Month: February 2015

Interview with Anthony Dowling, Director of the North Carolina Film Awards

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The North Carolina Film Awards is not a festival but the honor of recognition of quality filmmaking for the winners.

Matthew Toffolo Interviews Artistic Director Anthony Dowling:

Matthew: What is the goal of the Film Awards?

Anthony: The Mission of the North Carolina Film Awards is to strengthen the independent film, television and video industry. The NCFA shall identify and recognize an array of talented filmmakers and their movies from across the state, region and nation. Features and shorts, are welcome at the North Carolina Film Awards, bringing in the widest array of artists from different disciplines.

Matthew Toffolo: How has the festival changed since its inception until your upcoming 2015 festival?

Anthony: The North Carolina Film Festival started in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the mid 1970s. By 1979, a departure of the founding members created an opportunity for the Festival to run under the auspicious of the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh until the mid 1980s. In 1995 through 1997, the North Carolina Film and Video Festival was its successor. The North Carolina Film and Video Festival carried on the work of the original North Carolina Film Festival in one hugely important sense that gave it a very clear identity nationally and internationally: It was the nation’s ONLY festival (and juried competition) devoted to the filmmakers of a single state. In 2010, The North Carolina Film Awards revives the efforts of the original North Carolina Film Festival, staged in the late 1970s and early ’80s, and its successor, the North Carolina Film and Video Festival, 1995-97 with an up to date technological advantage. The North Carolina Film Awards focuses on the honor of recognizing quality work by industry winners in filmmaking instead of a festival – venue event.

Matthew Toffolo: How many films are you showcasing at your Film Awards?

Anthony: Our last season saw 27 entries and 25 winners. We had submissions from the United States, Sweden, Taiwan, Italy, Canada and Greece.

Matthew Toffolo: Can you give us a sneak peak of what to except for the 2015 Awards?

Anthony: The Staff and Judges of NCFA look forward to a very sustainable event. We expect NCFA to grow by 20% each year until it gets to a level where both the Staff and Judges deem it just the right size of submissions. The structure of the program is such that as Judges and Staff see opportunities for improvement, we will implement them. We would look at our state of affairs in 2020 and make serious decisions at that time. Ultimately, we would like to see an actual film festival conducted in Raleigh, NC in the next 10 years.

Matthew Toffolo: Is there going to be an overall theme for the 2015 festival?

Anthony: No. We will market the event a bit more, but no overall theme.

Matthew Toffolo: Where do you see your film awards in 5 years?

Anthony: Fairly large with a good reputation in the festival circuit. We value our reputation now, and want to keep it and grow it into a serious player in the independent movie industry.

Matthew Toffolo: What’s the current status of the Film Scene in your city?

Anthony: Raleigh has had several small film festivals. Nearby Durham, NC has the Full Frame International Documentary Film Festival which is awesome!! Additionally there is Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, NC and RiverRun International Film Festival; both of which are excellent venues and have excellent participation.

Matthew Toffolo: What film have you seen the most in your life?

Anthony: ET and Close Encounters of the Third Kind are in a dead heat.

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Matthew Toffolo, Interviewer BIO

Filmmaker of over 20 short films and TV episodes, Matthew Toffolo is the current CEO of the WILDsound Film and Writing Festival. He had worked for the organization since its inception in 2007 serving as the Short Film Festival’s moderator during the Audience Feedback sessions.

Go to http://www.wildsound.ca and submit your film, script, or story to the festival.

Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com and watch recent and past winning writing festival readings.

Submit your First Scene Screenplay by Feb. 5th. Watch past winning readings

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WILDsound Festival's avatarWILDsound Festival

Get your script performed (at least 40 winners) by professional actors:

Get your works showcased at 2015 festival events. Submit the first stages of your film, get it performed at the festival, and get full feedback!

http://www.wildsound.ca/firstscenescreenplaycontest.html

Watch Winning 1st Scene Readings:
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/1st_scene_readings.html

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Interview with Kelly Michael Stewart, Festival Director for Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival

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A weekend long festival celebrating the best in contemporary Canadian horror filmmaking.

http://bloodinthesnow.ca/

Matthew Toffolo Interviews Artistic Director Kelly Michael Stewart:

Matthew: Why is the city of Toronto the perfect fit for what you’re showcasing at the festival?

Kelly: In many ways I don’t think Blood in the Snow (BITS) could have happened in any other city. We have a thriving festival culture in Toronto with over 70 festivals in the city including of course TIFF.

The film scene here is very collaborative and filmmakers really do like to help each other here. I’ve been told from filmmakers from other regions that that don’t get along the way that Toronto filmmakers tend to do. It can be competitive but its rarely done in a backstabbing way here. Part of BITS success comes from the other filmmakers plugging and supporting the films playing at the festival, so in a way I wouldn’t want to do the festival in any other city.

Matthew: What is the goal of your film festival?

Kelly: To highlight the best in Canadian contemporary horror genre films for the fans. For the filmmakers, our goal is to give them an ideal place to launch their films. I’ve always said that premiering your film is like your wedding day or giving birth to your child and you only have one chance to get it right. So our job as festival organizers is to throw them one hell of party for them.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since is began until now?

