Here's how 'Electric Jesus' made its way to Aberdeen for the South Dakota Film Festival

The journey of "Electric Jesus" making an appearance at the South Dakota Film Festival started a couple years ago.

That's when Dan Cleberg, owner of the Red Rooster Coffee House, started following the film and provided support for its Kickstarter account. Cleberg is one of four hosts of this year's festival, which begins Friday at the Capitol Theatre.

"Electric Jesus" will be shown during session eight, which begins at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Storyline about Christian rock band was a draw

Cleberg said when he heard the film was about a Christian rock band it brought back memories.

"I was in a Christian rock band in the '80s," he said.

That band, which played in 1985, was called The Realm. In watching the film, he said, he sees a little bit of himself.

"I had all the same T-shirts and posters" of the bands in the movie, he said.

In the film, Cleberg recalls one of the band members listing the music he enjoys. Cleberg said as those bands were named, he recognized all but a few.

"It's a great coming-of-age film," he said.

Film festival has four hosts

The other three film festival hosts are Lori Walsh of South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Courtney Rott, Jr. and Tabitha DeVoss.

Cleberg, Rott and DeVoss are no strangers to the filmmaking process. Both Cleberg and DeVoss made films for the Be Kind Trope Shrine Film Festival in Aberdeen last month. Rott was involved in "Auger Hole," a film that is featured Saturday during session six of the South Dakota Film Festival.

Walsh is host of SDPB's "In The Moment," which she plans to record live from the Red Rooster on Friday at noon.

Festival's honored guests are involved in 'Electric Jesus'

"Electric Jesus" is a feature-length film at this year's festival, and several people who were involved in the making of it will be honored guests this weekend. They'll also sit down for an interview with Walsh.

Guests include "Electric Jesus" actors Shannon Hutchinson and Wyatt Lenhart, director Chris White and composer of music Daniel Smith. Not only will they answer questions about the movie after it's shown, but a live musical performance is expected featuring songs from the film.

Brian Baumgartner, who plays Kevin in the TV series "The Office," was expected to attend as well, but ran into a scheduling conflict. He's another actor in "Electric Jesus."

Many representatives from other films will be in Aberdeen

Film festival Executive Director Steven Huber said between pre-recorded videos from film representatives and live appearances, this year will feature the most interaction from those involved with films during an in-person festival.

According to the schedule, 30 film representatives submitted a supplemental video about the show that will be shared after the film.

Those pre-recorded videos about the films were a key component the last two years when the South Dakota Film Festival was online only.

"This year, we decided to combine it," Huber said.

He said it's those conversations with the producers of the films that sets the South Dakota Film Festival apart from others.

"That's the greatest part," Cleberg said. "You get a moment with the makers of the film. You get a closer connection."

For example, Matt Fern, the director of the documentary "Fighting Over Sioux," will be on stage for a conversation following the film's showing during session three on Friday.

Several other in-person question-and-answer sessions are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. They'll follow the showings of "Hometown Rodeo," "Whitetail Lake," "The Errand," "Auger Hole," "The Family we Chose," "Kitman," "All I can Do," "Tryouts Today!," "Fresh Faces," "Candied Lips" and "Ball and Vase."

Videos were submitted for "Listening," "Salting the Fly," "Sea of Lights," "444," "Just in Case," "Bad Beat," "Do This for Me," "Homestead," "Sam and Vox," "Gunpoint," "The Long Rider," "Becoming Kaz Smith," "Scene Study," "My Old Pal," "A Brotherly Story," "Something Unseen," "Iqualuit," "Spare Strings," "Cruise," "The Book of Ruth," "Into the Circle," "At Eye Level," "A Biker's Dream," "Below the Rise," "Remnants of Memory," "His and Hers," "A Blue Morning: Conversations Among Artists on Parenting," "Ramen Dojo," "The Social Chameleon" and "To Memphis and Back."

Huber said for the filmmakers of "My Old Pal" and "444," both of whom live in countries with travel restrictions, a video discussion was the only option.

Selecting the films was difficult

Of the films, "Book of Ruth," was selected for the South Dakota Film Festival in 2021, but the makers wanted to share it at an in-person event, so it was held until this year.

Overall, Huber said, he was pleasantly surprised with the number of submissions.

"It was more difficult to pick which 60 to (show)," he said, adding that he could have easily selected another 20 had time allowed.

Return to the Capitol Theatre

The festival returns to the Capital Theatre as a live event this year following two years of virtual festivals because of COVID-19. It features 57 selected films as well five short films that were featured in the Be Kind Trope Shrine Film Festival at the Red Rooster on Aug. 28.

There are four sessions on Friday, four on Saturday and three on Sunday. Each session is about two hours with the full schedule available at the South Dakota Film Festival website.

Tickets for each session are $10 and are available at the door. All-session and VIP passes can be purchased online at www.southdakotafilmfest.org/. An all-session pass is $100, and a VIP pass is $200 and includes admission to all sessions, access to VIP areas and exclusive after parties.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: SD Film Festival returns with three-day in-person event at Capitol