Festival Interview

Interview with Creative Director Sami Kriegstein (Los Angeles Music Video Festival)

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The Los Angeles Music Video Festival (LAMVF) exists to celebrate the art of the music video and to bring together the independent music and independent film communities of Los Angeles and beyond. We hope to encourage and promote the development of independent music video producers and their audience.

Interview with Sami Kriegstein
Founder, Creative Director | Los Angeles Music Video Festival
Producer | Figures of Speech

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

Sami Kriegstein: I’m extremely proud of the safe space we’ve created for music video makers and the unique flavor of experimentation and poetic storytelling you only really find in this genre. So much of the glory of music videos goes to the artist or band; we celebrate the filmmakers and their team members and really bring them out of the shadows for the fest. We also create very real opportunities for attendees by introducing them to directors’ reps, music video commissioners, commercial production companies and more. It is the coolest thing in the world to know that we directly impacted someone’s career with our festival, and we hear those stories all the time.

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

SK: 2016 is going to have a focus on dance in videos as an underlying theme. If you attend the festival this fall, you can expect some mind-bending screenings, eye-opening panel discussions with directors, choreographers, commissioners and artists, great food and drinks, unique performances, and maybe a workshop or two. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Cinefamily again this year and hosting the fest at the beautiful Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

SK: Selected submissions must all reasonably represent the music video genre (emphasis on a song paired inextricably from some kind of visual storytelling), and must have been completed in the past 12 months. Obviously the work needs to be original; but for our STUDENT and UNOFFICIAL categories the song used in the video does not need to be authorized or licensed. Beyond that, there are very few restrictions or qualifications. We instruct our screeners to look for emotional connection and creativity…there are so many great music videos that get the job done but when you watch something that really makes you stop in your tracks, that makes you smile in spite of yourself, or cry, or laugh, or dance, or want to share it with all your friends; that’s the magic we look for.

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

SK: I can’t speak to other festivals but I can say that we always have entries we wish we could screen and honor that we just can’t find space for. As a grassroots fest we are restricted in the number of music videos we can program over a few days in a single location. I hope that as we get bigger we can increase the number of screenings and share the spotlight. Last year we started to post honorable mentions online leading up to the fest, which felt good. This is an issue we constantly grapple with. We want to make sure as many filmmakers and artists as possible get that extra visibility in such an oversaturated content environment.

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

SK: Our team is really motivated by love for creativity, and of course, love for music videos. We are all connected to the indie film and indie music communities and see so much great work go up on various internet sites and get sort of lost in the shuffle…the festival is our way of collectively celebrating the amazing work being done. It’s cool shit. It deserves a moment of recognition.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

SK: Every year the festival changes cosmetically, meaning the venue changes or the number and types of events change; but honestly things haven’t changed much at all, which is a point of pride. The spirit has stayed 100% the same: we want to put on a kickass event, we want to show you some badass videos you’ve never seen before, we want to show you some familiar videos in ways you never expected, we want everyone to have a blast and leave inspired and be so glad they came.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

SK: I would love to see the fest in multiple cities and hosting events all year round. I think there’s so much potential for this kind of programming…the sky is the limit.

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

SK: I’m gonna guess the music video I’ve seen the most times in my life might be Thriller…

MT: In one sentence, what makes a great music video?

SK: A great music video* is one that surprises and affects you on an emotional level; the visuals should feel intimately tied to the music; you should be left full, like you ate a rich and satisfying meal…whether it was a hearty steak dinner, a somber and painstakingly crafted omakase or a fizzy boozy brunch shared with all your craziest friends.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

SK: I split my time between LA and NYC and obviously both places are Mecca’s for film (and music). The only downside there is, festivals and screening events often get overlooked because there’s just so much going on all the time. It can be harder to get people to come out and play.

los_angeles_music_video_festival
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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 towww.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Jes Reyes (Altered Esthetics Film Festival)

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Over the past ten years Altered Esthetics has hosted over 100 group exhibitions, launched a solo exhibitions program for emerging artists, and have brought the work of more than 500 artists to public view – many of whom were sharing their artwork with the public for the very first time. Altered Esthetics largest program is the the Ae Film Festival (formerly the Ae Art House Film Festival), an annual event dedicated to the organization’s mission to foster an inclusive and sustainable arts community through exhibitions, education, and outreach.

