Author: festreviews

Today’s Writing Festival Deadline: FREE POETRY CONTEST

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All entries get their POEM shown on this website. AND, you can submit your Poem to be made into a MOVIE.

Submit on the Main page: https://festivalforpoetry.com/

GET YOUR POETRY SEEN. SUBMIT ANYTIME

The RULES are simple:

1. Write a POEM. Send it to this contest for FREE and it will be POSTED on this site guaranteed for 100,000s to see. (you own all rights to this poem and whenever you want it taken down, send us an email).

2. Email your POEM to submission@festivalforpoetry.com in .pdf, .doc, .wpd, .rtf, or .fdr format or just cut and paste it into the body of the email.

3. SUBMIT as many poems as you like. (NOTE: One FREE poem per person. If you like to submit multiple poems, please let us know and we’ll give you price quote.)

4. Let us know what GENRE each of your submitted poems falls under. (as many genres as you want). Angry, Cocky, Dark, Death, Family, Fear, Friendship, Funeral, Funny, Hope, Hurt, Inspirational, Kids, Life, Long, Love, Motivational, Painful, Personality, Philosophical, Political, Pressure, Redemption, Relationships, Religion, Revenge, Rhyme, Romantic, Sad, Sexy, Society, Work. OR YOU NAME YOUR OWN GENRE!!

Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: TORONTO Documentary Feature & Short Film Festival

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Over 50 FIVE Star Reviews!

EW OPTION: For limited time – Option to submit and garner an automatic acceptance of your film. Agenda is to create exposure for the filmmaker and their film!

With that acceptance, you will receive an audience feedback video. a written movie review on festivalreviews.org, and a blog interview.

Submit via FilmFreeway:

Since 2016, the FEEDBACK Film Festival has been showcasing the best of Documentary Short Films. We now will be showcasing a Documentary Film Festival every month in the heart of downtown Toronto at the Carlton Cinemas.

We have created a hybrid festival with 4 tiers to enhance your film and your festival experience. All accepted films receive all four tier options:

Tier #1 – Your film plays at a private festival event where the audience will record their comments/reactions to your film on their camera or phone, then we edit them and send you a promotional video. No matter what you will receive a promotional video of your film of people commenting on your film.

Tier #2 (optional) – We put up your film live on our FILM FESTIVAL APP for 24 hours and invite a select industry audience to watch it. With this system, some films have already received a distribution deal as many platforms are looking for solid feature and short documentaries. We can not guarantee anything of course but this has been very helpful to many in the past. (see testimonials below)

Then (Tier #3) we will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your film. Then after that (Tier #4) we will set up a podcast interview on our popular ITunes show where will we chat with you about the process of how the film was made.

——

We also will be showcasing winning documentary treatments at our festival every single month.

Watch Today’s Film Festival: FASHION Film Festival – May 23/24 event

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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/

Watch the Festival HERE:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/may-23-fashion-festival

See the Full Lineup of Films:

FIRST YOU, THEN I, 3min., USA
Directd by Ashleigh Coffelt
A woman finds herself caught in a toxic relationship, struggling between fighting for herself or disconnecting from the one she loves.

http://www.missashproductions.com/
https://instagram.com/missashproductions

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/first-you-audience-feedback

FORBIDDEN REVERIE, 4min,. China
Directed by Yisong Huang
“Forbidden Reverie” is a groundbreaking 3D CG film that navigates the dynamic virtual realm of Generation Z. Through the characters inspired by the iconic tale of “Farewell My Concubine,” the film sheds light on the struggles, victories, and identity journeys within the LGBTQ+ community. Using innovative Peking opera virtual fashion and compelling film techniques, the project provides a powerful platform for increased visibility and acceptance. “Forbidden Reverie” not only captivates artistically but also challenges societal norms, contributing to a vital conversation on LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance in contemporary contexts.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/forbidden-reverie-audience-feedback

HERCULES RECYCLED 2.0., 79min., USA
Directed by Don Moriarty, Greg Alt
Combining the cheesiest parts of 9 epic “Sword and Sandal” movies
(including “Hercules”, “Hercules Unchained, and “Last Days of
Pompeii”), Hercules Recycled 2.0 is an insane, redubbed hybrid
comedy/adventure set in a future where the power’s run out and the world has collapsed into primal chaos.

http://herculesrecycled2.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HerculesRecycled2

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-hercules-recycled-20

Short Film Review: Déjà Vu. Action/Drama. Directed by Jean Frenette

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Synopsis:

John is convinced he’s been on this planet for longer than his lifetime. This feeling of knowing more than what meets the eye troubles him deeply. To find some peace of mind, he decides to consult an hypnotherapist to dive into his subconscious and get some clarity. This leads him to find some truth in his beliefs: the one that he has been living through multiple bodies, for centuries.