Kelly: We originally had it at rep cinema in the east end but for the past couple of years we have had it at Carlton, which is ideal for us because it is very central in the city and has large lobby for us to have a vendor village and availability to add additional screenings if we need them. Also our team has grown significantly since its inception in 2012. In our first year I basically put the whole thing together and had a few volunteers helping out. Now we have a staff of 10 along with another 15 volunteers. So it has grown into a fairly large operation.

Matthew: How many films are you showcasing at your Film Festival this year in how many days?

Kelly: As I write this, we haven’t announced our 2015 dates yet but we usually have it over three days in late November and showcase about 8 features and 15 shorts.

Matthew: Can you give us a sneak peak of what to expect for the 2015 Festival?

Kelly: We experimented in 2014 in added an educational component with having a seminar for filmmakers. I’d like to expand that more in 2015. Our festival is very filmmaker focused and want to continue that emphasis.

Matthew: Is there going to be an overall theme for the 2015 festival?

Kelly: We don’t really have a theme for our festival each year. It really is just about getting the best Canadian films to show on screen and put on an amazing event for film fans in Toronto.

Matthew: Where do you see your festival in 5 years?

Kelly: I’d like the festival to be creditable cinematic institution in Canada. Somewhere where filmmakers can count on to launch their films and for audiences know that they are getting the best in brand new genre films. I think we are on our way to achieving that already but I hope that it continues on the path that it is on now.

Matthew: What’s the current status of the Film Scene in Toronto?

Kelly: In a word; thriving.

Toronto gets the nickname “Hollywood North” for a reason with so many film productions being shot here. You certainly don’t make much money making films here but everyone seems to be working all the time and the films tend to find an audience which is good too.

Matthew: What film have you seen the most in your life?

Kelly: Most likely The Godfather.

Matthew: What else are you passionate about besides running this festival?

Kelly: I’m also a film producer and writer. I have two film in circulation at the moment, a short called ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD that has played about 20 festivals so far and a new full length film called LATE NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE that will be playing around the world in 2015. You can find out more info on them both at http://www.threeevilcats.com

    * * * * *

Matthew Toffolo, Interviewer BIO

Filmmaker of over 20 short films and TV episodes, Matthew Toffolo is the current CEO of the WILDsound Film and Writing Festival. He had worked for the organization since its inception in 2007 serving as the Short Film Festival’s moderator during the Audience Feedback sessions.

Go to http://www.wildsound.ca and submit your film, script, or story to the festival.

Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com and watch recent and past winning writing festival readings.

THRILLER/SUSPENSE Stories from the Writing and Film Festival

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WILDsound Festival's avatarWILDsound Festival

WILDsound’s feedback and one-on-one communication got my work to where I felt it was contest worthy.

– Kevin Gebhard, Screenwriter WEECHO (Action/Thriller)

Watch winning stories and movies showcased at the Writing and Film Festival in this genre: Short, Feature, TV Screenplays. Short Stories. Novels. Stage Plays. Poems. Stories from festival made into movies.
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/thriller_stories.html

Submit your writing or film to the festival today:
http://www.wildsound.ca

    Watch the best of Film and Writing from the WILDsound Festival:

Learn more about selection stories showcased at the festival in the THRILLER/SUSPENSE Genre:

1ST SCENE SCRIPT – THE OTHER SIDE
March 2014 Reading
Written by Barb Markusa
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/the_other_side.html

“Restaurant Con Job Scene” from
September 2014 Reading
Written by Ernest Baver
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/restaurant_con_job_scene.html

SHORT STORY READING – STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN IN NEVADA
September 2014 Reading
Written by Katarzyna Kochany
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/strange_things_happen_in_nevada.html

FEATURE SCRIPT – FEATURE: FLEET WEEK: EVANESCENCE
December 2014 Reading
Written by David Redstone
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/fleet_week_evanescence.html

CHAPTER NOVEL…

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Interview with Nora Armani, Artistic Director, SR – Socially Relevant Film Festival NY

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SR(™) Socially Relevant Film Festival New York (Rated SR) – 2nd edition
March 16-22, 2015

SR Socially Relevant Film Festival (™) New York, a new non-profit film festival that showcases socially relevant films with human interest stories as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling. SR(™) believes in promoting positive social change through the powerful medium of cinema.

For details on partner organizations and the festival please visit the festival’s website: http://www.ratedsrfilms.org/

Press and media partnerships:
Delphine Millot, ratedsrfilms@gmail.com
Outreach: Constance Du Bois, outreachsr@gmail.com

Matthew Toffolo Interviews Artistic Director Nora Armani:

Matthew: What is the mission statement of this festival?

Nora: The mission of SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York is to shine the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant, human interest narratives across a broad range of social issues without resorting to gratuitous violence and violent forms of movie making.

Matthew:…

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Interview with Nora Armani, Artistic Director, SR – Socially Relevant Film Festival NY

festreviews Festival Interview , ,

SR(™) Socially Relevant Film Festival New York (Rated SR) – 2nd edition
March 16-22, 2015

SR Socially Relevant Film Festival (™) New York, a new non-profit film festival that showcases socially relevant films with human interest stories as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling. SR(™) believes in promoting positive social change through the powerful medium of cinema.