Going on its 3rd season, the Ae Film Fest will present July 27-31, 2016.

Altered Esthetics is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization /  www.alteredesthetics.org

Interview with Festival Director Jes Reyes:

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

Jes Reyes: We offer exhibition opportunities for artists who create experimental short films. We aim primarily at exhibiting Minnesota-based works – all to demonstrate the active presence of moving image artists in our home state. 81% of artists exhibited at the 2014 Ae Film Festival were practicing Minnesota-based film/video artists. In 2015, we exhibited 30% Minnesota-made projects. For our 2016 season, exhibiting this July, we will showcase 55% local artists.

In addition to showing local artists, the film festival also works to represent gender equality within Ae’s film/video lineup. Both in 2014 and 2015, male and female identified artists exhibited at 50% each. Representing cultural and racial diversity is also an aim and success of this festival.

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

JR: Community and conversation – we do a lot of outreach to partner with filmmakers, artists, and local groups to show off the amazing talents that live and create in the Twin Cities. This festival is about coming together once a year to celebrate those local artists. We want our programming to spark conversations, especially around the artwork and what the moving image is and can be. We will also offer the experience to see short films from international and national-based artists, too.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

JR: Films generally have to be 12 minutes or shorter. We have a preference for experimental works and moving image that explores contemporary art practices.

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

JR: It is hard to get selected for a film festival, especially if you are emerging or not apart of the larger network or local film communities. I know this first hand as an artist. It is one of the very reasons I started the Ae Film Festival.

Declining a film for exhibition – it’s probably one of the hardest parts of my job. You can’t show everything. What generally happens on our end is that programming gets organized based upon themes that arise from submissions. We then select films by what works best together when it comes to planning screenings.

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

JR: What motivates us is our appreciation and admiration towards the medium, as it is a diverse and progressive art form. We find value in representing artists and aim to share their work.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

JR: The amount of programming has definitely changed. We started off as a one-night event and now – three years in – we have stretched out to four to five days of screenings.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

JR: In my eyes, the festival is a living and breathing organism. It will continue to grow into whatever it wants to be – whatever the community wants it to be.

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

JR: I have probably seen Maya Deren’s Meshes of the Afternoon the most. I return to it often.

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

JR: I am always looking for honesty in a film, so a great film is one that explores reality rather than constructs reality.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

JR: We have a diverse film community in the Twin Cities that includes a variety of opportunities and festivals, which I adore. We are also supportive of each other. I do feel that this is all because of the excellent resources in the area and how our community appreciates and advocates for the arts.
About the Festival Director:

Jes Reyes is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and arts administrator. Recent photography and video art of hers has exhibited with Artists in Storefronts, Altered Esthetics and the Walker Art Center. Components (2015), a short silent video poem in collaboration with Katie Rensch, premiered recently with with Made Here, a public art project of Hennepin Theatre Trust. Jes is the founder of the Ae Film Festival, Altered Esthetics largest group exhibition program.

altered_esthetics

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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 towww.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

INSIDE OUT 2016 Toronto’s LGBT Film Festival

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The Inside Out LGBT film festival includes: 

PINK CARPET PREMIERES, FRESH FEATURES AND THE BEST IN CANQUEER CINEMA,

Public tickets Have gone on sale since May 12 at insideout.ca

The full schedule and description of films can also be found on the site.

The Presenting Sponsor is RBC Royal Bank

Premier Sponsor: CTV

Rounding out the Festival’s impressive programming this year are Galas & Special Presentations, treating audiences to exclusive premieres of the best in queer cinema; Premieres programme, offering audiences a chance to be among the first to screen the latest in queer cinematic achievements; the Spotlight on Canada series, celebrating Canada’s own emerging and established talent which includes the Festival favourite shorts programme Local Heroes; and a diverse collection of films in the Shorts program.

Taking place this year from May 26 to June 5, Inside Out celebrates 26 years of showcasing the most ground-breaking, powerful and entertaining work in LGBT cinema from Canada and around the world. 

GALAS & SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

The Galas & Special Presentations will feature films that are destined to become the future classics of LGBT cinema. Making its World Premiere as this year’s Women’s Gala is Toronto filmmaker Sarah Rotella’s ALMOST ADULTS starring Elisa Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis (stars of the popular web series Carmilla) in a poignant and hilarious examination of growing up and growing apart.  This year’s Centrepiece Gala is the directorial debut from actress-turned-director Clea DuVall with the International Premiere of THE INTERVENTION, a dramatic comedy featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Cobie Smulders, Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, Alia Shawkat , Vincent Piazza and Clea DuVall herself.

