Local film society plans 3-night retrospective for Oklahoma director

Oklahoma has served as a backdrop for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The state has seen its fair share of talent from Sylvester Stallone to Martin Scorsese, but one accomplished filmmaker has roots right here in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City filmmaker Mickey Reece has directed dozens of shorts and feature films, receiving acclaim at festivals across the world. River Lunsford of the Oklahoma Film Exchange says Reece hasn’t forgotten his origins in the heartland.

“He is always…pushing the artistic boundaries of what film can be,” Lunsford said. “Always staying true to that local filmmaker vision…never forgetting where he’s come from.”

Lunsford said that Reece has received retrospectives in New York and Los Angeles, but never in his home state. The Oklahoma Film Exchange wanted to change that.

“A couple of us have either worked with Mickey or are really good friends with him,” Lunsford said. “He has a filmography of over 30 films, and this is the first time he’s ever had a retrospective in Oklahoma City. Just no one has seemingly given him the opportunity…so we’re really excited to be able to do that.”

Lunsford and the team at the Oklahoma Film Exchange aim to boost the city’s film community with regular screenings and discussions. When Reece showed up to a recent screening, they knew he would be an ideal choice for a retrospective.

“He came out to one of our screenings a couple weeks ago,” Lunsford said. “We always try to host or moderate post-screening discussions where people can share their thoughts. And he was certainly an active voice. Just him being in that space, like, interacting in the ways that we have set that space up to be, it’s perfect. It’s the perfect match.”

The Mickey Reece retrospective is a part of The Oklahoma Film Exchange’s ongoing fundraising campaign, “Keep Film on Film Row.” This project aims to preserve the iconic Film Row screening room (which has been renamed the Oklahoma Film Exchange).

This space was established over a century ago to distribute film reels. The Oklahoma Film Exchange is the last film exchange left in the country.

Lunsford said events like the Mickey Reece retrospective help raise awareness about this important cultural cornerstone. “This is a serious project for us to keep this very important piece of history and art in the city operational, and keep it as it has been for 100 years,” Lunsford said. “(The fundraiser) is going to continue in perpetuity…until Film Row has been saved…and we can 100% guarantee its longevity.”

The retrospective will run from January 15 to 17 at the Oklahoma Film Exchange. Lunsford encouraged Oklahoma City residents to get out of the house and celebrate a local artist in person.

“I think there’s a little something for everybody in this retrospective,” Lunsford said. “This is a really big opportunity for us to celebrate this local filmmaker and build these roots in the community.”