Cinequest 2015 – Opening Night
Cinequest has a simple philosophy for the successful film festival experience. Present the best of the best Indie films submitted, host the films in the best of venues, invite the best of the film makers to speak to the best of audiences, and place the entire event in the best of cities, San Jose. The result is an outstanding entertainment package! This year, the 25th Anniversary of the Cinequest Film Festival, has proven that that simple process is still very much engaged.
Cinequest began its Silver Anniversary with the enormously appealing, absolutely feel good documentary, “Batkid Begins,” the heartwarming story of a “Make-A-Wish” event that began with a flash of an idea and then overflowed its boarders until it touched the world.
Director Dana Nachman was able to capture the magic and wonder of a story that literally circumvented the globe. Co-written by Nachman and Kurt Kuenne, “Batkid Begins” tells the tale of 5-year old Miles Scott who made a simple request to the Make-A-Wish foundation…to be Batman for a day. This documentary travels the many roads taken to make his fantasy request a reality.
I wasn’t surprised by the partisan response to a local documentary, the set being based in San Francisco. But I was moved by the complete and total audience engagement, the rush to help and support, and nurture. As the story flowed forward, the crowd became one, cheering and applauding, seemingly breathing in unison, not wanting to miss a word, a scene, or a nuance. You see, for one day, for one city, for one little boy, Batkid was real. Humanity excelled.
At the time of filming, Miles was locked in mortal combat against the malevolent enemy of leukemia. His wish, to be Batman, seemed a simple enough dream. Make-A-Wish Foundation executive, Patricia Wilson, brought together a team of creative minds and soon a series of Batman scenarios were generated. As the ideas advanced, so did the involvement of others, and so did size of the event.
Wilson thought maybe 200 folk might become involved in granting Mile’s wish. However, what was taking place was larger than a simple request, and larger than the film itself. It was about humanity and connecting. More than a single city was getting caught up in this enterprise.
People from around the state were hitting social media and chatting about Batkid. The story leaped off the front pages of the local newspapers and broadcasts and onto the national desks, and soon the story went viral. The tale wasn’t contained within our national borders. People from around the world commented and send notes of encouragement. Some folk felt compelled to fly to San Francisco just to witness Batkid Scott save Gotham City. One simple wish, made to happen, seemed to bring the world together. Besides the 20-thousand plus who lined the streets for a day of Batkid’s adventures, an estimate of more than one billion+ people were witness to the Caped Crusader having his day.
Batkid Begins is a documentary – a day in the life of a 5-year old. It is a very good documentary. But it is more than that. It highlights the expression of care and concern we can have one for another. As one person put it, “People are nicer today. I hope it doesn’t wear off too soon.”
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