In its 20th edition, the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival acknowledges its status as a destination festival.

      Mattie Scariot, the director of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, reflects on her upbringing in Gilroy, California, where she felt disconnected from the film industry.

      “At the age of 10, I aspired to be a film director, but I lived in a community with less than 10,000 residents,” she recounted on Friday. “It was so small that there was only one store where everyone bought their clothes, leading us to arrive at school dressed similarly. That’s how tight-knit it was.”

      Gilroy, known for its garlic and various spices, is primarily an agricultural town. Both the town and the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival have expanded over the years. At the opening gala for the festival's 20th edition on Friday night, Scariot gazed at a gathering of filmmakers from around the globe, who savored local wines in the charming CURA Contemporary Art Gallery in Morgan Hill before continuing the festivities at the beautifully renovated, century-old Granada Theatre.

      The Poppy Jasper festival has made significant progress, much like the communities it encompasses. Founded by film and television veteran William W. Leaman, the festival originally took place in Morgan Hill and was named after poppy jasper stones, which are unique to the area and resemble the shape of poppy flowers.

      Maddie Scariot on Growing the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival

      Since becoming the festival’s director in 2018, Scariot has broadened its reach beyond Morgan Hill to include nearby towns such as Hollister, San Martin, San Juan Bautista, and her hometown of Gilroy. She recognized that the area’s stunning landscape, characterized by beautiful, rolling hills, could help it become a sought-after festival destination akin to those in Santa Barbara and Napa Valley.

      Once a quiet agricultural area, it is now located just south of Silicon Valley, providing an appealing alternative for those seeking a more tranquil, natural lifestyle away from the tech industry. The community still has many locals who work in farming, vineyards, and restaurants, with Scariot pointing out that several Michelin star chefs have recently been attracted to the region.

      Recently recognized as one of MovieMaker’s 25 Coolest Film Festivals, the event blends comfort with innovation. Scariot particularly emphasizes providing a platform for films created by women, people of color, and other historically underrepresented filmmakers. The festival's latest edition features guests and speakers from CAA, Buffalo 8, Festival Formula, among others, alongside Grammy and Emmy winners.

      “Our festival is just as vibrant as any other place in the world, which is the most beautiful aspect – we celebrate not only global films but also our local filmmakers and culture, honoring everything from agriculture and farm workers to our politicians and others who build this community.”

      This year's Poppy Jasper International Film Festival showcases over 300 films, with well-curated programming that highlights noteworthy features, documentaries such as Voices: The Danny Gans Story, and impressive short films like "Clean Girl." On Tuesday, the festival will present a special 3D screening of Amanda Lapore’s The Crown with a Shadow and the Search for Self, and will honor Lapore with its Icon Award, recognizing her as a club kid-turned-artist who has collaborated with figures like Elton John, David LaChapelle, and Paul Reubens.

      The festival attracts talent from various places while also bringing people back home. At Friday’s events at the Granada Theatre, Grammy Award-winning music executive, record producer, and songwriter Randy Spendlove performed two songs, having previously served as president of Worldwide Music and Publishing at Paramount Pictures for over twenty years.

      He remarked that he began his musical journey playing at backyard parties in Morgan Hill.

      “Some of the attendees from those keg parties are here tonight,” he shared before debuting “To the Stars,” a song commissioned for the festival that he co-created with several collaborators.

      For more information about the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, you can visit their website and access our festival coverage here.