festival deadlines

Interview with Festival Director Tadd Good (Snake Alley Festival of Film)

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The Snake Alley Festival of Film is dedicated to showcasing the best short films from around the world. Films will screen at the beautifully restored Capitol Theater in the heart of downtown Burlington, Iowa.

snakealleyfestivaloffilm.com/
Interview with Festival Director Tadd Good:
Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Tadd Good: The Snake Alley Festival of Film brings together filmmakers from all corners of the world to network, learn, and enjoy each others films. Many professional and personal relationships have blossomed out of our little film festival. Our festival is all about the filmmakers and giving them an outlet to show their hard work to other like-minded people.

MT: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

TG: Our festival includes several blocks of short films, live screenplay stage readings, and this year we are working on workshops and guest speakers. We also organize after-parties for each night, and an awards ceremony to wrap up the event.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

TG: SNAFF accepts short films from almost every genre of film. The length limit is 45 minutes.

MT: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

TG: I think all of the local film festivals I’ve attended keep an open mind.

MT: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

TG: Our love for film and our local community is what motivates us.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

TG: Since our inceptions we try to grow each year. We look at what works as well as what doesn’t work and try to find a balance. We’ve definitely grown in number of submissions.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

TG: Bigger and better. We want to be a festival filmmakers remember and return to each year.

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

TG: John Carpenter’s Halloween.

MT: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

TG: A great story told by a passionate filmmaker.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

TG: Our film scene is slowly growing. I actually program film at our local non-profit theater, so we’re trying to do more cult films, anniversary showings, and bigger events.

 

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Fesival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Robert David Duncan (Miniature Film Festival)

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The Miniature Film Festival is exactly what it sounds like – a small celebration of small films. We want to acknowledge and promote filmmakers from around the world who make one-minute micro short films. Our inaugural event in 2015 was held at the beautiful Barclay Manor heritage venue in Vancouver. Now in our second year, we are remaining true to our roots as a small scale festival that helps create a community for tiny films and the ingenious filmmakers who make them – a miniature festival for miniature films!

Check out our festival listing here: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/MiniatureFilmFestival

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Robert David Duncan: We are succeeding at creating a worldwide community for makers of one-minute micro short films, and the people who love those films. I also suspect that we are the first set of Official Selection laurels for many of our participants, because we seek to include films as much as possible, since there is no right or wrong way to tackle a one-minute film. Filmmakers also have a chance to meet one another at our screening event, but perhaps even more importantly, we provide a hub on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MiniatureFilmFestival/) and Twitter (@miniatureFF) where they can connect up around the world and form a network.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

Robert: If you can make it to Vancouver, you will experience an intimate gathering by filmmakers for filmmakers with the public welcome too. The films will be screened in our attractive heritage venue, and there is an opportunity for attending filmmakers to introduce their films and do Q&A. Our screenings are in a great location in downtown Vancouver, and the discussions and friendships can flow out into neighboring attractions such as the Seawall, English Bay and Stanley Park. We also award prize laurels for the films we consider to have been the best of the festival.

Matthew:  What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Robert: All films have to be one-minute or less in length, with 60 seconds being a bullseye. I personally watch each film and do the programming myself. Although I am always open to new approaches, I do have a preference for films that have a strong story or message, and get that message across effectively. If the film affects me, makes me laugh, smile, cry or think, then that is a good sign! A minute isn’t a lot of time to work with, so any special effects or music really should support the story and not detract from it. One of my mottoes is that “constraint breeds ingenuity,” and I am always impressed by the ingenuity of filmmakers out there.

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Robert: I’m a filmmaker myself, and have had really good experiences with festivals. I think filmmakers taking the time to target the right festivals with the right offerings helps minimize disappointments all around. On the festival side, I think it is a good practice for a festival programmer or festival director to see each film, and not “job out” the selection process so much that new and innovative approaches get weeded out by an inexperienced set of eyes. This is why I see each film myself, and filmmakers can know that their work was seen by me. Finally, I think every festival can be courteous to its entrants by honoring deadlines, and communicating the results in a friendly and supportive manner. Tools like FilmFreeway make this very easy.

Matthew:  What motivates you and your team to do this festival? 

