experimental choreography to tango, this screening celebrates dancers from around the world. The music at the core of these films ranges from Gershwin to Bach to original scores and soundscapes. These brilliantly choreographed narratives tell the stories of a woman who is haunted by the memory of her lost love, a young dancer who is smitten with a brilliant pianist, a Nigerian lady who is caught in a dream and must contend with her past…

This screening celebrates diverse voices in front of and behind the camera as part of Emberlight’s commitment to showcasing a plurality of voices and ensuring that racial inclusion is our standard. The films that have been selected for this screening include a mix of short documentaries and short narratives. Back by popular demand, Glen Ackerman-Behr and Gerry Gripper from Ironwood’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group will host this event, leading discussions about each film throughout the screening. About Ironwood Diversity,…

Come take a trip down Memory Lane and experience five short films full of bittersweet nostalgia and echoes of days gone by. An elderly woman will experience a blast from the past when she discovers a vinyl record from her youth, two childhood friends will take a trip to the shore to confront the issues that led to the demise of their once inseparable bond, and a woman will visit her ex’s house one last time to overcome the pain…

This screening is your passport to 6 continents! (Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the penguins of Antarctica to submit a film.) The selected short films for this evening cover a wide range of genres, including a fashion film from the U.K., an animated romantic comedy from Italy, a Spaghetti Western-style comedy from New Zealand, an experimental dance film from Nigeria, and more! This event is made possible by: Travel Ironwood

This screening is composed of five short films that range from psychological thrillers to fantasy, featuring gripping narratives, figments of imagination and a few ghostly appearances that may leave you questioning reality and feeling a bit uneasy on your return home! Featuring some of the most poetic and visually stunning animations and cinematography of our festival, you’ll meet a struggling poet who receives a life-altering message from a strange yet familiar face, a lady with a dark secret who receives…

This collection of short films from Mexico, Malta, United Kingdom and Ukraine is dedicated to those who show bravery in the face of adversity. These eye-opening films are sure to leave you feeling inspired. This screening will take you on a journey to 1953 East-Berlin, a desolate desert in Central America, and a totalitarian society in which all borders are militarized. The final film of this screening is the Midwest premiere of a documentary about Ukrainian heroes who have continued…

This 60-minute screening of 5 short documentaries features present-day slices of life from California to India. The subjects of these documentaries include an Indigenous tribe’s powerful connection with buffalo, a woman from Bangkok whose spirit is renewed thanks to a bicycle that was restored from a trash can, University of Michigan students who are saying goodbye to their favorite pizza joint, and more! This event is made possible by: Travel Ironwood

This screening features an assortment of stories from Europe and North America told using traditional animation, computer-generated effects, stop-motion, and everything in between. We will meet an 85-year old reclusive Frenchman who finds love, a small penguin who is trying to find someone to play with, a skeptical man who pays a visit to a psychic medium, and more! This event is made possible by: Travel Ironwood

Our final screening of the 2022 festival is your chance to get to know the filmmakers! In addition to screening some of our top films from the season, we will be featuring video interviews with the directors and screenwriters, as well as a live Q and A with our visiting filmmakers! Don’t miss out on this chance to learn about the magic that goes on behind the lens! This event is made possible by: Travel Ironwood

Poetry read outside on a balmy summer afternoon – what could be better? This event brings together poets from the Emberlight National Poetry Contest to read their works, and celebrate the awarding of Poet Laureate honors to the top contestant. Woven into the afternoon will be music from mandolin player Fran Strong and guitar player Anthony Hanson-Lynn. Don’t miss this delightful Performance Infusion finale! Emberlight’s Performance Infusion series provides audiences an understanding of what makes artists love and pursue their…