This year’s Special Presentations include Festival favourites Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau’s PARIS 05:59: THEO & HUGO, a sensitive and emotional look at intimacy and relationships against the backdrop of the city of lights; and HURRICANE BIANCA will hit this year’s Festival as a World Premiere starring season 6 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bianca Del Rio, as the new teacher in small town Texas who’s got drag on her side.

PREMIERES

Inside Out audiences will be among the first in Canada, North America or the world to screen fresh features offered by award-winning filmmakers and their emerging counterparts in the Premieres programme. BURN BURN BURN, from British filmmaker Chanya Button, follows Seph (Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael) and Alex (Chloe Pirrie) as they set across the UK with their late friend’s ashes in tow on a quest to fulfill his dying wish; Festival favourite Ira Sachs returns to Inside Out with his subtly powerful film LITTLE MEN, an intimate character study set in New York City focused on the budding friendship between two teenage boys; the revolutionary film LOEV from Indian director Sudhanshu Saria is a film that was made in absolute secrecy following India’s Supreme Court’s ruling that homosexuality be recriminalized; and Andrew Ahn’s breathtakingly honest SPA NIGHT, a depiction of the Korean-American immigrant experience and a look at what happens when tradition and familial expectations comes up against personal desires and the economic realities of American life.

SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA

The Spotlight on Canada programme is a bold showcase of Canadian queer cinema sure to delight, challenge and inspire. The lineup includes the World Premiere of Richard Lusimbo and Nancy Nicol’s AND STILL WE RISE, a moving documentary that provides an insider’s view of Uganda’s LGBTI communities’ fight against the Anti-Homosexual Act; CLOSET MONSTER, a distinctively offbeat and emotionally striking coming-of-age story from first-time director Stephen Dunn; Bretten Hannam’s NORTH MOUNTAIN, a film full of action and romance that adds another impressive film to the growing number of Canadian aboriginal LGBT films; RE:ORIENTATIONS reconnects with seven of the original participants of Richard Fung’s 1984 video Orientations: Lesbian and Gay Asians, the first documentary on queer Asians and racialized queers in Canada; and from Mark Kenneth Woods and Michael Yerxa comes TWO SOFT THINGS, TWO HARD THINGS, a thoughtful documentary following the preparations for a seminal LGBTQ Pride celebration in Nunavut.

CAPSULE REVIEWS OF SELECTED FILMS:

CHEMSEX (UK 2015) ***1/2

Directed by William Fairman and Max Gogarty

CHEMSEX is a British documentary on the subject commonly known by the North American acronym PnP which means party and play.  The partying involves the use of hard drugs like crystal meth and the play is sex, mostly involving gay males.  Director Fairman and Gogarty aim to educate audiences on the extent of the chemsex problem and how it is dealt within the London setting.  The problem is obviously more evident in a big city where drugs can be more easily obtained just as partners who indulge in the same excesses more easily found.  The film centres on David, working out of 57 Dean Street, a centre that treats the problem.  Various subjects are interviewed discussing candidly their chemsex activities and if they are willing, their addiction.  The camera also follows the subjects to the parties where the activities take place.  CHEMSEX is an extremely disturbing documentary.  The film ends on a positive note with many of the subjects in the film recovered and now leading normal lives.  The hero of the piece is David of Dean Street and the villain the impulsiveness of man.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZLqFHVnaMs

CLOSET MONSTER (Canada 2015) ***

Directed by Stephen Dunn

Newfie movie of an East Coast teenager and aspiring special-effects makeup artist, Oscar (Connor Jessup, BLACKBIRD) struggling with both his sexuality and his fear of his macho asshole father.  Oscar has a girlfriend, Gemma (Sofia Banzhaf) but pines for the new cute boy, Wilder (Aliocha Schneider) at his workplace.  The film teases all the way whether the relationship will happen, but the film takes a few turns.  The film uses the boy’s hamster (with a gender twist on it too) to provide insight to the story.  The hamster is voiced by Isabella Rossellini.  The film is a welcome comedic twist on the coming-of-age genre.  The film is not without flaws but given the fact that this is a first-time feature, CLOSET MONSTER is an assured debut. 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=VSLEI55SS5s

