Renegade Cinema hit the 2013 deadCENTER Film Festival in full force, seeing over 30 movies during the five-day event. Between Tony and myself, we hit every movie that mattered and interviewed filmmakers from all over the country. There are also more reviews and interviews to come from the big event, over the next week.

Well, Renegade Cinema wasn’t the only people enjoying deadCENTER, as the film festival set new attendance records with around 15,000 film lovers attending the event, selling out 17 of the screenings. Here is a look at the press release deadCENTER just sent out, and make sure to keep checking back in to Renegade Cinema for more reviews and interviews from the deadCENTER Film Festival.

deadCENTER Film Festival has successfully set new attendance records during its 13th year.

According to Kim Haywood, director of programming and festival director for deadCENTER Film Festival, approximately 15,000 people attended film screenings over the course of the five-day festival, and 17 of those screenings were sell-outs. 

“We couldn’t be more thrilled by the turnout for this year’s festival, and we have a lot of people to thank for our continued success including our incredible sponsors and the dedicated volunteers that make it all possible,” Haywood said.  “Our city was probably in need of a little break from the stresses of recent tragedies, and we’re just grateful to have the opportunity to provide that while also supporting and growing the independent film arts in Oklahoma.”

Major sponsors include: Kirkpatrick Foundation, Devon Energy, Chickasaw Nation, Chesapeake Energy, Cox Cable, Stella Artois, OG&E, Tyler Media and GT Clean.

The first deadCENTER Film Festival was held in 2001 at City Arts Center.  In 2003, the festival moved to its permanent home in downtown Oklahoma City and expanded to five days.  The festival has quickly grown to become a premiere international event, recognized as one of the “Top 20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” according to MovieMaker magazine.

More than 12,000 people attended deadCENTER Film Festival screenings in 2012, generating an economic impact of approximately $1.14 million for Oklahoma City. 

The 2013 deadCENTER Film Festival featured 119 independent films, including comedies, dramas, documentaries and short films from Oklahoma and around the world.  More than 700 films were submitted this year, more than any previous year.