10/04/2026
What happens when someone who truly loves movies looks around at his community and thinks, “Why not here?”
For Jarod Rogers, that question turned into the Little Blue Film Festival.
After teaching media at Hastings College and working with students who share his passion for filmmaking, Jarod started imagining what it might look like to bring filmmakers, movie lovers, and curious community members together for something brand new in downtown Hastings.
He connected with the Hastings Community Arts Council. Ideas were tossed around. Plans started taking shape. And now, just like that, Hastings is about to host its very first Little Blue Film Festival at The Lark Downtown.
More than 2,000 films were submitted. Fifty were selected. There will be movies from all over, local filmmaking, conversations with the people behind the camera and a special hometown premiere.
Lucky You, directed by Hastings native Colin Sandall and produced in Hastings, will screen during the festival, followed by a chance for the audience to hear from the cast and crew.
The Little Blue Film Festival is October 16–17 at The Lark. It’s free, open to everyone, and a pretty wonderful excuse to try something new.
Highlights include:
A Friday-night welcome reception beginning at 6 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres from Hastings Cheese and W**e Shop.
Screenings in short film, student film, animation, documentary, and feature-film categories.
A special Saturday screening of Lucky You, directed by Hastings native Colin Sandall and produced in Hastings
A filmmaker Q&A following the Lucky You screening.
A filmmaking roundtable with Lincoln’s Brickline Motion Pictures.
