A Conversation with Film Critic Kierre Stowes

What makes a movie worth five stars—and how do you turn a love of film into a community? Film critic Kierre Stowes of Sactown Movie Buffs joins Owen Burgess for a conversation about honest movie reviews, independent filmmaking, and the people building Sacramento’s film scene. Kierre shares how movie nights with friends grew into a reviewing platform, how critics gain access to advance screenings, and why audience engagement matters more than follower counts alone. We discuss his approach to accessible film criticism and practical advice for anyone who wants to start reviewing movies. We also go behind the scenes of the Sactown Film Festival: screening at the Esquire IMAX, managing hundreds of submissions, why filmmaker attendance matters, and the advantages of submitting early. Kierre explains the idea behind his 30-day film challenge, its creative constraints, and a championship belt for the winning filmmaker. Then we get into the movies: why Pulp Fiction keeps drawing him back, Quentin Tarantino’s dialogue and casting, Jackie Brown, Christopher Nolan’s thoughts on criticism, and the problem with judging films before seeing them. Kierre shares his take on Michael, why five-star ratings are rare for him, and how streaming and the cost of a night out are changing the theatrical experience. Throughout the conversation, we return to the value of local film communities—and to recognizing the editors, lighting crews, makeup artists, and others whose work makes movies possible. CONNECT WITH KIERRE Instagram — @sactownmoviebuffs   / sactownmoviebuffs   Sactown Movie Buffs https://www.sactownmoviebuffs.com/ Sactown Film Festival https://www.sactownmoviebuffs.com/fil... For current festival dates, submission details, and future events, visit the official links above. CHAPTERS 00:00 Preview: What makes a five-star movie? 00:30 Meet Kierre Stowes: From movie fan to film critic 02:58 Advance screenings, audience reach, and engagement 05:22 Film criticism without the pretension 07:35 Advice for aspiring critics and growing an audience 09:46 Sactown Movie Buffs and giving local creatives a voice 13:04 How the Sactown Film Festival began 16:11 Judging submissions and why filmmakers should attend 18:58 Submission deadlines and the benefits of entering early 20:32 Hosting a festival at the Esquire IMAX 22:35 The 30-day film challenge 25:28 Creative constraints: Runtime, genre, and a required element 27:08 Connecting cast and crew, prizes, and the championship belt 29:41 Pulp Fiction, Tarantino, and films worth revisiting 33:00 Christopher Nolan, social media, and review bombing 37:09 Judging films on their own merits 39:30 Michael and the divide between critics and audiences 41:16 Why Kierre rarely gives five stars 42:15 Streaming and the changing theater experience 43:58 The cost of a family movie night 45:40 Supporting local filmmakers and celebrating the crew 49:02 Where to find Kierre and closing thoughts JOIN THE CONVERSATION What’s a film you would give five stars—and what earns it that rating? Share your pick in the comments. Subscribe to Owen Burgess for more conversations about Film • Literature • Art. #FilmCriticism #IndependentFilm #SactownMovieBuffs #Film #FilmFestival