Dr. Gregory Carlson is a Professor and Director of Film Studies and Multimedia Journalism, Communication Studies, and Theatre Art at Concordia College in Moorhead. You can find him on the third floor of Olin Center on the Concordia College campus.
Greg completed a BA in Speech Communication (film emphasis) and English at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He also has a master of arts degree from California State University Dominguez Hills in humanities. Additionally, he holds a PhD in communication from North Dakota State University.
“Film has been part of my life since elementary school when I brought my “Phantom of the Opera” program from Silent Movie Night at the Fargo Theatre to show and tell. As a grown-up, my interest in film has been the most significant part of my professional development, from working with the Fargo Film Festival to co-founding the North Dakota Film Society to serving as the film editor of the High Plains Reader.”
Along with Greg’s mentor Ted Larson, Margie Bailly, and a number of, as their official website statement reads, “film lovers, moviemakers and educators, along with tourism specialists, theatre volunteers and staff members,” the Fargo Film Festival began in 2001 following the success of the 2000 Library of Congress Film Preservation Tour, when Janet Leigh visited.
The Fargo Film Festival is focused on quality film experiences that cannot be found in multiplexes or on streaming services. They want audiences and filmmakers to connect through the images on the screen but also in person. The accessibility of the guest artists (who sometimes come to Fargo out of curiosity) is an important feature of the festival. And one of the most important parts of their mission is to genuinely value filmmakers and audience members.
“We hope that guests of all ages will consider attending the Fargo Film Festival if they have not done so before. The FFF serves our community by recognizing cinematic work in many forms and sharing our internal passion and cinephilia with audiences who might never otherwise experience these incredible movies.”
As Greg looks back on the challenges and high points of his journey, he shares “It took a number of years for the Fargo Film Festival to discover itself and its identity. When Oscar-nominated animator Don Hertzfeldt visited as a special guest in 2012, I realized that we had achieved a level of quality that could compete with film festivals twice our size. Making a film festival work is a labor of love that requires the time and talent of many individuals. From executive director Emily Beck to the all-volunteer corps of jurors to the Fargo Theatre staff and the student interns, the FFF – thanks in no small measure to the vision of Margie Bailly – can continue for years and years.”
If you are looking for a way to support the Fargo Film Festival in its next stage of growth, come to one or more of the movies showing during the festival! Greg adds, “Whenever I have the opportunity, I ask people to consider a sustaining Fargo Theatre membership. Even a small amount of financial support goes a long way in preserving a vital part of our community’s arts landscape. I just cannot imagine Broadway without the iconic marquee lit up.”
Along with the official websites of the Fargo Theatre and the Fargo Film Festival, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They hope to meet you March 15 to 19, 2022, at the 22nd Fargo Film Festival!
