By Jeff Kenney Citizen editor
This weekend’s first annual Lake Maxinkuckee Film Festival was a natural outgrowth of the work of Uptown Cinema owner Dan Bickel, whose production and behind-the-scenes efforts in film over the past two decades has ranged from small, independent features, to better-known Hollywood features.

“I originally started thinking about a film festival last summer,” recalls Bickel, “when we showed an independent film (at the Uptown) made by some friends. We made it free to see the response, and about 70 people showed up, so it was well received. With the renovation work here at the theatre, (the idea) got put in the back burner. I thought maybe I’d call up some friends and do an unadvertised — except for word of mouth — type of thing.”
The thought struck him that showing a film outdoors in Culver would be fun, and Bickel toyed with the idea of doing so on the side of the theatre building and the fire station parking lot, and then the lower, east pavilion area of the town park, ideas he says he eventually let go. The LMax festival, as it has come to be known, began to take shape when Culver’s Dick Dugger read an article in the South Bend newspaper about a film festival being a good fundraiser for an organization, says, Bickel. “I didn’t know Dick prior to this, and he came to me said, ‘Would you be interested in doing a one-time movie fundraiser?’ From there, it morphed into the current festival it is.”
The event retains its original vision as a single day festival this Saturday showing Indiana-based films like “Best Man in Grass Creek,” “Madison” (which was shot in southern Indiana), and a film Bickel produced in 2005 called “Swimmers,” besides the current release “Mamma Mia!”
The festival committee — a core group supported by a much larger steering committee ­— decided if enough underwriting sponsors came forward, the entire event could be made free to the public, with the purpose of funds being driven to the four townships that the Culver school district covers.
“Our first thought was the food pantry,” Bickel says, “but…I already had done some drives (for that). They were successful, but I wanted to try something else. Dick and I tried to decide who would be the benefactor. Dick called John Zeglis (of Culver), and we got to talking about where the money could go that was being raised. We settled on the idea of helping the four townships with the ‘gift of warmth.’ People can enjoy the entire day, even free food, by simply bringing clothing. Of course, cash donations are highly sought after. We can match funds at local utilities, and get vouchers for people who need fuel oil and that sort of thing. (Lake Maxinkuckee Film Festival, Inc.) is a non-profit 501-C3 charity; all donations are tax deductible.”
In conjunction with the fundraising effort, the festival’s Friday night event is a screening for all sponsors -- private individuals, corporations, or entities -- who participated in getting it started, Bickel explains, at $100 and up. After the Friday night movie, “Mamma Mia!,” guests will retire next door to a tent set up in the fire department parking area, and may enjoy a full catered meal, with beer and wine for all so inclined. “It’s a big ‘thank you’ event for all those who have sponsored the festival,” Bickel adds.
On Saturday, the theatre doors will open at 10 a.m. and films will run continuously throughout the day. The event then will shift to the park in the early evening, where food will be provided, including pulled pork. The Antiquarian & Historical Society of Culver will hold its annual ice cream social, providing ice cream and root beer, with Culver’s Lions Club providing popcorn and candy, all part of the price of admission. Also on hand will be several area bands providing live music until dark. A company from Chicago will set up a 30 foot screen near the west pavilion, where a crowd-friendly musical film will be screened at 9:30 p.m.
Admission to any and all of the festivities is either a goodwill offering or a useful item wearable to ward off the harsh winter weather of the area.
“This being the first annual festival, we hope it’s an event we can build on and as time goes by,” says Bickel. “We hope it will become more of a traditional film fest where there are premieres, and filmmakers are in town, and it becomes a two or three day event with a more national-based outreach. There will always be a charity arm with sponsorship involved, and it will always be local.”
“This is a town that lends itself very well to accepting a film festival and accepting the idea of something that hasn’t been done in the past,” he continues. “Of any town in this region, this one lends itself to new experiences. And be this as it may a very small, controlled event, it’s a start we can build off of. In the long run it will be a great benefit for the community. The whole thing is designed around the idea of bringing in the community, bringing in people who normally wouldn’t attend such an event, and making it accessible.”