DOWNRIVER (Australia 2015) ***
Directed by Grant Scicluna

DOWNRIVER’s protagonist is teenager James (Reef Ireland).  When the film opens, he is just released from juvenile prison.  He returns home to mother, Paige (Kerry Fox) hoping to find out the truth about the death of a child.   James was sent to prison for it when the death occurred when they were kids.  The film’s setting is perfect for this kind of plot.  The action takes place in the country where a trailer park exists close by.  There is a river where the folks go fishing and there are caves and abandoned  structures.  But it is surprising that in such a male chauvinistic environment, almost every young male is gay or has had a gay sexual encounter.  The gay sex scenes are shot mostly in the dark, making the sex appear even more erotic. Cinematographer Laszlo Baranyai does an even better job with the shots in the open.  His camera glides across the beautiful murky waters of the river.  The country areas outside Melbourne, where the film is shot, never looked more stunning.  But one of the film’s flaws is its muddled narrative.  As the film progresses, there are many confusing incidents.  Despite the film’s flaws, DOWNRIVER is an absorbing film about youth angst. It covers universal issues like redemption, family ties, relationships, friendships and gay sex.  It does not skimp on the nastiness which occurs quite a lot in the film.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-98kUEnkxHM 

THE INTERVENTION (USA 2015) ***
Directed by Clea DuVall

THE INTERVENTION is an ensemble piece that aims to show how good people are on the inside – never mind what occurs on the exterior.  A couple could be fighting but deep down, they love each other and cannot live without sac other.  One is caught kissing another by her partner, but the kissing means nothing and the love deep inside overcomes all.  The story involves three couples (one of which is a lesbian couple) meeting in a summer home to intervene with the relationship of a fourth married one.  They deem the marriage toxic and that it best for two to live apart.  Of course, these things do not go as planned, especially since the organizer of the intervention gets drunk half the time and that each couple have problems of their own.  DuVall who also stars in the film directs the goings-on fairly well.  In fact the film is more believable and enjoyable than similar Hollywood ensemble comedies like MOTHER’S DAY and NEW YEAR’S EVE.  The film is in reality, four different short stories connected to he intervention theme with a good bond of drama and comedy.

LAST MEN STANDING (USA 2016) **

Directed by Erin Brethauer and Tim Hussin

LAST MEN STANDING begins with shots of San Francisco when it stood for the first vibrant gay city in the U.S where gays flocked there to live freely and without prejudice.  It then goes on to the era of AIDs describing how the streets were then emptied.  The film settles on its topic of 8 men who were diagnosed HIV positive then and have not died – living 30 years beyond their diagnoses.  According to the film, more than half of those living with HIV/AIDS in the United States are older than 50, many of them gay.  The 8 men now past their fifties, tell their own stories.  The common thread is that each needs love in the form of a companion who cares.  But as well-intentioned as this documentary is, the film runs out of martial even at 66 minutes.  The stories are personal but not super interesting and there is nothing really insightful provided by the film either.

OTHER PEOPLE (USA 2016) ***

Directed by Chris Kelly

OTHER PEOPLE is the opening gala film for this year’s INSIDE OUT LGBT film festival.  The film directed by Chris Kelly and starring Jesse Plemons as David is ok but but nothing exceptional.  It also stars Molly Shannon playing a largely dramatic role as David’s mother dying of cancer with Oscar nominee June Squibb as grandma.  David is a struggling comedy writer, fresh off a breakup and in the midst of the worst year of his life, returns to Sacramento to care for his dying mother.   There are quite a few problems with the film.  For one, there is no real reason David needs to return to care for mother as Joanna still has a husband and two other daughters.  The film is laid out in months, and from the period David has returned, he has done nothing to help mother but to mope around and try to write.  there (Bradley Whitford) has still not accepted David for being gay which serves yet another reason why David should stay.  Audiences would rather see hilarious  comedienne Molly Shannon being funny – as she really is, but her taken is stifled here.  The film dos contain some good moments.  The best is the one David freaks out at a grocery store unable to find laxatives only to break down crying, “I am a good person.”  A grocery worker suddenly shows up, points to the laxatives in from of him and then, slowly limps away.  The film at least spares the audience from a sentimental death scene.  Still, bring tissues!