Robert: Being a filmmaker, I remember how thrilled I was when my first micro short film got accepted into a festival and I received my first ever set of Official Selection laurels. I wanted to spread that happiness and encouragement around, and decided to create a “miniature festival for miniature films.” I operate very much from a punk/DIY ethos, and believe that everybody has a story to share, and that they should just pick up their phone or whatever gear they have lying around and bash out a film, like the early punk rockers bashed out songs. It’s a labor of love for me, and has become a fun part of my busy annual calendar. I also wrote a book called “Micro Short Filmmaking: A guided learning journey” and I teach classes in order to help spread the message that anyone can and should make a film.

Matthew:  How has the festival changed since its inception?

Robert: Interestingly, my challenge is to keep the Miniature Film Festival miniature! Everything seems to have a natural tendency toward getting bigger, which is not what I want. I want the festival to always be financially self-sustaining, so that I can self-manage it and not need to rely on grants or other sources of funding. We operate with a small, no-frills budget that comes from our entry fees, and that pays for the venue rental and miniature cupcakes, which have become our signature event snack. We offer a no-fee window at the beginning of the season that helps make the festival accessible to a lot of people, and we publish deadlines before we stage in our fee increases, which I feel are are very modest and reasonable.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Robert: Still miniature! Seriously, I see us building out a longer day of events that could include a teaching and filmmaking component. We are also collaborative colleagues with other festivals, and we help each other out with guest speaking and additional screening opportunities for some of our winning films. I could also see our festival traveling, and popping up in different locations over the years. But mostly, I want to be consistent in creating a fun little festival that celebrates filmmakers and builds community.

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

Robert: Hmmm… tough call! I’d have to say between “When Harry Met Sally,” “Moonstruck” and “The Godfather: Part II” that “The Godfather: Part II” would have to win. I can watch movies like these endlessly.

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Robert: A story that moves you, makes you laugh, cry or think, and that keeps returning to your mind after seeing it.

Matthew:  How is the film scene in your city?

Robert: Vancouver is an amazing and beautiful place to make films. There is a great indie/DIY spirit here, and plenty of talent and gear floating around. I have been very fortunate to work with a wonderful collection of talented people over and over again, to the point where I can often write scripts with specific actors in mind. The only real challenge is our legendary rainfall, which makes it a headache to film outside, so you may want to write a lot of interior scenes! That said, I shot a completely exterior feature this summer and we had great weather every single filming day, so you never know.

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Robert David Duncan is an actor, filmmaker and founder of Fat Punk Productions and the Miniature Film Festival. With over 30 titles in production ranging from micro shorts to feature length films, Robert has over 100 official selections in festivals around the world, and also serves as a judge and panel speaker at festivals. He teaches acting and filmmaking and is the author of the books “Acting: A guided learning journey” and “Micro Short Filmmaking: A guided learning journey.” You can check out his IMDb page here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5399017

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Marc Bati (Très Court International Film Festival)

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Très Court International Film Festival is an event without borders, with screenings during 9 days simultaneously in nearly one hundred cities in France and 28 other countries. The major program of the festival is the international competition. Fifty films of less than 3 minutes (excluding title and credits) representing the best and especially the shorter of the global audiovisual production year are presented each year.

http://www.trescourt.com/

Because this is a festival featuring the best of under 3min. short films, it’s only fitting that this was the shortest interview I ever had. Short but too the point and terrific!

Interview with Charlotte Lasne:

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Marc Bati : We offer a screening space for very short films and their filmmakers, to make their work known.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

Marc: One shall be ready to discover original uncommon films!

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Marc: First qualification is runtime: under three minutes (except title and credits), that is the only rule. Then there is no denying that the selected films show talent and originality.

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Marc: Very short films are often considered too short to be taken into account in most festivals. At Très Court, it is the contrary!

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Marc: Très Court is often most filmmakers’s first festival. Sometimes it is the first step to make a career! Some of “our” filmmakers moved on to feature films.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Marc: When the festival was created in 2000, Youtube did not exist. A festival for very short videos was an underground project! It originated in Paris and now the same films are presented in almost a hundred cities in twenty-nine countries in the world.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Marc: This is a hard one. You know, it is hard for us to see ourselves beyond three minutes!

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

Marc: It has no point with Très Court but it is 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Marc: What makes a great film is “grace” (in one word, even shorter!). Because talented people can make bad films. So “grace” and “magic”.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Marc: Paris is one of the world capital for cinema. You find lots of movie theaters here.

