COLTON COURIER Weekly
May 09, 2024
Vol 152, NO. 20
Prestige Film Fest at 3 Iron Brewery Contributes to Inland Empire Cinema Revival with Powerful Grief Stories
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
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Founders Chuck Cerda, Richard Spoors, and Joseph Ukleja on day two of the 2024 Prestige Film Festival in Colton.
By Manny Sandoval
T
he 3 Iron Brewery in Colton transformed into a cinematic haven this past weekend, hosting the annual Prestige Film Festival, marking a resurgence in the Inland Empire’s media arts scene. Organized by co-founders Chuck Cerda, Richard Spoors, and Joseph Ukleja, the festival screened 60 films across diverse categories, fostering creativity, community, and conversation in equal measure.
Films and Awards The festival recognized films in several categories, including Best Short Film, Best Student Film, Best Actress, Best Actor, People's Choice Award, and Best Animated Short. This year's lineup resonated with attendees, particularly through two standout films that tackled themes of grief: "Marbles," directed by Kyle Hatley, and "Beneath Her Sorrows," directed by Juan Manuel Villegas. Both films received acco-
Grief as a Central Theme "Marbles" follows a grief-stricken man with peculiar abilities who finds solace and offers healing in his bereavement group, revealing how his perceived curse transforms into a gift for others. "Beneath Her Sorrows" delves into the emotional afterFilm Fest, cont. next pg.
By Manny Sandoval
I
n a significant step toward empowering artists and creatives, on April 24th, San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. declared April 2024 through 2029 as "Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month," recognizing the critical role of arts and culture in the Inland Empire and beyond, and honoring the efforts of Music Changing Lives (MCL) in promoting these endeavors. "We've recognized Music Changing Lives with a proclamation, declaring April 2024 through 2029 as Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month," said Baca Jr., underscoring MCL's role in nurturing the region's arts community and its contribution to society at large.
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lades, with "Marbles" clinching the Best Short Film award and "Beneath Her Sorrows" winning Best Student Film.
Music Changing Lives Secures Proclamation for Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month, Advocates Fair Wages for Creatives
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JUAN MANUEL VILLEGAS
San Bernardino Valley College Film Student and Director of Beneath Her Sorrows Juan Manuel Villegas shortly after accepting Best Student Film.
(Left to right) Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., MCL Programs Director Tia Youngblood, and MCL Founder Josiah Bruny at the San Bernardino County Government Chambers in San Bernardino.
MCL's founder, Josiah Bruny, emphasized the disparity between the arts sector's contribution to the economy and the
compensation artists receive. "The arts represent more than 14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and we only get 67 cents per capita back to the arts, which is like a slap in the face to artists and creatives," he explained. To address this, MCL aims to make a million millionaires through the arts and creative fields by advocating for prevailing wages and encouraging fair pay for all artists and creatives. At MCL's 26th anniversary celebration, Bruny provided tangible examples of their efforts. The event's DJ, for instance, was paid $600, equating to $200 an hour, and the landscapers maintaining MCL's urban garden in San Bernardino are respectfully compensated at $20 an hour. The urban garden is also helping to combat the looming food desert in San Bernardino by offering fresh produce to the MCL, cont. next pg.