Steve Fesenmaier

Thursday 11:00 AM

Steve Fesenmaier worked with one of the oldest university film societies in the US at the University of Minnesota from 1972-78, bringing the world's greatest films and filmmakers to Minneapolis on a weekly basis. In 1978 he was hired by WV State Librarian Fred Glazer to become director of the WV Library Commission Film Services section. Steve served in that capacity from 1978 until 1999.

In 1987 the U.S. Dept. of Education chose his program as the model statewide 16 mm film program in the country. The same year he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the WV International Film Festival and was profiled on National Public Radio.

In 1984, he co-founded the WV International Film Festival along with Gov. Caperton and WV Division of Culture director, Bill Drennen. Steve co-founded the WV Filmmakers Film Festival in 2000 in Sutton, WV and is presently program director for the WV film series at The South Charleston Museum on whose board he serves. Steve is  a board member of the WV Labor History Association.  He wrote a film column for “Graffiti” magazine from 1984 until Dec. 2006.
Steve is  presently blogging at the Charleston Gazette. In 2006, he was honored as a "History Hero" by the WV State Archives.