 

***

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Fesival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go tohttp://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Anam Abbas (Face International Film Festival)

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The Face Film festival is a not for profit, unticketed event aiming at promoting cinema, screening the best of contemporary world cinema and providing a platform for emerging Pakistani filmmakers to screen their work. Last year  was a one day event where we hosted the Pakistani Premiere of the American /Pakistani Documentary feature “Without Shepards” and the world premiere of the film “K2 and the invisible footmen” which proceeded to screen in multiple festivals across the globe.  In our second year, our program so far includes 6 international features, a program of local and international shorts and 3 panel discussions with the industry’s most respected filmmakers.

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Anam Abbas: As the only Film Festival in Pakistan’s capital, our venture seeks to support a fledgling film industry and expose audiences and filmmakers to the best in contemporary world cinema as well as allow emerging young filmmakers in pakistan to showcase their work and mingle with the industry.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

Anam: We are screening contemporary features hot off the festival circuit. We have also added three panel discussions to our program. We expect a lot more media attention and a very exciting opportunity for Islamabad to interact with filmmakers from Lahore and Karachi.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Anam: Films have to be completed after Jan 2014 and appeal to a Pakistani audience. Our criteria is broad because we want a diversity of expression presented at our festival.

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Anam: The entries received are staggering and competition is always steep. We judge and select by quality of film alone.

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Anam: We are artists and film-makers ourselves. The love of cinema and desire to start dialogues is why we make films and create a culture of watching films, and especially film that showcase independant voices.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Anam: We are only in our 2nd year and expanding in our scope and our expected audience and impact.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Anam: By 2020 we hope to be a truly international film festival with a weeklong program, presemting Pakistani feature film Premieres and guests from around the world.

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

Anam: Gone with the Wind and Sholay- A classic Hollywood Melodrama and a classic Bollywood blowout.

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Anam: Great films evoke intense emotions!

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Anam: Islamabad is definitely NOT the industry hub. However this allows for the nurturing of a lot of great independent talent that has already made a mark in the industries in lahore and Karachi.

***

Anam Abbas up in Pakistan and studied Cinema at the University of Toronto and Documentary Production at Sheridan College, Canada. She produced three short live action films and two short documentary films in Canada. I am deeply interested in creating platforms for women’s voices and exploring life at the peripheries in Pakistan.

Her documentary short “Lucky Irani Circus” about the children who work in Pakistan’s longest running circus group travelled to 5 film festivals around the world in 2015 including the Toronto International Reel Asian Film Festival.

 

 

 

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Fesival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Aviel Silook, Founder & Creative Director (BERLIN MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS)

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Berlin Music Video Awards
Follow us: Facebook | G+ | Twitter | VK | Instagram

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Aviel Silook: Our event is not a film festival, we really try to step out of this definition. The next teaser will explain: http://dai.ly/x3hcbkz

Our event is the biggest music video networking event in Europe, we already know about many nominees and winners who visited and found great job opportunities. Besides, some of the winners who traveled between Music Video’s events grasped that it is very unique, personal and fun compares to others.

We believe that getting selected by us means something special.. different than other events that their winners are always high budget productions. 2 of our final winners were winning with their first ever music video and since then they were invited to make many more videos. I believe that the fact that we nominate music videos in all languages is really appreciated as well.

We managed to get over 700 mentionings in a bit more than 3 years and we always ask to include videos from our nominees

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

Aviel: I am originally a nightlife events producer and my main goal is that the guests of the event will have fun! so besides the great video selection we pay a close attention to other elements like good food, after parties, live shows, fun guests and a lot of press presence.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Aviel: Originality and good execution

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Aviel: I think that many film festivals care about big names.. that’s a pity really.

We do our best not to discriminate unknown artists and also on the other side to give a fair chance to filmmakers who did a video for famous musicians. In Berlin we have a lot of social pressure not to let those in but we always remember that behind the music video could be a young filmmaker that had his first chance to make a video for a big musician. So if the video is good we won’t exclude him but at the same time we rejected many big names before.. the fame plays no role for us. If you take a look at our previous selections.. we have Bob Dylan, Katy Perry, Cold Play and other big artists who were nominated but in the end most of them lost. Popularity plays no role for us.

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Aviel: To do something unique

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Aviel: We really grew fast.

