2010 Great Lakes International Film Festival

2010 film and script selections will be announced no later than August 27, 2010

Our 2010 festival online will take place September 22nd. Thru September 29th. 24 hours a day and will cost only $1.49 to view any film.

Since its birth, the Great Lakes Film Fest has grown and evolved. Movies like the big screen hit Saw was first shown at the fest. People like Stephen King and Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) have had their names connected with films which have been presented at the fest. According to organizer Steven Opsanic there is a movie in the 2010 competition which is based on a Stephen King short story but, since the judging is not yet complete, he cannot say if the film is a winner or not.

The fest has taken steps since its inception to make itself better each year. In 2009 the festival broke new ground by being the first in the world to offer all of its films, including full feature lengths, online in a completely secure setting.

There was no live show that year and response to the online festival was amazing from people all over the world. However, emails sent in to organizers showed that the Great Lakes Film Fest local Erie fans wanted a live show to see the winners, nominees and Erie’s local films, so 2010 will mark the return of a live two day event where the winners, nominees and local films will be presented. “I never expected such a reaction from the people who attended the shows,” Opsanic said. “I want to give local independent film lovers what they want and can’t get anywhere else in Erie, so this year we are going live again.”

The name of the event will be the Great Lakes International Film Festival Best of the Fest. This year something new will be added to the event – a montage of the best short films from the past eight years.

The event will include the best films of the festival but will also, as other traditions are revived, feature a world premiere of Erie filmmaker Len Kabasinski’s new film Wendigo: Bound By Blood as well as a weekend of music with Stiletto featuring Monica Lewis and Lindsay Vendetti on Saturday night September 25th and a band that is yet to be announced on Friday night September 24th, for the Wendigo After Party. Opsanic said that he expects 700 to 1,000 to attend the event throughout the weekend.

Also new this year – there will be no admission price. Both days of the event is totally free to attend. However, the Friday night premiere of Wendigo is also a benefit for the March of Dimes, although the Wendigo premiere will have no ticket price or cover charge there will be staff on hand accepting donations to March of Dimes. 100% of the money collected will be given to the March Of Dimes.

The Great Lakes International Film Festival Best of the Fest will be held on September 24th & 25th at Nelson’s located at 1033 State Street, on the corner of 11th & State, Erie PA.

Additional details of the film fest will be released as they become available 

Great Lakes Youth in Arts  Education Program

Students discover new ways to express their imagination in a way that appeals to the senses and emotions. Students spend the summer expressing themselves through many aspects of visual, performing and the written arts, and then share their art projects with family, friends and the general public during special exhibitions and performances.  Read More

Interested in sponsoring the Youth in Arts Summer Education Program, please contact

Steven M Opsanic at 814-873-5069

Special Great Lakes Film Association Annual Membership Drive $49.95 Membership Offer

The Great Lakes Film Association is a non-profit organization that relies on contributions, memberships, and the hard work of its volunteers to help raise funds for our annual film festival.

The funds raised from the memberships are needed to help with yearly operating costs and to produce the annual Great Lakes Independent Film Festival, which is ranked among the top 100 most popular film fests in the world.

We have many people ask how they can help out and what can we do to support the association and the film festival.  Well… become a member!!! Not only does it help us financially, but it also gives us the numbers to show how many people want the festival as we go for sponsors and government grants.  Read More 

2010 Writers Block International Writing Competition Call For Entries
The Writers Block International Writing Competition, a 501c(3) non-profit organization has officially opened its Call for Entries and will accept submissions from around the world of short and feature length scripts and manuscripts of all genres including documentary, horror, sci-fi, Wiccan, fiction and nonfiction, Religious/Spiritual, animation, and Gay/Lesbian for the 2010 competition. Read More