As Hot Air readers know, last year I came up with the idea of holding an Anti-Communist Film Festival. That dream is now a reality. The Anti-Communist Film Festival will be held October 1-4 at the Victims of Communism Museum in Washington, D.C.
I will shortly be transitioning the page for the festival from the GoFundMe I started over a year ago to the official sponsorship page. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: if we want to change the culture, a film festival is an incredibly powerful way to do it. I see this as an annual event. Sponsorships can make that happen. I have gone to film festivals at the American Film Institute for years — my favorite is the Irish Film Festival — and have seen what cool events they can be, and also how much work and money it takes to pull one off.
I want to take a moment before things start to roll to thank those who have donated for their support. When this idea hit me (in the shower) over a year ago, I knew I was on to something, even if I did not have the resources. From the beginning, the grassroots response to the Anti-Communist Film Festival was enthusiastic. Those initial donors allowed me to write a 20,000-word essay on the history of anti-communist film, travel to different theaters on the East Coast, meet with managers and staff, and investigate licensing fees (it didn’t always work out).
Then it began to gain notice in higher circles. National Review. The Washington Times. As I said at the Wednesday meeting with Grover Norquist and the Americans for Tax Reform that I addressed, movies are glamorous and get into the psyche more than think tanks or position papers. On top of all that, 2026 is the 20th anniversary of The Lives of Others, the Oscar-winning film about the East German Stasi. It says more about the new wokeness, and more effectively, than a hundred blog posts.
The Americans for Tax Reform office where I spoke about the festival is just a few blocks from what was the original 9:30 Club, the legendary 1980s punk and New Wave music stage where, when I was younger, I saw bands like That Petrol Emotion, the Replacements, Cowboy Junkies, Public Enemy and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Before my talk, I stopped by the old entrance just to soak up some positive vibes. I wanted to channel a time when talent and great ideas were supported by a community of positive fans. We didn’t complain. We produced. Don’t like your newspaper? Create your own. Think pop music is bad? Form a band.
Don’t like Hollywood? Have your own film festival.
In 2023, I met the young filmmaker Paul Roland after I came across his film Exemplum, which was made for $10,000 and shot in black and white. Exemplum tells the story of a priest who goes bad and the repercussions of his actions. Roland wrote, directed and stars in the film. The story is compelling. It’s a thriller that quotes Solzhenitsyn.
After producing and directing a hilarious and spot-on parody of Christopher Nolan's imaginary version of A Christmas Carol, Roland’s new project is a radical departure. Punch the Line is a dramatic podcast that explores the lives of kids in a high school improv team. These actually existed in California when Roland, 36, was a kid in the 2000s. It stars Nick Searcy, Allegra Edwards, Francis Cronin, and Austin Kane. The cast and crew just wrapped recording, and after post-production is aiming for a fall release.
Conservatives and people concerned about the culture should be throwing money and praise at Paul Roland. The Anti-Communist Film Festival should be fully funded, with a director and a small staff. Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of donors so far, we have a real shot at making that happen. As we approach opening night, I want to thank everyone for their support.
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