In the first year we had 1000 guests and this year we expect 8000 (4th edition). We have better prizes and a bigger press exposure for the winners. The venues are bigger and we work with more professionals.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Aviel: The real question for us is where do we see our nominees in 2020. We really hope that what we do will push them to go far, we want them all to get good job offers and keep making music videos.

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

Aviel: I will refer this quetsion to music videos.

I think that the music videos that i watched really many times are the ones that we are getting as submissions and specifically the winners. I view them over and over again before they get nominated and then maybe 50 more times afterwards (and try to compare them to the others, which is very difficult) just to make sure that we don’t do any mistakes with the selection.

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Aviel: A great music video is a music video where the crew went with it all the way without a safe play (but that’s just my personal opinion).

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Aviel: The independent scene in Berlin is pretty good but not really many big productions, especially not around music videos.

Originally our festival was supposed to be a local festival and our goal was to develop the local scene but in the end we received so many international good videos and changed our mind very quick.

***

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Fesival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Amanda Macchia (Toronto Indie Doc Fest)

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Amanda Macchia is an independent director and producer from Toronto, and the founder of Moderna Pictures. She founded the production company upon completing her undergraduate degree in journalism and documentary filmmaking at Ryerson University, where she began collaborating on student film projects and as a production assistant at the CBC. Since then, she has worked for industry leaders at both Rogers Communications and VICE Media, and curates the Toronto Indie Doc Fest film festival, now in its second year of programming.

 

I recently chatted with Amanda about the Indie Doc Festival:

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Amanda Macchia: Toronto Indie Doc Fest is an affordable opportunity for independent filmmakers to have their documentaries screen at a historical cinema in one of the biggest film cities in the world.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

Amanda: You can expect a well-curated showcase of short to mid-length documentaries from all over the world for an affordable entry fee. Because we are a small festival, we take great care in ensuring the limited amount of time we do have to screen films is packed with the best quality subjects and cinematic executions of those subjects.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Amanda: We currently accept any documentary, or mockumentary, films that have running times of under 50 minutes. Any subject goes, but we are especially interested in films that explore subjects or personalities that you normally would not get a chance to learn about.

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Amanda: Absolutely. There are so many variables that go into whether festivals – especially the larger and more prestigious festivals – will program your film. Often, as an independent filmmaker, particularly one that is working with little to no budget, you don’t necessarily have a chance of getting programmed. And although TIDF obviously cannot offer the kind of benefits that you would derive from having your film screen at these other festivals, we can and do offer a realistic opportunity to have your film screened in a proper cinema to a diverse audience.

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Amanda: This festival was born out of my own frustration with getting some of my own independent documentaries to screen in Toronto and other major cities around the world in an affordable manner. Not every film you make is Harlan County, USA, so there should be festival options for filmmakers who are making great films and telling incredible stories, but may not be at the point in their career where they are receiving funding and initiating large-scale productions that would qualify for more competitive festivals.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Amanda: This is the second annual TIDF, so we have not seen much change since last year, although we do hope more filmmakers are aware of our festival this year and will therefore have a bigger and more diverse pool of content to choose from when programming.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Amanda: I would like to see this festival grow outwards, rather than internally. Our goal is not to have more consecutive days of programming in Toronto necessarily, but rather to have simultaneous one-day festivals in other major cities in North America, such as Montreal and New York.

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

Amanda: The Last Waltz

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Amanda: For me, a great film is not so much in the story, but in the themes hovering beneath the surface and how they are delivered visually. White Chimney, for example, a Finnish documentary we programmed last year, outlines the story of the tragic and mysterious death of the actress Sirkka Sari in 1939. You might read that description and wonder why you would care about the death of a Nordic actress that you’ve likely never heard of that took place 77 years ago. But you would care – because the film isn’t really a documentation of her death – it’s a film about youth, nostalgia, and other themes that I find difficult to even formulate words for in my mind, but they are there on the screen.

Sorry, that was not one sentence.

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go tohttp://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival President Sergey Mavrody (Blow-Up Film Festival)

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The 2016 BLOW-UP ARTHOUSE FILM FESTIVAL brings the most original storytellers together with very adventurous audiences for its annual program of dramatic and documentary films, shorts, animations, experimental films, and student work. The Festival was named after the Michelangelo Antonioni’s iconic film “Blow-Up”.

