A vibrant food event will be followed by a screening of "La Brigade" (2022, Samuel Goldwyn Films), with discussion by creatives and local chefs.

NARROWSBURG, NY — Narrowsburg is home to the deepest part of the Delaware River, a big eddy where two countercurrents swirl to meet each other.
These countercurrents are reflected in the inspiration for the Big Eddy Film Festival, coming to Narrowsburg for its 12th year, highlighting countercurrents in art and voices across cultures and generations.
The eddies’ action of swirling together “creates something deeper than either could by themselves,” explains Kate Bergstrom, returning for a second year as the festival’s director.
The metaphor extends to the weekend’s films and events, where “people can have a moment to reflect and deepen their perspectives with the incredible conversations that happen with art,” she said.
This year’s Big Eddy Film Festival (BEFF) kicked off its Soundcheck on September 23, honoring its connection with Bethel Woods Center for the Arts with a free screening of “Little Richard: I Am Everything, a film that celebrates the queer black imagination and how it has infiltrated rock ‘n roll in a profound way, paving the way for artists like Jimi Hendrix.
The festival blossoms into full form this weekend with events Thursday through Sunday, offering selections for people of all ages.
Thursday is BEFF’s IGNITE feature, back after popular feedback from last year’s IGNITE, held in solidarity with Ukraine.
The night features two films “in support of active engagement with being the change we want to see in the world and in the county,” said Bergstrom.
This year focuses on access to healthy food choices, featuring Sullivan County nonprofit A Single Bite. A panel of local farmers, foragers, chefs and educators will offer discussion as well as food samples in between two films spotlighting food insecurity and culinary empowerment.
Bergstrom said the event is for all ages, and hopes to “empower kids and families to make their own choices around food and agriculture, to have a healthy and thriving county.”
Admission costs $15 for adults; children and students are admitted free. Five dollars of each ticket sold will be donated to A Single Bite.
Bergstrom spoke about the festival’s strong offerings around LGBTQIA and trans justice, using “fun and celebratory ways to uplift makers and conversations about that,” and to continue the festival’s legacy of addressing issues of inclusion and social justice. The director of “Lotus Sports Club,” the opening night documentary feature about a Cambodian LGBTQ+ football team, will be flying in to join the festival this year.
Friday’s films will be followed by a pride-filled DJ’ed dance party at the 108 on Main Street.
Saturday features events for younger filmgoers, with a Saturday morning animation workshop where kids can draw their own animation art on transparent film, “creating a mesmerizing array of colorful dancing abstractions.”
In the afternoon, the documentary “Straight/Curve” pivots to teen audiences, discussing body positivity, and includes a panel discussion with the film cast and crew, moderated by former Rockette Amanda McCormick.
For the adult crowd, last year’s sold-out program Sexy Breakfast returns on Sunday morning. The morning features a diverse selection of sex-positive short films, a pole-dancing workshop, plus mimosas, baked goods, quiche and conversation with Catskills Pride. Bergstrom said the program is an opportunity to think about what it means to really engage holistically with one’s body.
“We had a couple people who brought their first dates to Sexy Breakfast last year and it was so fun. It’s a time to come together and eradicate the taboo around health, wellness and sex,” she said.

Teens and tweens are welcome to the Sullivan County premiere of "Straight/Curve" (2017, Rocofilms), the groundbreaking body positivity documentary …