Interview Clip: (no trailer available): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFF919bw9Yc

PARIS 05:59: THEO & HUGO

(THEO ET HUGO DANS LE MEME BATEAU) (France 2016) ****
Directed by Olivier Ducastel et Jacques Martineau

Directors Ducastel and Martineau have already wowed gay audiences with their earlier films THE ADVENTURES OF FELIX and COTE D’AZUR.  Their new movie on first love will certainly be another film to remember.  It begins with an X-rated 18 minutes sequence in a sex club which commonly exists as a bath house (spa) where Theo and Hugo meet and have steamy sex for the first time amidst a sea of naked men.  Despite the setting, the love comes across as a sweet and ‘innocent’ one which is put to the test after they leave the spa.  Theo (Francois Nambot) confesses that he had f***ed Hugo (Geofrey Couet) sans condom.   And trouble begins in paradise.  The couple also meet a Syrian kebab worker and an old lady in the metro.  In a short few minutes, these two deliver an abridged but very effective view on life as they see it.  Despite the film dwelling on two characters, they apparently unaffected lives in the world are put into perspective rather brilliantly.   It is an absorbing film and turns out to be a sweet romantic film about first love.  A perfect film to watch at Inside Out.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWiTP8V95oU 

WHERE ARE YOU GOING, HABIBI? (Germany 2015) ***
Directed by Tor Iber

WHERE ARE YOU GOING, HABIBI? is a sweet German film with a setting around a Turkish family living in Berlin.  Ibrahim (Cem Alkan), is gay and outed to his family by his sister.  As a result, he is kicked out of his family home by his father.  Fortunately, he is taken in by his gay-positive uncle (Neil Malik Abdullah, looking like a turkish George Clooney).  Amidst all this mayhem, Ibrahim falls in love with a straight blonde German, Alexander (Martin Walde).  The relationship is one of friendship that grows into something beautiful.  The issues of coming out and first love are nothing new and have been treaded once too often in gay films.  Yet, this sweet and non-pushy film makes it difficult to dislike.  The main message is tolerance, which is important not only in the film’s setting but in the entire world these days.  Habibi is the Arab word for baby or sweetheart.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NGPWraYtV0

*****

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Interview with Festival Director Rafael Jovine (Frame by Sound Festival)

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Breaking away from traditional norms, Frame by Sound presented by Vents Magazine offer patrons a unique and groundbreaking experience of its own kind. By taking it online, FxS reaches audiences around the world in an effort to bring a personal film and music festival in the comfort of their own home. Various ways to experience are via computer, mobile, ROKU/APPLE TV.

Interview with Rafael Jovine

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

Rafael Jovine: Helping them reach out more people. As a online fest, we aren’t limited to any city or country in the world -well, except those that aren’t too internet friendly-, as a filmmaker myself I know how painful is to look for the perfect festival around the world, and our mission is basically to be a one-stop for them. We are also bringing a great group of talented filmmakers and crew members that would be doing this very educative and in some cases, practical, workshops and panels that aims to teach them some tips and how to be better on their particular field.

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

RJ: Comfort. Fun and definitely for all filmmakers and film enthusiasts this would be an exciting learning experience. We are doing our best to have some creative and talented group of speakers from pretty much each department in a film, from the usual suspects like directors, producers, writers to the not common such as Editors, Directors of Photography, Art Directors, Custom, designers, etc.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films? 

RJ: Creativity at the time of writing and producing a film, some sort of uniqueness on the way the story is told, engagement and so many things more I am sure those who attend the festival would see.

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

RJ: Totally! Through history we have seen all these great and iconic filmmakers who have been rejected at the early stage of their careers like Wes Anderson. And I think it’s both a matter of time as many festivals are very limited by time and in some case scenarios, elitism.

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

RJ: Well, personally I can’t afford to go to any of this big festivals like Sundance, SXSW, etc. and those who are luckier, they have to spend thousands in cash. So we are also thinking on those who attend this festival, we are aiming to bring an equally exciting festival at a cheaper price and without they having to travel to another city or country.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception? 

RJ: This would be our second year, so not too much haha. The format has definitely change, we are totally focusing on the online format instead of the physical as we did last year, we are also adding the musical element, the workshops and we are extending our panels by including other departments of a film production.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020? 

