About
The mission of the deadCENTER Film Festival is to promote independent film arts.
What is deadCENTER and what’s up with that name?
The name “deadCENTER” refers to the geographic location of the festival – in Oklahoma City – the “dead center” of the United States. And because we’re downtown Oklahoma City, essentially we’re in the dead center of everything! Founded in 2001, we envision a thriving, interactive global film community. We provide a competitive platform for independent filmmakers and a dynamic educational forum. Designed to inspire growth in the local film industry and energize visiting film professionals, the deadCENTER Film Festival will continue to encourage the film arts through screenings, discussions, competition, special events, panels, and focused programming.
In ten years we’ve grown from having one venue and one weekend into a nationally-recognized festival, landing on the pages of New York Times, Variety, The Boston Globe, Southern Living, Moviemaker, Cinematical, IndieWire and FilmThreat!
Attracting filmmakers from across the globe, deadCENTER screens more than a hundred independent films over a five day period in June in seven premiere downtown Oklahoma City locations. Beyond screening world class films, deadCENTER Film Festival hosts a professional panel series and a screenwriting competition for the avid film fanatic. With a projected audience of 10,000 attendees, deadCENTER’s 10th year is set to be its biggest one yet! More filmmakers, more national press, more big names, more fun!
DONATE
deadCENTER Film is a 501 (c) (3) non profit in the State of Oklahoma. Our festival and year round events are made possible by generous donations. Thank you for your time and dedication to promoting independent film arts in Oklahoma.
deadCENTER Festival Committee and Staff
Cacky Poarch- Executive Director
Kim Haywood – Chief Operating Officer
Melissa Scaramucci – Programming Director
Kevin Ely- Programming Director
Ian Peterson-Supreme Allied Overlord of Internet Promotion
deadCENTER Board of Directors
Chairman
Peter Dolese – Director, Arts Council of Oklahoma City
Vice- Chair
Andrea Martin – Lawyer, American Eagle Title Insurance
Secretary
Timothy Fall – Actor/ Writer/Director/ Producer, COO of Yurth.com
Treasurer
Michael Heaton – Vice President, Leonard Securities, Inc.
Members
Barbara Cable – Vice President, Cable Volkswagen Mitsubishi
Robert Castleberry – President, Castleberry & Associates, PC
Eric Dawson – Strategic Accounts Manager, Apple
Karen Delaney – Community Volunteer
Chuck Ferrell – Manager, Ferrell Oil Co., L.L.C.
Taylor Fudge – Business Development Manager, Claims Management Resources
Brian Hearn – Film Curator, Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Jennifer Kiersch – Vice President, Oklahoma Events Inc.
Anthony McDermid – President, TAP Architecture
Chris Salyer – President, CD Warehouse
Melissa Scaramucci – Director/Producer, Crazy Diamond Productions
Jay Shanker – Entertainment Industry Attorney, McAfee &Taft
Marilyn Torbett – Owner, Marilyn Torbett Company
Tracey Zeeck – President, Bumbershoot