For details on partner organizations and the festival please visit the festival’s website: http://www.ratedsrfilms.org/

Press and media partnerships:
Delphine Millot, ratedsrfilms@gmail.com
Outreach: Constance Du Bois, outreachsr@gmail.com

Matthew Toffolo Interviews Artistic Director Nora Armani:

Matthew: What is the mission statement of this festival?

Nora: The mission of SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York is to shine the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant, human interest narratives across a broad range of social issues without resorting to gratuitous violence and violent forms of movie making.

Matthew: So it seems like your festival is anti-violence in the movies. Do you feel there is too much violence in Hollywood?

Nora: YES (see my quote in the press release)

“I strongly believe that the violence portrayed on our screens and in video games is responsible for the banalization of evil in our societies and the proliferation of violent forms of communication. Most films today encourage mis-representation, reinforce stereotypes and create an escapist passive attitude in youth and adults towards major social issues. In reverse, simply by focusing more on socially relevant themes, positive social change can be promoted through the powerful medium of cinema.”

Matthew: How did this festival get started?

Nora: See press release:

Nora Armani, Actor/Filmmaker and Founding Artistic Director of SR, created the festival in response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling.

Matthew: Looking at “The Team” of this festival on your website, it’s definitely a majority female influence, which is great and rare to see. Do you also like to showcase female driven stories and filmmakers at your festival that goes with it’s themes?

Nora: Yes, but that is not the only reason. We feel women filmmakers need to be given a chance, but first and foremost we program GOOD films regardless of whether they were made by women or not.

Matthew: 2015 will be your 2nd edition. What did you learn in your first year running a festival?

Nora: That this is a good concept whose time has come or even is long overdue and that audiences will respond when you give them good socially relevant movies and human interest stories.

Matthew: Last year you had spotlights on Immigration, Meditation, Human Loss. Can you give a sneak peak on what your spotlights for 2015 will be?

Nora: We do not have ‘spotlights’ as such this year, but the themes we are covering are:

Gun control & police brutality
Race relations & discrimination
Violence against women & empowering women
LGBT rights
Conflict in the Mideast
The environment & climate change
The US economy & oil rush
Immigration & exile

Matthew: How has the city of New York helped your festival?

Nora: New York is a great town with people who are interested in film, theatre, meaningful entertainment (and some mindless entertainment too) and appreciated socially relevant and engaged content. The festival is easily accessible in Manhattan-based venues and it is pleasure to work in New York city. We also have the support of the Mayor’s Office through the various divisions.

Matthew: Where do you see this festival in 5 years?

Nora: In 5 years we will probably be in more venues and/or over a longer period of time, so we can show more of the wonderful films that are submitted. Also, we would have a more developed industry panels section where filmmakers can learn and mingle with mentors and with colleagues. We are forming partnerships with overseas film festivals, such as International Environmental Film Festival in Paris where this year we have two of the films from our last year’s filmmakers programmed, and also another space in Paris called Commune Image, where we are envisaging having an annual mini SR Film Festival from each year’s favourites.

    * * * * *

Matthew Toffolo, Interviewer BIO

Filmmaker of over 20 short films and TV episodes, Matthew Toffolo is the current CEO of the WILDsound Film and Writing Festival. He had worked for the organization since its inception in 2007 serving as the Short Film Festival’s moderator during the Audience Feedback sessions.

Go to http://www.wildsound.ca and submit your film, script, or story to the festival.

Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com and watch recent and past winning writing festival readings.

NOVEL Loglines and Pitches from Novelists from all over the world

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WILDsound Festival's avatarWILDsound Festival

Read today’s posted NOVEL Pitches:

Submit your own FREE Logline Today:

http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html

    * * * * *

Title: Osama The Demented

Written by: Farzana moon

Type: NOVEL

Genre: History, Drama, War

    * * * * *

Title: WHERE NO ONE WOULD THINK TO LOOK
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/where_no_one_would_think_to_look_by_v_karen_mcmahon.html

Written by: V. Karen McMahon

Type: NOVEL

Genre: Horror/Psychological Thriller

    * * * * *

Title: The Arii
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/the_arii_by_erik_thaisen.html

Written by: Erik Thaisen

Type: NOVEL

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy

    * * * * *

Title: The Shadow of You
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/the_shadow_of_you_by_brenda_iovino.html

Written by: Brenda Iovino

Type: NOVEL

Genre: True story, Romance/Reincarnation

    * * * * *

Title: Ristu
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/ristu_by_nishant_rana.html

Written by: Nishant Rana

Type: NOVEL

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

    * * * * *

Title: Superhighway
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/superhighway_by_james_oldman.html

Written by: James Oldman

Type: NOVEL

Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural

    * * * * *

Title: The Shadow of You
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/the_shadow_of_you_by_brenda_iovino.html

Written by: Brenda Iovino

Type: NOVEL

Genre: True story, Romance/Reincarnation

    * *…

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