35 years ago, a little thing called the Big Muddy Film Festival was started by SIUC students, faculty and community members who had the goal to bring independent, grassroots film and video to the rural Carbondale community that would otherwise be impossible to see. Since then it has become one of the most widely-recognized independent film festivals in the United States, boasting alumni like Jim Jarmusch, Robert Frank, James Benning, Trihn T. Min-Ha, Don Hertzfeldt, Leighton Pierce, Tony Buba, and Michelle Citron. This year's festival continues the tradition of bringing critically-engaged independent cinema to the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale with competition films and videos from over 60 filmmakers from around the world.

The Big Muddy Film Festival is ever-grateful to the students, faculty, staff, community members, and small businesses who work hard to make this festival something we feel is a living, thriving asset to our city and neighboring towns. Join us for five days of the world's best independent and underground film and come support independent filmmakers from around the globe.

Roll up yer sleeves.
Get into the mud.

Best wishes,

The Big Muddy Film Festival Executive and Planning Committee