Syracuse Film Festival's economic impact grows

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Apr 06, 2007 by Palmateer, Paige

SYRACUSE - Now entering its fourth year, the Syracuse International Film Festival is well known for bringing a taste of international film culture to the Central New York region.

The less obvious impact of the festival is economic. The increased numbers of people staying, dining, shopping, and visiting downtown result in higher revenues for area businesses, organizers say.

In 2006, the film festival generated more than $1 million in collateral economic benefits to the Syracuse community, including increased business at hotels, restaurants, and shops, according to Christine Fawcett Shapiro, managing director of the film festival. Shapiro is executive director of Point of Contact, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization sponsored by Syracuse University that oversees the festival, an art gallery, and two publications.

"I think the festival has a pretty good economic impact," Shapiro says. "Visitors from all over the United States and Europe stay in Syracuse for four or five days."

Shapiro says that most European visitors are particularly interested in public transportation and street-level shopping.

The Syracuse International Film Festival is the brainchild of Shapiro and her husband Owen, artistic director of the festival and a professor in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University.

The couple knew that Syracuse had a vibrant art and cultural community, with well-attended performances by the Syracuse Stage, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, and the Syracuse Opera.

"The second reason we wanted to do a festival here is because we saw other film festivals achieve success in cities the size of Syracuse," Shapiro says.

Shapiro hopes to see the economic impact of the film. festival increase over the coming years.

The first Syracuse International Film Festival was held in 2004 and drew 4,000 to 5,000 attendees. Last year's festival attracted over 8,500 attendees to see 130 films, Shapiro says.

The 2007 Syracuse International Film, Festival will be held from April 18 to 22, with opening ceremonies from April 15 to 17. There will be 120 films screened, with more feature films than in previous years, Shapiro says.

"We are also showing our best films a second time this year," Shapiro explains. "There will be more repeat screenings to give people another chance to see the film."

The film festival has a budget of approximately $350,000 and employs Owen Shapiro as the sole fulltime employee. The festival also employs 10 part-time employees and over 100 volunteers, Christine Shapiro says.

"I think it very important to note that our part-time employees basically work full time and donate much of their time to the festival free-of-charge," Shapiro says. "This is definitely a labor of love by a lot of great people."

The Syracuse International Film Festival also offers great variety, says Steven Becker, the marketing and publicrelations director of the festival, and owner of Premier Promotions.

"It's very rare that we have seen a festival that reaches out to so many [people]," Becker says, referring to the fact that this year's festival features films from 30 countries, including Israel, Argentina, South Africa, and China.

"Each year we see a nice growth as films reach out to different groups," Becker says.

The seven venues showing films are also spread out over the area, making the economic impact of the festival widespread, Becker says.

This year, films will be shown at the Palace Theater, Landmark Theater, Westcott Theater, Bristol IMAX at the Museum of Science and Technology, Redhouse, the Persian Terrace at Hotel Syracuse, and the Gifford Auditorium at the H.D. Crouse building on the Syracuse University Campus.

The festival will also be offering a drive-in theater in the parking lot on the comer of Franklin and East Fayette streets in Armory Square, featuring shorts and animation films on April 20 and 21. Kitty Hoynes pub and restaurant will cater to people who want to order food as they watch the films.

Becker projects 2007 festival attendance to be in the 10,000 to 12,000 range. Ticket prices for single films are $8 for the general public and $6 for students and seniors

Tickets are sold at the Syracuse International Film. Festival's office at 500 South Warren St. in downtown Syracuse, at area Price Chopper stores, and online at www.syrfilmfest.com.