Year: 2024

Today’s FilmFreeway Testimonial: FEMALE Feedback Film Festival

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Deadline Today toSubmit via FilmFreeway:

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“The FEEDBACK Female Film Festival was great. I received a great deal communication from this festival. It was one of the most communitive festivals I’ve encountered yet. I am pleased to have had my film, “He Only Hit Me Four Times” to be chosen for the festival and to have won an award for “Best Story”. As a first-time filmmaker this was an awesome honor. Additionally, the recorded feedback from the festival’s viewers was phenomenal. It let me know that the message that I was trying to relate and the vision that I had for the movie was successful. I and extremely happy with this festival and would recommend it to anyone who want to get an honest review of your film.”

Watch Today’s Festival: DIVERSITY UNDER 5 MINUTE Film Festival

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Watch Film Festival HERE: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/diversity-under-5-minute

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

SEE THE FULL LINEUP OF FILMS:

THE PEACE GIRL, 4min., Portugal
Directed by Patrícia Matos/Rui Duque
A GIRL LIVES HAPPY IN HER SMALL HOUSE. ONE DAY, WHEN WATCHING TELEVISION, SHE REALIZES THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY THE WAR AND DECIDES TO GO HELP!

I Am a Very Special Being, 4min., Denmark
Directed by Marcus Mandal
40-year-old Christian is diagnosed with autism.
He wrote the lyrics for this song about who he is – and he sings it himself.

CLARA, 3min., Portugal
Directed by CENA
Clara was a cheerful and sweet girl. At her school, a group of students teased her all the time. Still, she was not an unhappy child!

The Dream That Sets Us Free, 3min., Portugal
Directed by CENA
Limited by his health, an elderly man feels trapped and unable to fulfill his dream of traveling the world. Unexpectedly, freedom arrives in a moment of sharing.

An Unexpected Friendship, 3min., Portugal
Directed CENA
An unexpected friendship between two animals will create a great hustle in the forest. Who knows how this adventure will end!

The Big Change, 3min., Portugal
Directed by Andreína Agrela;Eduardo Namora ; Matias Oliveira; Jayden Pereira; João Sousa; Liane Aranjuren; Margarida Sousa; Soraia Santos; Matilde Correia; Nancy Paixão; Santiago Gonçalves; Simon Freitas; Tomás Teles; Vitória Ferreira
In a not too distant time, freedom of choice and expression were not acquired rights of a people. A big change needed to happen.

The Cry of the Earth, 3min., Portugal
Directed by CENA
Two planets meet in space and talk about their concerns. One of them is sick and they don’t know if he will get better.

The ocean belongs to everyone, 3min., Portugal
Directed by CENA
The normal day of a family turns out to show that many of the actions we take can have serious consequences for the environment.

Happy Birthday Walt Disney(1901-1966)

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Born
December 5, 1901 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died
December 15, 1966 · Los Angeles, California, USA (complications from lung cancer)

Birth name
Walter Elias Disney

Spouse
Lillian Disney (July 13, 1925 – December 15, 1966) (his death, 2 children)

QUOTES:

[quoted in the book “The Humour of Sex” by Robert Hale] I love Mickey Mouse more than any woman I’ve ever known.

[on the Order of DeMolay, a Masonic youth organization] I feel a great sense of obligation and gratitude toward the Order of DeMolay for the important part it played in my life. Its precepts have been invaluable in making decisions, facing dilemmas and crises. DeMolay stands for all that is good for the family and for our country. I feel privileged to have enjoyed membership in DeMolay.

People like to think their world is somehow more grown up than Papa’s was.

I sell corn, and I love corn.

You know, every once in a while I just fire everybody, then I hire them back in a couple of weeks. That way they don’t get too complacent. It keeps them on their toes.

[to director Richard Fleischer, who made 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) for Disney, on how to be successful] Well, then, why don’t you do as I do? Let somebody else do all the work and you take all the credit.

Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

The proper comedy for the screen is visual. Films try to get too many laughs out of the dialogue. We use pantomime not wisecracks. Portrayal of human sensations by inanimate objects such as steam shovels and rocking-chairs never fail to provoke laughter. Human distress exemplified by animals is sure-fire. A bird that jumps after swallowing a grasshopper is a natural. Surprise is always provocative.

Every time they make a pornographic film, I make money.