Review by Parker Jesse Chase:

In the action-drama “Déjà Vu,” director Jean Frenette takes the audience on a mind-bending journey through time and consciousness, masterfully exploring the enigmatic phenomenon of déjà vu and past- lives. The film centers on John Monroe (Raphael Grosz-Harvey), a man tormented by a profound sense that he has lived multiple lifetimes. This unsettling feeling propels him to seek answers through hypnotherapy, leading to a revelation transcending his current existence.


The narrative begins with a contemplative John grappling with an inexplicable familiarity of the world surrounding him. His search for clarity brings him to a hypnotherapist’s office, setting the stage for a deep dive into his subconscious. Frenette skillfully utilizes a series of b-roll transition cuts, seamlessly integrating these with John’s voiceover, which draws the viewer into John’s introspective journey through his point-of-view lens.

The film’s depiction of hypnosis is both intriguing and immersive. As John undergoes the session, the story unveils his belief in past lives, supported by vivid, almost surreal, visual storytelling. The Japanese influences (from 1492) presented in the film add a layer of depth and authenticity, enhancing the narrative’s exploration of reincarnation and eternal souls.

One of the standout aspects of “Déjà Vu” is its sound design. The film refrains from excessive or gratuitous action, opting instead for a soundscape that heightens the sensory experience. Every auditory detail—from the subtle ambiance to the intense moments of action—elevates the film, making the viewer feel every moment alongside John.

The film’s visuals are equally compelling. The locations, whether the serene therapy office or the dense, mysterious forest of John’s past life, are meticulously chosen to create a cohesive and immersive world. The cinematography, particularly the extreme close-ups and slow-motion sequences, effectively builds tension and conveys John’s growing paranoia and confusion.

Grosz-Harvey delivers a poignant performance as John Monroe, embodying the character’s inner turmoil and determination with a quiet intensity. The film’s pacing, while brisk, allows for moments of introspection and revelation, culminating in an open-ended conclusion that leaves the audience pondering the nature of time and identity.

“Déjà Vu” is a captivating exploration of the soul’s journey through time, blending action, drama, and philosophical inquiry into a compelling short film. It’s a beautiful piece that not only tells a story but invites the viewer to question the very fabric of their existence. With strong performances, thoughtful direction, and a hauntingly beautiful score, “Déjà Vu” is a testament to the power of short films to leave a lasting impact.

Short Film Review: CHOMP. Directed by Carter Bowden

festreviews Movie Review, Short Film Movie Review

Synopsis:

A young man is challenged both psychically and psychologically when he takes part in an experiment led by a mysterious scientist.

Project Links

Review by Victoria Angelique:

The film, CHOMP, serves an allegory for the danger of being addicted to processed food, what people would do for money and the corruption of science when it’s used for evil. Ryan is warned by Xander that the Doctor performing the experiment is evil, but he’s not sure until he is forced to consume cheeseballs. Their bodies and mental state change before they can even think about the danger they’ve put themselves in and the Evil Scientist thinks it’s funny. 

The set design and cinematography pull the viewer right into the film, instantly invested in what is going on in this laboratory. It seems sinister from the start, with the checkered walls and the only bright color the vibrant orange of the cheeseball. A symbol of the innocence of childhood is used for a wicked science experiment. The reason for this experiment is never revealed, only that the Scientists involved seem to enjoy torturing people. 

The effects in CHOMP are award winning. It makes the viewer feel as distorted as Ryan feels once he consumes the cheeseballs. When the world resets with Daisy and the changed Ryan, it seems back to normal except for a few glitches. It’s as if the audience is in Ryan’s mind, as he regains control of his life to save Daisy. 

This film felt like it should be a feature, with more questions asked then answered. The purpose of the experiment is never divulged. CHOMP is still a great film as it leaves the audience wanting more while being able to have the concept ingrained into their minds. 

