Fred Andrews, KC film booster, dead at 62
Fred Andrews, whose larger-than-life personality and enthusiasm for movies and independent filmmaking left a significant imprint on Kansas City, died yesterday. The cause was cancer. He was 62.
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James declared February 24 Fred Andrews Day, in honor of the man who founded the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee in 1996 and worked over the past two decades to advance local film production and exhibition.
When I interviewed him in 2001, he said that Kansas City was a surprisingly welcome place for movies that Hollywood wasn’t interested in making or distributing. He said, “What else are we going to do when there isn’t a Chiefs game?”
Twenty years ago, Andrews had never attended a film festival himself. When he started the Jubilee, he had only a slate of 10 locally made indie films and a word-of-mouth ad campaign. In 1997, 500 attended. The Jubilee went on to book such films as 2001’s Big Bad Love, an affecting adaptation of the Larry Brown story collection, directed by and starring Independence-born actor Arliss Howard. The festival, along with Crosscut Women Making Movies, also brought producer Julie Corman (Da) to town with her husband, “King of the Bs” Roger Corman, to discuss the challenges of making indie films.
In 2008, the Jubilee joined forces with Kansas City FilmFest, and Andrews stepped down shortly afterward, having received a cancer diagnosis. That didn’t stop him from loving films or this city. His debut documentary, KC Crossroads: A Tale of BBQ and the Blues, screened in a rough cut last night at the Westport Coffeehouse . It is scheduled to play at KC FilmFest in April.
M.L. Bass, a producer of that movie, says: “It was about barbecue and the blues, two of his favorite things.” She adds, “He realized there was a need for having screenings for independent filmmakers. Fred made it possible to consider living in Kansas City and being a filmmaker rather than moving to the coast. He lived fully while facing death.”
Veronica Elliott-Loncar, the executive director of KC FilmFest, says, “Fred was a pioneer and a generous creative spirit. He loved filmmakers and movies and worked tirelessly to promote both. He created a wonderful event to celebrate that.”
A memorial for Andrews will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church (9948 Metcalf, Overland Park) at 7 p.m. Saturday. A reception (titled “Until We Meet Again Jubilee Jam”) will follow at the Fireside Room of the Matt Ross Community Center (8101 Marty, Overland Park). There will be an open mike and, in KC tradition, barbecue.
