The Roxy is about to get weird in the best possible way.
From November 6 to 9, the Open World Animation Festival returns for its second year, transforming Northampton’s Historic Roxy Theatre into a four-day showcase of imagination. With more than 150 films from 36 countries, it’s a global celebration of creativity that swings from family nostalgia to full-on surrealism.
What started as three filmmakers meeting at a Wegmans café has grown into one of the Lehigh Valley’s most collaborative creative communities. In this episode, George talks with Dawn Daignault, Michael Sheridan, and Vince Stahl, the founders of Route 22 Filmworks — a grassroots filmmaking group that now boasts more than 200 members and an annual film festival at Bethlehem’s Ice House.
We discuss the group’s origins, how they’ve built a space where newcomers and seasoned pros collaborate on no-budget films, and why their festival focuses on showcasing local talent. They also share behind-the-scenes stories, the unique challenges of keeping films under 20 minutes, and why they believe the Valley’s indie film scene is thriving.
Learn more:
🎬 Route 22 Filmworks → http://route22filmworks.com/
🎧 All episodes → www.lvwithlove.com