Short Film Review: SCREAMING SILENCE. Directed by Kalyn Elizabeth Wood, Hal Waghorn

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Synopsis:

In the hauntingly enigmatic and dialogue-free short film, ‘Screaming Silence’, Elizabeth, a young woman in the aftermath of a traumatic event, navigates her world through a haunting soundscape of everyday noises, which ‘peoples’ her world and forces her to face her reality of circumstances and her fear of reaching out for help. As the audience intimately experiences her journey, Elizabeth’s silence becomes a bittersweet force, echoing the profound emotional depth that empowers her to move forward in an altruistic twist of an ending.

Project Links

Review by Victoria Angelique:

The film, SCREAMING SILENCE, captures the pain and complex emotions a woman goes through when dealing with tragic circumstances. Elizabeth has secluded herself, ignoring the calls from her mother as she deals with whatever happened to bring her to this point. There are some clues that suggest she was either dumped or worse, sexually assaulted. 

Elizabeth is having trouble focusing, her world surreal as she comes to terms with her pregnancy and how she is being forced to deal with this alone as she retreats inside her own mind. Her emotions are a rollercoaster. She goes from terrified and miserable to finally accepting the pregnancy only for the misery to come flying back when she miscarries. The sorrow is short lived as relief sets in, proving that a woman’s emotions are complex.

Long, focused shots set the tone of the film as they depict Elizabeth’s emotional state. It takes a lot for her to do simple tasks such as making tea or even bathing. It’s draining as she forces herself to complete simple chores. The natural sounds aid the uncomfortable tension as she suffers in silence. It’s only after her miscarriage that Elizabeth is able to reach out to her mother and exit her home. She’s finally able to reenter life. 

SCREAMING SILENCE goes through a whirlwind of emotion. It’s a visual essay that shows the world of Elizabeth is complex and there is not a simple solution to end her suffering. Sometimes it is better to get away to think and other times it’s better to scream. This film shows that women often feel forced to deal with events alone, just to find peace in the circumstances of her life.

Short Film Review: AWAITING WONDER. Poem Movie. Directed by Eleana Theophilou

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Synopsis:

A poetic exploration of a love story, of a widower that is going through the lonely journey of coming to terms with the sudden loss of his wife.

Review by Andie Karvelis:

We all know the pain of losing someone close to us. Someone that we love. A person so important to us that when they pass, it’s as if a piece of you went with them. We struggle with processing our grief, all the memories and that ache in our chest that won’t stop.


Writer/Director Eleana Theophilou has created an empathetic film about love, loss and the grievin process. The black and white cinematography fit this piece so well. Cleverly adding in some special effects showing the sea rolling backwards helped tell the story of a husband who lost his wife. Eleana also creatively added in text panes, asking questions and then giving answers so the audience envisioned a preternatural conversation between the couple.


The score was done by Lazaros Hajiandonis and it was really beautiful. It helped complete the emotional connection between viewer and film. This was also performed by Eleana and Paul Mason. On screen they both had such a fantastic rapport, very believable that they were a couple and married for years. Such a poetic look at love, life and loss.

May 2024 – Movie Trailers GENRE Festival

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A showcase of the best new movies and their respective trailers from around the world today.

AUDIENCE AWARDS:
Movie Trailer: LO SIENTO
Crime Trailer: WINNER TAKES ALL: ROYAL FLUSH
Documentary Trailer: FATHOM…THE MERMAIDS
Environmental Trailer: DREAM BIG FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN
Experimental Trailer: IN-CLOSURE
Fan Fiction Trailer: MAX FROST – 2024
Fantasy Trailer: CINDER
LGBTQ+ Trailer: BABY
Movie Pitch: ROSS ISLAND
Mystery Trailer: PAYBACK
Sci-Fi Trailer: SNOW SHADOWS
Thriller Trailer: ALL THAT GLISTEN

LINEUP OF FILMS:

ROSS ISLAND, 1min., DOC
Directed by David Paul

MAX FROST – 2024, 2min., Fan Fiction
Directed by Barry Shear
Max Frost’s Presidential bid 56 years ago lacked a strong campaign video. If he ran today, here’s his campaign trailer.

SNOW SHADOWS, 1min., Sci-Fi
Directed by Greg Ferrara
Trailer for upcoming film, Snow Shadows, in which a woman’s murder manifests itself in the dreams and out of body experiences of a random group of people who desperately try to solve the mystery.
gferrara32@gmail.com

PAYBACK, 2min,. Sci-Fi
Directed by Stephen Huffman
A group of friends stumble upon a corporate secret.