For more information, to go: http://www.blowupfilmfest.com/

I recently sat down with the Festival President Sergey Mavrody:

  • What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

We believe we succeed in promoting authentic voices that can awaken new ideas that have the power to push creative boundaries, spark new levels of compassion and understanding, and even lead to social change.

  • What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

I would expect to bring the most original storytellers together with very adventurous audiences. It would be a great range of quality art-house films from all over the world. I would also expect a smart audience, people, who love art-house films.

  • What are the qualifications for the selected films?

The Festival welcomes serious, independent films aimed at a specific audience rather than a mass-market consumer. We would like to see films made primarily for aesthetic and philosophical reasons rather than commercial profit. The festival would like to approach the caliber of films made by such great directors as Eisenstein, Antonioni, Fellini, Tarkovsky, Godard, Truffaut, Kurosawa.

  • Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Yes and no. On one hand, many films have to try very hard to get seen and recognized. On the other hand it is hard to miss a truly great and talented film.

  • What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

The main motivation would be to discover new talented artists promoting that type of films that fit well into our vision, that push creative limits and educate audiences. On the other hand, if we have passion we don’t really need a motivation.

  • How has the festival changed since its inception?

The festival is always evolving. We have changed names, concepts, and places of screening, websites, staff, jury, method of film submission.  This is a great question and answer could be very long.

  • Where do you see the festival by 2020?

By 2020 the festival will be making an even greater impact on the world cinema by discovering talented filmmakers and setting new standards.

  • What film have you seen the most times in your life?

The most times in my life I have seen the films I made, of course.

  • In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Well, Jean-Luc Godard once said: all you need for a great movie is a gun and a beautiful girl J That was an irony, of course. Truth: that’s what makes a great film in a nutshell. More specifically, this includes an authentic story and a sincere unpretentious artistic expression.

  • How is the film scene in your city?

The MovieMaker Magazine recently unveiled its list of cities with the best film scene. You’re probably wondering who topped the list? Well, it’s my Chicago! According to the magazine – the criteria they used include festivals, film schools, movie-related vendors, local theatres, living standards, unemployment rate, median home price and aggressive tax incentives. Chicago is also rich in filmmaking history and has seen an increase in both independent and Hollywood film productions in the last few years. As we speak, a bunch of film production trucks parked right on my street. They are filming the “Empire” TV series.

BIO: Sergey A. Mavrody

Sergey Mavrody moved to US from Moscow, Russia in 1990. He was granted a green card as an “Alien of Extraordinary Ability”.  Sergey received his first graduate degree in animation from VGIK film school, Moscow, Russia. Sergey earned his second MFA degree in Computer Animation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Sergey was a Production Designer for the Emmy Award-winning musical film “The Bridge”. Sergey produced and directed several animated films. His films have received numerous international awards.

Sergey is also a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and DeVry University. Sergey served as a board member and as a head of the jury at several film festivals. He is a founder and a president of the Blow-Up Arthouse International Film Festival.

 

http://blowupfilmfest.com/

 

 

 

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go tohttp://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Founder/Director, Susan Johnston (New Media Film Festival)

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7th Annual New Media Film Festival. Honors Stories Worth Telling in all media that are innovative, imaginative & inspirational. Submit Now Attend June 7-9, 2016

They accept submissions through April 25th and notify by May 5th.  You can use promo code twitter10 good in any category at www.NewMediaFilmFestival.com

Susan Johnston founded the critically acclaimed New Media Film Festival ® in 2009 to honor stories worth telling in the ever changing landscape of media, New Media. Legendary judges cull over the content for the annual festival in Los Angeles that offers screening, competition ($45k in awards) and distribution opportunities. Currently there are over 600 titles in their library.

Interview with Susan Johnston:

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Susan Johnston: We are proud to say, we advance stories and the people that make them. We have category winners and a Grand Prize winner. For some of our category winners, here is what we have learned:

Snipler®-30 second pitch category, the filmmaker received full funding for his feature while his Snipler®-30 second pitch

3D category winner filmmaker told us Discovery made him an offer after he notified them of his win at our festival

Our recent Grand Prize Winner, What Lives Inside said: “Thanks so much for this prize. ‘What Lives Inside’ made its debut at New Media Film Festival and, after winning the Grand Prize(!!), it went on to win 6 Lions at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity the following week. We’re honored with all this recognition.”
– Molly Parsley – What Lives Inside

The Grand Prize Winner before that, Curio Shop, also a world premiere, had an amazing festival winner streak that included airing on a network!

