Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendon Rogers.
Hi Brendon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began studying acting and theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC in the mid 90’s and worked on several film and theater projects in the New York tri-state area. Following a move to Florida, I continued to work on TV, film, podcast and theater productions. My work in theater led me to accept a seat on the Bay Street Players (The State Theater, Eustis) board of directors for two terms and I directed a number of their main and second stage productions between 2014 and 2017.
In 2015, a short film that a partner of mine and I made was accepted into festivals, including the Central Florida (CENFLO) Film Festival, which was based in Ocoee at the time. Following an unexpected award that year, we submitted another short the following year and were accepted as well. During our time at CENFLO, I came to know Bob Cook, the executive director and founder, quite well. In late 2016, Bob and I were meeting about a film that he wanted me to co-produce with him and he, rather unexpectedly, told me that he was looking to retire from CENFLO and inquired if I would be interested in succeeding him as executive director of the festival. I accepted and we began the work of a full transition process during 2017 (and we also ended up making that film together as well).
In 2018, I and my team moved CENFLO from Ocoee to Mount Dora, finding a new home at Epic Theatres at Mount Dora where it has remained ever since. After the 2019 festival, we decided to move the fest out of its traditional September time slot. I put an exploratory committee together and the consensus was that January would be the best time of the year because of better weather, snow birds are back and it would be after the holidays and thus easier to plan for our international filmmakers. We’ve also become the curation partner for the Orlando-based Film Slam, with their monthly audience choice winners gaining automatic official selection into our festival.
Along with my day to day work as CENFLO’s executive director, I continue to work as an actor, producer and director on film and podcast projects (and the occasional play) along with serving as a judge for the Orlando 48 Hour Film Project. I am currently finishing up work on a film I directed and preparing for our 16th annual Central Florida Film Festival in January.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know that any road in the arts could be called smooth, per se, but it certainly hasn’t been a straight path. Struggles and challenges in the arts tend to come from the twists and turns of constantly changing circumstances and knowing how to navigate them for the benefit of a project, a production company or even a film festival. Because tastes are subjective, any form of art can make for a difficult business model since you can’t always predict the appetites of audiences.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Being handed the stewardship of an international film festival has certainly been the most unexpected surprise for me in my years in the arts. It’s a great responsibility to carry the sixteen year legacy of our brand into the future while being open to new ways that we can share independent cinema to the public. While I continue to work as an actor, producer, writer and director on films and develop new projects, my work with CENFLO is very rewarding because we’re creating opportunities for new and emerging filmmakers to get to showcase their work with new audiences and network with others in the business–hopefully creating long lasting ties and making movies together. I’m also proud that we’ve been able to develop new educational programs and a monthly screening series that will carry CENFLO beyond our annual film festival, further bringing arts education to our community.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Going to the movies with my father.
Contact Info:
- Email: cenflofest@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.centralfloridafilmfestival.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centralfloridafilmfestival/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralFloridaFilmFestival
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CENFLO
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6558462/?ref_=tt_ov_st