DREAM BIG FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN, 3min., USA
Directed by Peter Vordenberg
The trailer for Dream Big, a documentary about listening rather than talking in order to make progress in our fight against climate change.

IN-CLOSURE, 2min,. USA
Directed by Lawrence Whitener
When do you answer the last pay phone in L.A.? Only when your conscience has nothing to say.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21145432/reference/
https://www.facebook.com/chandicecache/

BABY, 1min., USA
Directed by Lexi Goldi
A young girl surviving in poverty with her drug addicted mother embarks on a brave and brutal journey of self-discovery in hopes of breaking free from generational trauma to find healing, forgiveness, and a life worth living.

https://www.babythefilm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557158995050
https://www.instagram.com/babythefilmofficial/

DREAM FARM, 3min., USA
Directed bty Bryce Mackie
Movie trailer of one man’s quest to find his own dream farm.

WINNER TAKES ALL: ROYAL FLUSH, 1min,. USA
Directed by Noah Crissman
The trailer for the movie within the The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro feature film, Winner Takes All: Royal Flush is the latest sequel in the wildly successful Winner Takes All series about a shadowy billionaire and his loyal accomplice who swindle the world’s best out of their hard-earned winnings. This time around, it’s a high stakes game of poker.

https://www.thehauntingofprincedompedro.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thehauntingofprincedompedrofilm/
https://www.instagram.com/princedompedro/

LO SIENTO, 1min., Sci-Fi
Directed by Mark Braun
stephen – stephenhuffman05@gmail.com

ALL THAT GLISTEN, 2min,. Thriller
Directed by Wayne Hazle
http://www.waynehazle.com/
https://instagram.com/waynehazle
https://facebook.com/waynehazle

FATHOM…THE MERMAIDS, 1min., Documentary
Directed by Catherine Boruch
The series of videos documents the manner in which life has come to a halt, or not, in a city like New York that has always been known for its vibrancy and the hustle-bustle of activity. The lead in the narrative brings in voices from across the spectrum to explore the same premise. This episode follows a mermaid on her first day off the sea of covid isolating on a rock in the east river.

Home


https://facebook.com/cathieboruch

https://instagram.com/cathieboruch

CINDER, 30 seconds, Sci-Fi
Directed by Mark Kravhcenko
The stunning and captivating trailer for the short film “CINDER,” directed by Mark Kravchenko, unveils an enthralling world of intrigue and mystery to the audience. The main character, Cinder, is the finest robot mechanic in Beijing. She encounters incredible challenges and dangers along her path, uncovering secrets that could alter the fates of future generations.
sv22ks@gmail.com

EYES ON US, 4min,. Crime
Directed by llysa Margot Spencer
This spy trailer introduces two CIA agents struggling between love and hate.

EP. 1213 – FILMMAKER RUBEN RODAS (BEFORE DAWN)

festreviews PODCASTS

BEFORE DAWN, 15min., USA
Directed by Ruben Rodas
A top hit-man gets caught in the middle of a betrayal scheme within his contractors

http://www.rodasruben.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ruben.rodas.144
https://www.instagram.com/rubenrodas/

Get to know the filmmaker:

I simply love the Thriller/crime/suspense genre and it’s been a while since I made a film like that, so it thought it was time to do a new one LOL

Subscribe to the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/

https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Festival

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This is a HYBRID film festival with live screenings for the audience feedback video you will receive, plus an optional virtual 2nd showcase to enhance the film’s exposure. Festival also conducts blog and podcast interviews with the filmmaker. We have also started a filmmaker’s WhatsApp group with over 100 joined to date to chat about next project and make contacts etc….

Submit via FilmFreeway:

Submit your ROMANCE or RELATIONSHIP Film or Screenplay to the festival today.

Get your short or feature film showcased at the private festival with the sole purpose of getting the filmmaker an audience feedback promotional video.

– NEW OPTION: Submit for a guaranteed acceptance.

– 8 Film Festival events a year.

– Filmmaker also receives a chance to talk about their film on the Film Festival ITunes Podcast and also do a blog interview.

– All accepted films receive an audience reaction video of how they felt about your film.

Then you can use that video to promote your film to get into more festivals and obtain a distribution deal.

Romance Screenplay Festival happens monthly.

– Full feedback given on all submissions by industry professionals.

– Winners get their script performed by professional actors and made into a video for them.

– Winners also get to talk about their work and script on the Film Festival ITunes Podcast.