In addition, we archive all of the submissions, so, if someone reaches out for something specific, we can search and connect. That has resulted in content being interviewed in Press, screening participation at expos and conventions when we speak (NATPE, AFM, NAB and more) and many other opportunities which are at no cost or obligation to the content creator.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

Susan: In January, we do early selections to start press and newsletter and website for a select few submissions. We are excited to announce that we have Artificial Intelligence (yes, AI), Virtual Reality and Drone as new screenings this year, most of them premieres.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Susan: Our Mandate is Honoring Stories Worth Telling, our categories cover the tech aspect (even a New Media category for when you create something that you do not know where it fits, it fits here)

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Susan: Making a difference. Knowing that stories have the power to change our now and our future and remind us of our past so we can keep learning. For me, I often say, What would you like your future to be? Make, write, create, be that story now. You are part of the collective, share wisely.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Susan: Constant change, we are tech and media, always news, always challenging, always exciting.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Susan: Beaming content to Humans in Space whether on a planet or the very least the International Space Station.

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

Susan: Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, Gene Wilder Version Only – So shine a good deed in a weary world (I have an everlasting gobstopper)

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Susan: Story, implementation.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Susan: Global
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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to http://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with J. Michael Seyfert (Cine Pobre)

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Cine Pobre is a self-funded filmmaking genre without a set of stylistic criteria nor format boundaries, involving many geographically separated creators with at least two things in common: a strong desire to tell our story and to do so with our own resources.

You can also find more info at
www.facebook.com/cinepobre/

I recently sat down with J. Michael Seyfert to talk more about the festival:

Matthew Toffolo: What is your festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers? 

JMS: So far Cine Pobre has co-produced 8 films, and we provide post production talent and technical skills through camera stabilization workshops, and help with branding and niche market exposure. Cine Pobre Film Festival is like filmmaking itself, a collaborative and not a competitive concept.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival? 

JMS: Personally , unless you’re talking about Orson Welles or Werner Herzog for example I am not keen on listening to a lot of self-congratulating trivia and gossip staged by most film festivals who appear more like cocktail parties. I appreciate excellent programming that has attitude and teeth, to be intriguing,  that’s what Cine Pobre delivers: New Eyes.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films? 

JMS: Anything goes, but must be self-funded and under $25,000 usd crowd-funding is also accepted, but productions financed by grants and film fund supported budgets are not accepted.

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why? 

JMS: The business model of conventional festivals, of which there are literally thousands, is strictly a numbers game no matter how idealistic they may cloak themselves. As soon as an event gains some prestige it becomes elitist and exclusionary, rich in overhead and filmmaker exploitative.

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival? 

JMS: Curating the best self funded films to the widest audience is gratifying, as only the works of story tellers unbeholden to sponsors are censorship-free.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception? 

JMS: Started with small screenings in rural areas to become the largest resource of self-funded film with over 10,000 shorts, features, documentaries, animation, experimental and music videos.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

JMS: We receive entries from about 100 countries and would love to curate films from all 190 states and territories on the planet.

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

JMS: Bye Bye Havana

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film? 

JMS: A story so well told that it holds the attention of a 7 year old.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city? 

JMS: Still emerging from provincialism…. However Cine Pobre is neither stagnant nor static. Over the past 13 years we have taken our screenings to rural areas in Mexico and different countries in Latin America. We hope to also develop events in Africa where many exciting self-funded filmmakers are emerging.

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to http://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Kristine Renee Farley (MayDay Film Festival)

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The MayDay Film Festival originated in May 2009 at the University of Southern Indiana. It was created by a group of student filmmakers.. Year one was about showing off student films at their event to the student body. Since then, it has evolved into a full fledged festival showcasing films from all over the world.

Website: www.maydayfilmfestival.com

Twitter @MayDayFilmFest

I recently sat down with the Festival Director of the Festival:

Matthew Toffolo: What is the MayDay Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Kristine Renee Farley: I consider MayDay Film Festival’s biggest achievement our audience members. Last year we had 500 people in attendance across our 2-day event. Sometimes it can be difficult for independent film to find an audience, but we don’t have that problem at MayDay. We’re also currently in negotiations with international distribution companies. We want to partner with one to get MayDay Film Festival official selections in front of their eyes, and hopefully the rest of the world.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?

