Inside the Creative Economy: Susan B. Halpern

By Jennifer Sadler

The Columbus International Film + Video Festival, also known as “The Chris Awards” is one of the most prestigious film competitions in the U.S. and the oldest of its kind in North America.

And according to Susan Halpern, executive director for festival producer the Film Council of Greater Columbus, the festival and awards show are better known nationally than here at home.

“It’s funny, because it’s incredibly well known amongst filmmakers around the world and it’s just starting to become well known right here at home,” Halpern said recently. “It’s like (the festival is) the most famous Columbus event that Columbus doesn’t yet know about. We show films you can’t see anywhere else in Columbus.”

The annual festival, now in its 58^th year, takes place in November. More than 30 filmmakers from around the world fly in to attend, and festival goers screen 50-60 films, documentaries, animation and narratives. The Festival is supported by a number of sponsors including the Ohio Arts Council, the Columbus College of Art & Design and the Greater Columbus Art Council.

Halpern, originally from New York, came to Ohio for graduate school at Ohio University in Athens. She later transferred to The Ohio State University.

A longtime filmmaker, Halpern said, “I’ve always been making stuff, even from childhood. My mother was creative and used to make all of our clothes, and her father was a painter and draftsman.” 

Halpern received her bachelor’s degree at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She got into film and video after documenting some performance work. She fell in love with the process and appreciated the ability that film and video offered to reach larger audiences. In addition to years of commercial projects, Halpern has filmed about 10 shorts of her own work.

After graduating from Ohio State, Halpern said she became involved with the Festival in 2003 “kinda by accident.”

“I had been freelancing as an Avid editor around town… and after 9/11 the freelancer market started to tank,” she said. “So when a friend connected to the festival told me about the job opening at the CIF+VF and asked me to apply, I figured why not.”

Halpern enjoys living in Columbus because it’s comfortable and affordable.

“There aren’t too many cities where artists and lowly paid non-profit arts workers can buy a home in livable neighborhoods. Living in Columbus allows me to own my home, have a garden, a dog, and not feel totally strapped financially. I could never do that in New York, L.A. or San Francisco,” she said. 

She also appreciates Columbus’ supportive arts community.

“I’ve found that the arts community here is very generous in so many ways, from mentoring me as a ‘newbie’ to donating time and skills to help me produce my work,” she said. “I haven’t really found that in other cities I’ve been to or lived in.”

Halpern’s home factors heavily in her work. Her films were shot primarily in Columbus. And as she’s branched into other art forms – namely poetry – Columbus plays a central role.

“As a poet, I have written several poems about the South Side, which is were I live,” she said.

Halpern had some advice for those out there who are looking to settle into Columbus’ creative workforce. 

“Volunteer for a couple of the arts organizations in town, network, be active online… and be open to what happens. There is tremendous opportunity here. I never thought in a million years that I’d be doing what I’m doing now, professionally speaking,” she said.

As for building the local reputation for the film community, Halpern sees positive signs.

“I’d like to see more support and awareness of the local filmmaking community, which is actually starting to happen,” she said.

For more information about the Columbus International Film+Video Festival and the Near Monthly Screening Series coming in March 2010, visit www.chrisawards.org.