Happy Birthday Morgan Brittany

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Born
December 5, 1951 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth name
Suzanne Cupito

Spouse
Jack Gill (May 31, 1981 – present) (2 children)

QUOTES:

[In 2012, reflecting on how her one-minute scene in The Scarlett O’Hara War (1980) changed her career] It’s the search for Scarlett O’Hara and at the very end, I show up and take the hat off and it’s the burning of Atlanta. I want to do that! Are you kidding me? That’s the climax of the whole movie. I want to do this. I don’t care about the money. The money doesn’t matter to me. Here’s what I wanted my agents to do: I wanted them to get me a separate card credit that says “And Introducing Morgan Brittany as Vivien Leigh.” Best choice I ever made in my life! Best choice I ever made! Because of that role, when that movie came out, my picture was on the cover of every supplemental TV guide across the country: “Morgan Brittany as Vivien Leigh.” People put a name to the face that they had seen for years on Ultra Bright, Levis and Ford commercials. They didn’t know who I was, but now they did. That came to the attention of the Dallas (1978) people. It just domino-ed, and it really was meant to be!

[on Natalie Wood] She smoked, constantly smoked. I never saw her without a cigarette, ever.

Happy Birthday Jessica Paré

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Born
December 5, 1980 · Montréal, Québec, Canada

QUOTES:

When the time comes when nobody cares about me anymore and nobody wants to see my face anymore, then that’s fine, too. It’s totally normal.

I’m very much at home in drama and I identify as melodramatic. But I want to do everything. For me the thing that I gravitate toward, other then character and writing, is collaboration. I love the collaborative aspect of television and film, and I like the marriage of technology and craft and art. I just want to keep working.

Happy Birthday Amy Acker

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Watch the best of Films now by signing up for the FREE 7 Day trial. New Festival Daily: https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

 

Born
December 5, 1976 · Dallas, Texas, USA

Birth name
Amy Louise Acker

Spouse
James Carpinello(April 25, 2003 – present) (2 children)

QUOTES:

[1/23/03] I want to be strong and a vampire slayer.

[interview in “Fresno Bee”, 2/4/04, on her Angel (1999) character Fred] Looking back at my character, I’ve gotten to do about 12 different parts because I started out crazy, in a potato sack, in a demon dimension. Now I’m in charge of this multi-million-dollar science lab. The journey between those points has really brought a lot of strength to the role.
[on knowing Joss Whedon before the role of Fred on Angel (1999)] I wouldn’t say I knew much about Joss Whedon, but I did know about Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997). My boyfriend in college, his roommate and his girlfriend had ‘Buffy’ pizza night every Tuesday. At first I was like, ‘I don’t know about this show, a vampire show,’ and immediately got sucked in. I was like, ‘This is the best writing ever.

Happy Birthday Paula Patton

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Watch the best of Films now by signing up for the FREE 7 Day trial. New Festival Daily: https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

Born
December 5, 1975 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth name
Paula Maxine Patton

Spouse
Robin Thicke (June 11, 2005 – April 14, 2015) (divorced, 1 child)

QUOTES:

If you’re an actress and even one person knows your name, you’re lucky.

If you have the capacity to love, you have the capacity to love anyone.

I’m black because that’s the way the world sees me.

I try not to have too many opinions; I just marvel at the world we live in.

I think the age we’re living in is starting to get scary.

I love cola.

First off let me say, I’ve wanted to be an actress since I was a little girl.

Becoming a mother is the best thing that’s happened to me.

As a little girl I always dreamed of having a cosmetics contract, which was the cherry on top of ‘making it’ in my opinion.

Short Film Review: VOICES FOR MADIDI. Directed by Jonathan Derksen

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Bolivia’s Madidi National Park is considered to be the most biodiverse place on planet earth. The Uchupiamonas people, who call the park home, are in a constant battle against forces eager to exploit the protected area for its hydroelectric potential, hardwoods and gold. In this documentary, we hear from of the eco-warriors at the front lines.

Review by Julie Sheppard:

The short documentary film, Voices For Madidi, highlights the striking beauty and biodiversity of Bolivia, notably the Madidi National Park.  This piece is a feast for the eyes and ears as we are guided into this park of gorgeous foliage, shining waters and a multitude of creatures living there. We are privileged to hear from local people who serve in roles such as guides, lodge managers and nature experts. 

There are impassioned speeches by those who want to keep the area protected from threats to its wonderful ecosystem, such as hydro dams that, in their making, destroy wildlife creatures and their forest homes, and mining companies that dump toxic mercury in the waters. 

The cinematography is breathtaking with many extreme close ups — especially of a wide variety of colourful native birds. It also allows the viewer to see the lush expansiveness of the park with the use of drones, along with helpful CGI names that are superimposed over the footage of various landmarks. 

This stunning place is described by a narrator whose voice is kindly and gentle, which serves this lovely film well. Voices For Madidi is a must see for anyone who cares about protecting our beautiful planet, including this biodiverse jewel in Bolivia.