Kristine: MayDay is alway a fun experience for attendees. We pride ourselves on not being a pretentious film festival. We have vendor booths similar to what you see at conventions. This gives filmmakers a chance to sell their movies as well as other merchandise like tshirts. But we also invite local businesses and artists to rent booth space as well. We want to be interactive with the whole community, and invite anyone who thinks indie film fans would like to buy their product a chance to get it out there. All the info to get a booth is on our website. We also always have a guest artist or two to do a Q&A panel. We’ve had cosplayer Collin Royster, Emmy-award winning writer of Friday the 13th Victor Miller, Jake Lloyd of Star Wars & Jingle all the Way, and the Star Wars 501st Legion in past years.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Kristine: Our submission guidelines are pretty loose. We like to have a wide variety of films screen at MayDay. During the selection process, we try to keep a good balance of looking at the quality of everything from camera work, image, audio, acting, and story. A filmmaker may not have had the best camera when they made their film, but if the story is amazing, we’ll still take it. Likewise, if a film looks too beautiful to pass up, we sure won’t.

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Kristine: I agree to a certain extent, yes. I think the bigger film festivals only take “independent” films that are only so just because a studio wasn’t involved. Yes, TECHNICALLY they’re “independent,” but they have huge stars and the best equipment. It makes sense for a festival to accept such movies because it will help their festival be more successful, so I can’t really discredit them for that at all. But I do believe that a lot of really amazing films that didn’t have the budget and didn’t have the stars do get ignored sometimes. Just because they don’t have that selling power. Which kind of leads into your next question…

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Kristine: We want to give people a chance to get their films seen. That’s the whole point of making a movie! For people to see it! In addition to our fantastic & growing attendance numbers, filmmakers have the opportunity to secure booth space to sell their DVDs to the right audience – people interested in watching indie film.

For me personally, I’m also an actress working in TV & indie film. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see who’s making amazing films & to check out other actors & actresses who are getting work. We have films that come to us from all over the country & the world. It’s a wonderful networking opportunity for anyone in the indie film scene.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Kristine: This festival has changed SO much! It first started as a few students at the University of Southern Indiana showing off short films that they had made that school year. Then the Filmmakers’ Club was created to give students a more organized foundation to create their films since the school doesn’t have a film program. Each year it’s gotten bigger & bigger, incorporating local filmmakers and businesses. Now we’re in an actual movie theatre (Shout out to Showplace Cinemas in Evansville, IN! They’re the best!), showing films on 3 screens, and have international selections each year. I started helping with the fest in year 3. We had 38 submissions total. This year we had 40 our first day. We’re up to 470 currently, and we don’t close submissions until May 1st! We’ve had to bring on more people to get through the first round of watching films.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Kristine: I certainly hope we continue to grow as much as we have already. At this time, we’re a not for profit event in the sense that we make absolutely no profit, haha. All fees & admissions go straight back into the festival costs. A lot of the time myself and the other coordinators will spend money out of pocket to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. I’d certainly like to see it begin to turn a profit because we have some amazing ideas to expand the MayDay brand into other film related events. If I had my way, we’d have a different themed event each month!

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

Kristine: The absolute most times is probably Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I may have been a teenager when it came out, but I geeked hard core over it. My sister and I were probably watching it 3 times a day that summer we were off from school. I started developing a bit of a British accent. It was pretty crazy, haha. As an adult, it’s probably either Kill Bill or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Those films just never get old for me. I notice something new each time I watch them. If you’re talking indie film, you should totally check out Bounty Killer. God, I love that movie.

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film?

Kristine: Oy. ONE sentence? And “great” is so subjective… I’d have to say, “A great film understands it’s audience.” Understanding your audience and how your film is perceived really helps tell a great story. That sentence also allows for films that may not be technically sound, but are still entertaining. &#X1f60a AND it transcends genres. Someone who loves horror may not like romantic comedy, but that doesn’t mean either genre isn’t great.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Kristine: Well, I’m living in New York City now, so pretty awesome, haha. Back in Evansville, things are pretty hopping, too. The work I got there and the experience I gained have been invaluable to me in pursuing my career. Last year at MayDay Film Fest in particular, the quality of local films skyrocketed. Evansville, IN is definitely holding their own against some of the best films from around the country. Some even won awards against them too! I continue to be impressed year after year at how much my friends & associates in indie film have grown.
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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to http://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.