ABOUT THE FILM
THE FAIR is a feature documentary that gives a modern look at the traditions of the American Midwest, as told through the whimsical world of the Minnesota State Fair.
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Over 12 days in August, approximately 2 million people gather to experience North America’s most popular fair. But what makes this fair in supposed “flyover country” so special? Shot entirely in observational style and edited to take place over a single day from dawn until dark, THE FAIR is a selection of carefully interwoven short stories showcasing the vendors, competitions, and traditions that make the Minnesota State Fair intriguing and magical. Through the filmmakers’ unique lens—to make the familiar strange and to capture Midwestern culture as high art—THE FAIR offers audiences a refreshing look at a beloved institution, and a celebration of the region’s beauty, diversity, and complexity.
With unprecedented access to this iconic state fair, THE FAIR asks with intention: what exactly is the beating heart of America’s heartland?
A Statement From Director Alec Fischer:
"Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, the Minnesota State Fair always seemed like a magical place in my mind. We’d get onto a free shuttle bus, ride 15-20 minutes, and suddenly you were inside an entirely new reality. In high school, I got to peek behind the curtain when I worked for two summers at Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar. Through that experience, I was able to see first-hand the level of complexity, logistics, and passion required to make such an iconic vendor operate, let alone the fair itself. Across 12 days, Minnesotans from all backgrounds, geographies, and life experiences come together to build something truly impressive.
With “THE FAIR” documentary, I aim to capture the majesty, pageantry, diversity, absurdity, and tradition of the fair, while paying homage to the place I call home. I want to give super-fans of the fair access to stories they've never experienced before, while also introducing global audiences with no prior knowledge of Minnesota to this special place. Our stories deserve to be seen on a national and international stage, and through "THE FAIR" I believe this iconic Minnesotan institution will reach and inspire audiences around the world." – Alec Fischer (Director / Producer)
A Statement of Support from The Minnesota State Fair:
"The documentary proposal brought to us by filmmaker Alec Fischer in 2023 stood out in its vision to capture the wide spectrum of unique experiences at the fair. Through the immersive and observational style of filmmaking proposed by Fischer, we believe this film will capture the essence of what makes the Minnesota State Fair special to so many people across the state and beyond.
From his past experience working at Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar in high school to his national award-winning documentary film work as an adult, Alec’s knowledge and passion for the State Fair comes through in his vision for this project. We look forward to continue working with him and his team as they explore all corners of the fairgrounds, and we're excited for this project’s potential to bring our local fair stories to national and global audiences." -The Minnesota State Fair
Meet Our Crew!
Alec Fischer, Director / Producer
Alec is an award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Minneapolis. At age 17, he created a short documentary titled MINNESOTA NICE? addressing the rising suicide rates of high school students in Minnesota. For his youth advocacy and storytelling work, Fischer was named a global Dalai Lama Fellow. His most recent documentary series, COVID CONFESSIONS, highlights the stories of 330 workers across 40 industries in Minnesota impacted directly by the COVID-19 pandemic. The series won an EWA National Award for Education Reporting, was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award, and received 17 Upper Midwest Emmy Award nominations (winning 5).
In 2023, Fischer signed a distribution deal with Snapchat for two original series and was included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his work bringing Midwestern stories to global audiences. In 2024, he was named a global finalist for One Young World’s “Journalist of the Year” award and was selected as a National Fellow by the Education Writers Association.
His favorite MN State Fair food is the pack of Oreos from the Deep Fried Candy Bar stand.
Christine Delp, Co-Producer
Christine is an award-winning documentary producer and sociologist. She recently produced the 2023 documentary series BURDEN OF PROOF (HBO), which received Critics Choice and International Documentary Association Award nominations and has been licensed to numerous broadcasters/streamers worldwide. Credits also include SANTUARIO (PBS, Al Jazeera), the Emmy- and James Beard-winning series A CHEF’S LIFE (PBS, National Geographic Europe), and ROAD TO RACE DAY (Verizon go90/Complex Networks). Her work has been supported by Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, Women in Film LA, Working Films, New Orleans Film Society, and the Producers Guild of America.
Her favorite MN State Fair food is Holy Land’s Mediterranean Lemonade.
Ben Enke, Director of Photography
Ben is a South Korean native, and Minneapolis resident. Stumbling into cinematography by accident, he discovered a passion for being behind the camera, blending an affinity for the creative and the technical. He gravitates toward stories and visuals that explore shared emotional experiences, embracing both grounded and abstract visual storytelling to find the images that resonate with people.
His favorite MN State Fair food is the classic bucket of fries from Fresh French Fries.
Owen Brafford, Lead Sound Engineer
Owen Brafford has worked in media production for over 10 years. He’s worked in many fields, including narrative, documentary, broadcast, corporate, event, music videos, and avant-garde and experimental material. He’s worked on nearly 30 features—more than half of which has been in the sound department—and taught a copresented seminar on filmmaking at several Minnesota community colleges. Before settling into audio, he worked in the production, art, grip, and camera departments. He writes and performs music, listens to too much metal, and loves to geek out.
His favorite MN State Fair food is also the classic bucket of fries from Fresh French Fries.
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