Rockport Film Festival makes a memorable comeback after Harvey

Every year is special for the Rockport Film Festival, but this year is different.

Months after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Rockport area, the community will continue to celebrate its 11th annual film festival as scheduled from Nov. 2-Nov. 4.

"The Rockport Film Festival truly believes that art has the power to heal," said film festival director Elena Rodriguez.

"I feel very fortunate that we are able to continue the festival this year. I have no doubt that this will be the most memorable year we've ever had."

The festival has always celebrated the best of independent cinema on the Texas Coast, highlighting talent from Texas, all over the country and the world in their three-day event.

This year's festival will feature 40 films from across the globe. The event kicks off Thursday, Nov. 2 with an outdoor reception and screening of "The Farthest" at the historic Fulton-Bruhl House, 409 Broadway.

Friday and Saturday screenings will be at the Texas Maritime Museum featuring four film blocks each including a matinee shorts program, matinee feature, evening feature and evening shorts program. Community receptions will be offered from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.

"The Texas Maritime Museum is a great collaborator," Rodriguez said.

"Hurricane Harvey dealt our community tremendous damage, and losses, but it only strengthened our neighborly spirit and resolve."

In light of everything that has happened in Rockport, the festival wanted to do something different for the attendees this fall. The Friday and Saturday screenings will be free.

"Most residents are still struggling to get back on their feet and we didn't want admission prices to be a prohibitive factor," Rodriguez said.

New York City artist Lauren Redding, a former guest lecturer and curator at the Rockport Center for the Arts, began a fundraising campaign in October to help the festival make enough money to host free screenings.

Forty wooden crabs were distributed among artists across the country to be hand painted. The resulting art pieces could then be acquired for $50-125 donation to the festival.

The event's online fundraiser at crabs.rockportfilmfestival.com welcomes supporters to donate money or buy a $50 hand painted crab.

IF YOU GO

What: Rockport Film Festival

When:5-10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 

 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3

12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4

Where: Thursday, Fulton-Bruhl House, 409 Broadway

Friday and Saturday, Texas Maritime Museum, 1202 Navigation Circle

Cost: $75, Thursday; Free, Friday and Saturday

Information: www.rockportfilmfestival.com.