Filmmaker Eric A. Eisenstein (BLUEBERRIES)

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BLUEBERRIES, 24min., USA
Directed by Eric A. Eisenstein
Terrance needs to convince his fiancé, family and friends he does not have a drinking problem. But can he convince himself?

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The motivation for this film was pretty simple. As of this writing I am 345 days sober. I was always the “fun drunk” who thought everyone laughed at everything I said, when in reality i was obnoxious and a know it all. I knew i was spiraling down a dangerously stupid path. Finally I made the decision enough was enough and headed to Florida for a month of rehab. When I came home, I was changed…for the better…but changed. What I didnt realize at the time was how the necessary changes would effect those around me. As it turns out, there were people close to me that liked drunk Eric better, and I wanted to explore that with this film. Along with writer/actor Josh James, I put the story in the context of a young couple who’s future is in jeopardy becasue of all the changes in the character’s life, as opposed to making it about a sixty eight year old man who has already done plenty(me)..

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

This film was originally made for a forty day festival, so from idea to finished product was pretty much forty days.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Thought provoking ( i know thats a cliche’, but thats the hope)

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle we faced was that the prssure would have me drinking again (thats a joke:) Actually, thanks to good planning this film was basically obstacle- free and quite a fun shoot. The only obstacles really were the restraints of a forty day festival, such as scheduling and time restrictions on different elements such as editing.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

My initial reactions was that people GOT IT, which is always a big fear, that people will say “what the hell did I just watch.”

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I ALWAYS wanted to make films. Unfortunately i was sidelined by a forty year career as a television cameraman and director. Now in retirement from TV I can spend my time telling fun, meaningful narratives such as BLUEBERRIESS.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

The original 60’s “Planet of the Apes” with Charlton Heston in all likelihood . The chase through the ” museum” with its surprise climax and of course the ending of the movie is an all time classic.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I love the interactive-ness and communication of this particular festival. The audience feedback is a fantastic plus.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

FlimFreeway has been a revelation to say the least. It opned up a whole world I did not know existed.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Favorie meal. A big old Porterhouse steak.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I just finished principal shooting on my next film, entitled LOUSely Based. It’s based on a true story of a 31 Year old man with Asperger’s Disease that wants to be an actor. People will hopefully find it heartwarming and a mix of comedy and drama similar to BLUEBERRIES. We have two more shooting days in early 2025 then off to the editing races. My goal is to make one film a year that sends messages of hope and positivity. spend the rest of the year watching my grandkids grow and traveling the world

Filmmaker Graham Birch (AN ADVERT FOR ONE NIGHT)

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AN ADVERT FOR ONE NIGHT, 15min,. UK
Directed by Graham Birch
Lisa responds to a newspaper advert to meet Sarah in a hotel room for a night. They meet and have a wonderful night that sadly uncovers that one was badly abused and the other is currently suffering serious mental and physical bullying from a partner. Will this allow them to bond? What will they do?

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My friend was going through an abusive relationship at the time and it was terrifying. He was psychologically destroyed. So I flipped it to the more common female perspective as it is simply not acceptable. Domestic abuse isn’t just physical. It’s wider than that and destroys people.

I also wanted to highlight the dangers of getting drunk and thinking you are in control of a situation. I want people to watch the film and maybe question if they should go home with that person. Particularly when you are young and at a night club. I always tried not to let my friends go off alone (male or female) as there are people who are simply not good.

I also wanted to create a film of exquisite beauty and use the lighting to enhance everything. You’ll notice that the colours change in the film, sometimes suddenly, sometimes from scene to scene. Showing differing emotions and settings.

The actors were incredible and allowed us to really focus on the environment and lighting.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Very quickly! 4 months!

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Powerful Revelations

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Funding! It always is!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was delighted. I felt that they understood my message and how I wanted the feel of the film to be. They were true to what I wanted to achieve and I’m very grateful to the reviewers for taking the time to watch the film and also to vote it as best short

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Since I was very young. However, I only started in 2020 during the pandemic!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Predator – I apologise but Arnie is my hero. When I was young I was bullied relentlessly and I looked at Arnie as my motivation to get through it.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Networking opportunities would be great.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Very good. I do feel that some festivals don’t take some submissions seriously but this festival has been amazing and very open with it’s entries.

10. What is your favourite meal?

Steak and Chips. Fillet steak though!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I have 3 feature films and 3 other shorts that I need to get finished! All are powerful. A WW2 film in German occupied France. A Gen Z film about mental health. A thriller about women’s mental health.