(Just a note before we begin, and to be completely above board, I was a judge for the Omaha Film…read moreFestival for a few years, but this is an unbiased review from an attendee perspective to the festival in categories I did not judge/after I hung up my judging cap!) So I just want to begin by saying, Omaha is VERY lucky to have a film festival like this in our own town, especially one that is so well organized and features local filmmakers as well as national filmmakers. They have even had some Oscar winning shorts shown at the Omaha Film Festival before they won their big awards. The cost of admission is very reasonable for all that you get out of this festival. You can buy individual tickets if there are certain films/blocks you're interested in, or you can spring for the All Films pass and bop from theater to theater to things you like and make up your mind as you go. They have a little something for everyone, like a few blocks of shorts, feature length films, a Writer's Theater where the winning scripts and screenplays are read, as well as Q&As with some of the filmmakers. They've had some amazing guests, such as Shane Black, Mauro Fiore, Famke Jansson, and the animator Bill Plympton. Some of my favorite films I've seen at the festival (ones that you would recognize) were Obvious Child, Hotel Mumbai, and Score: A Music Film Documentary. This is a great way for local filmmakers to get their movies shown to an audience, as well as some larger independent filmmakers who wish to have their movies shown at local festivals, and not just the giant ones in LA or New York. There are also a few things the Omaha Film Festival runners host outside of the actual festival. They refer to themselves sometimes as a "teaching festival" and I can totally see why. They have the OFF Academy which hosts middle- and high-school students for two days of behind the scenes filmmaking processes. They also do a 48-Hour Film Challenge each year, which offers local filmmakers the chance to create a short with a specific prop and line of dialogue. They haven't shoot, edit, and complete it all within 48 hours! So aside from being a fun film festival, they also do a lot for the community throughout the year, and not just during the week of the festival each year. I will just conclude my review by reiterating that I think this festival is a super neat thing we have in the Omaha community, for film lovers or just people looking to try out a film festival for the first time!

I went in 2023 and was really disappointed. It just didn't seem very well done. It all had a made…read morein a garage feel to it.

On it's way to being a great fair. Pictus was amazing, there was a full schedule of events, and the…read morevendors were extremely friendly. Lots of kids activities and the whole family enjoyed the joust. We will be back next year and hope to see some new acts and vendors!

There was a semi trailer display here on the ground grounds and it was pretty impressive. We did…read morenot go inside. But we were able to look at a variety of trucks. The grounds were pretty impressive. Everything was well handled and situated.

It was nice to have parking at the events center. It was $5 for general and $15 for VIP. On a rainy…read morenight that was great. You can even bring in a large purse - mine is 13x10x4. That was MUCH appreciated. They have the usual food and beverages and they were decent. Staff were very friendly. Restrooms were clean. My only complaint were the seats. I am 5'5" and my legs were smooshed against the seat back in front of me. The seats would have been great with a little more leg room.

I wait all year for La Festa Italiana! It now has a permanent home at Il Palazzo on 132nd, just…read moresouth of Fort. There is paid parking in the main lot or free parking in the neighborhood and down at the ball fields with a shuttle to transport. I don't mind paying a small entry ticket price because there is a lot of entertainment, both inside and outside, including live bands, dancing, food demonstrations and a fireworks show on certain nights. They have a huge variety of Italian foods with various booths or an all in one food line. Pizza, pasta, calamari, scampi, sausage and peppers, gelato and fried dough! Plus a lot more that I am forgetting for the time being. You can also buy some Italian merch, grab a drink from multiple bars, watch some bocce ball tournaments, play pickles and let your kids play in the entertainment zone. Everyone should be Italian at least once a year!

Always a joy the event and come every year. Good music, food and plenty of places to sit outside…read moreand a few places to sit indoors. Nice people always here too working or volunteering. Seems to be the perfect size place for this 2-3 day event.