10 Years of Hobnobben

Hobnobben—the region’s only independent film festival—is back, thanks to the good folks at the Fort Wayne Cinema Center. And this year is extra special. Not only did Hobnobben receive a record amount of film submissions, but it’s celebrating its 10 year anniversary.

This year’s screenings run the gamut from rom-coms to horror, and everything in between. But Hobnobben offers more than just an exclusive look at independent films. There are workshops designed for filmmakers and non-filmmakers alike, networking opportunities for local creatives, and a very special conversation with Lauren Neustadter, President of Film and Television at Reese Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, which “aims to broaden perspective and empower women by giving them authorship, inspiring agency, and creating a platform to help them shape culture and the world around them.” 

To learn more about this year’s festival and what attendees can expect, we chatted with Hobnobben’s Alix Watson, Christie Hille-Ferran, and Amanda Hille. 

Here’s the 4-1-1 on this year’s Hobnobben Film Festival:

Molly: As y’all prepare to celebrate 10 years of Hobnobben, I’d love to take a look back at the festival’s own origin story. What can you tell me about the beginning of Hobnobben, and how it came to be what it is today? 

Amanda: The festival was founded because Fort Wayne Cinema Center felt the need for a film festival in the Northeast area. There is a fantastic independent filmmaker community in our region. With all of the colleges and independent talent that we have, we wanted to make sure that we were celebrating and supporting the community right here in Fort Wayne and throughout Indiana. 

Additionally, short independent films don’t have the same platforms as major feature-length films. Hobnobben is one of the only places in Fort Wayne people will be able to see the films in the festival—they’re not on streaming services, Youtube, or Tiktok. Typically, we get the Oscar-nominated short films to showcase at Cinema Center, but that was the only avenue for independent films. We wanted to create more chances for our audiences to see for themselves how amazing and special independent films are. 

Molly: Now let’s talk about what folks can expect from this year’s festival. What are some of this year’s big highlights? And can you explain the festival experience to anyone who might be new to Hobnobben?

Christi: For anyone new to film festivals, we offer tickets to film blocks that can be purchased online or at the box office. But we also offer day passes. Once you purchase a day pass, you can log into our system to reserve all of the screenings that you want to see. Our opening celebration showcases local and Indiana films, and has been a great way to open the festival for the past several years. Additionally, we have workshops scheduled during the festival for anyone who is interested in any aspect of filmmaking. This year, we’re especially excited about the Conversation with Hello Sunshine Executive, Lauren Neustadter on opening night at Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s production company.

Molly: That’s so exciting! I’ve heard that you received a record amount of movie submissions—that says a lot about the demand our community has for an independent film festival. Why is Hobnobben so important for the Fort Wayne community? 

Alix: This year we have 165 films, from 43 countries, in 30 languages.

We very much lean into our tagline: See and be seen. Representation matters. We continue to believe that. No matter who is attending our film festival, we want them to see and be seen; we want them to feel seen in our programming, and we want them to experience the myriad of human experiences beyond their own life, country, identity. 

In addition to providing a chance for people to see stories from diverse, independent filmmakers, it allows us to celebrate their unique stories. And we are very much about celebrating stories and storytellers. 

I’ll use one block as an example. Our rom com block, which we’re calling “LOVE ♥️ LOVE,” has eight films in it from four different countries. Several of them are student films, one is animated, one is part animated, part live-action, one is a musical about going “back into the closet,” one began as part of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge — I could go on and on about just that block. And that’s just one of more than 30 blocks of films we have. 

Molly: I love it! Sharing stories is so important to the human experience. Can we talk a little bit about Fort Wayne Cinema Center? Hobnobben would not exist without Cinema Center. And as a nonprofit arthouse theatre, Cinema Center would not exist without community support. How can all the cinephiles out there show their support for Cinema Center, so that events like this can continue for decades to come? 

Alix: Attend the festival and interact with the filmmakers who are also attending! Buy a t-shirt or other merch! Become a member of Cinema Center! Subscribe to our newsletter so you can see the rest of our amazing year-round programming! Donate! Volunteer! Sponsor a community screening! Advocate for Cinema Center and Hobnobben among your circle! There are so many ways to show support! 

Amanda: All very great ways to get involved, Alix! One of the biggest ways that you can support Cinema Center and Hobnobben is to become a monthy member. Memberships are the best way for the community to help sustain our organization because they provide regular funding that we can count on year round. 

Molly: Noted! Is there anything else you want people to know about this year’s Hobnobben? 

Alix: Everything in the festival is open to everyone who wants to attend, and we’ve priced it to be as accessible as possible. If you can only attend one day, a day pass is $30, which will allow you to see as many as seven films or seven blocks of films. 

Workshops are for everyone too—not just filmmakers. They are a great place to meet creatives, network, learn what is happening in the community, and stretch your creative muscles. 

For workshops, we have the following: 

• Filmmaker Speed-Dating: Attend a networking event to connect with and meet other accepted and attending ​​filmmakers and creatives
• Interactive Writing Workshop: Join filmmaker and producer Victoria Britton for this interactive writing workshop. Be prepared to write, share your script with others, and share feedback with your peers – with the guidance of seasoned screenwriters and producers.
• Camera Builds with PUNCH Films: Talk gear and build-outs with industry peers and experts: Are you a documentary filmmaker or a creator of short horror films? What camera gear makes the most sense for your budget and your genre? Join Derek Devine of PUNCH Films in this conversation for both up-and-coming and experienced filmmakers on the gear they rely on. Come prepared to ask questions and share your experience.
• Film and Media Tax Credits: Discuss the evolving language and procedures on film and tax credits in Indiana. What will things look like in 2026? What has changed after the latest bill passed earlier this year? 
• Conversation with Hello Sunshine Executive, Lauren Neustadter: Join us in opening Hobnobben Film Festival with Lauren Neustadter, President of Film and Television at Hello Sunshine. Since joining the company in 2017 as Head of Film and Television, she has executive-produced numerous television projects, including three seasons of The Morning Show, three seasons of Truth Be Told, and Little Fires Everywhere. She also served as a supervising producer on Season 2 of HBO’s Big Little Lies.

About Hello Sunshine: Founded by Reese Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine is a media company that puts women at the center of every story we create, celebrate, and discover. We tell stories we love—from big to small, funny to complex—all shining a light on where women are now and helping them chart a new path forward.

Don’t miss the 10th annual Hobnobben Film Festival at Fort Wayne Cinema Center—happening October 23-26! 

To see a full schedule of this year’s festival or purchase passes, visit Hobnobben’s website. 

To support or learn more about Fort Wayne Cinema Center, visit their website!