RJ: Ruling the world! Hahaha. But seriously, though the online format isn’t as new as I thought it was, we are definitely more ambitious and hopefully by then everything goes as plan and this would become the new way of enjoying festivals.

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

RJ: I would say Pirates of the Caribbean and Inception.

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

RJ: Creativity, hands down.

MT: How is the film scene in your city? 

RJ: It’s definitely growing. We started focusing more on it like 6 years ago, before it there wasn’t too much of an industry and we barely get one or two movies produced by year, now we get like 20 or so films produced. What we definitely need is a signature, we are currently lost in the sea of mimmicks.

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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 towww.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Gisella Calabrese (Visioni Corte Film Festival)

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Visioni Corte Film Festival was born in 2012 and realized in the Baronial Castle of Minturno (Lazio, centre of Italy) since its beginning. It has 6 categories: Corto Fiction Italy, Corto Fiction International, CortoDoc (for documentaries), CortoMusic and CortoAnimation. They’ve got also another particular category, SocialVisions, dedicated to short movies realized by therapeutic communities or social cooperatives, to compare with another reality and spread new type of relationships and communication between people with different disabilities.

http://www.visionicorte.it

Interview with Gisella Calabrese:

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

Gisella Calabrese: Filmmakers are always welcome in Minturno. It’s a honor for us, especially who comes from abroad, because we’re trying to get tourism close to culture. It’s a heat, but we’re really convinced that it’s possible, if you love your town and, of course, cinema. They’ll find out that in our festival, the short movies and their creators are the real protagonists. Visioni Corte isn’t just a runway for celebrities as others do, we give importance to our films with no reserve.

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

GS: This year we’ve made some changes, beginning from the period. We used to play in October, while we’ve decided do realize it in summer. We’re sure that filmmakers will appreciate this decision. We’ve got a beautiful sea, why don’t take advantage? We’re going to do this fifth edition outdoor with a big screen. Some guests belonging to the world of cinema, cultural events, music, traditional good food of our region… we’re preparing a lot of surprises.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films? 

GS: Well, during selections we’re very strict. Only the best film will pass. They must have a good screenplay, intense performance, great filming, excellent photography and if possible an original story. In the previous editions we had international premiere, and also very particular (and beautiful) movies that you can’t see in Italy so easily. We don’t make obvious choices.

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

GS: It depends on festivals. Some of them are just a showcase for famous and sometimes the selections of the movies isn’t so accurate, while other ones focus on the quality and are able to advertise them better than other. Of course, if you have been selected by the TIFF or Cannes, it’s another story, at all. We’re proud to say that many films which have been selected in our festival during these years, afterwards have been selected also in prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Tiff, Venice, Goya, New York, Los Angeles. It shows that we make a really good selection. It’s the better acknowledgment for us.

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

GS: We live in a beautiful place, we’ve sea and mountains, romans ruins and a temperate weather but Minturno (Lazio, centre of Italy) hasn’t a cinema, a theatre or an auditorium. You must go to nearby towns for this. Visioni Corte is born to spread the idea that making cultural tourism is possible, if you strongly believe in it. Before us people here had no idea what a short movie was. Instead, now we’ve got regular fans that attend every year, it’s a close audience who follow us with love, and some surrounding cities are trying to make something similar to our festival. We’re on trend, perhaps 😉

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception? 

GS: Our festival has improved a lot. The passion is the same but the screen is bigger and we’ve more volunteers to realize it now. Our Techical Jury has become more prestigious and Visioni Corte is becoming famous in the short film industry. We receive so many films abroad! Also the programm is changed. We make more events, retrospectives, presentation of books regarding cinema and also workshops and cine lab.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020? 

GS: I hope that in 2020 we’ll have more support from the local institutions to realize a really big festival of cinema, especially for the economical burden. It’s our dream but also our target. We’ve made everything by ourselves and our sponsors and we’ll go on this way. We’re not tied, we’re free to make our own choices. If this support comes, we’ll be very happy, otherwise we’ll carry on making the festival with the same enthusiasm and passion… searching for other sponsors! We’d like to create a sort of Visioni Corte Village, with many stands, masterclasses, cinema and photo exhibitions, workshops, music… a long party for the short movie and its lovers.

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

GS: This is a very difficult question. There are so many films I’ve seen so many times! I love Blade Runner, for example, or Point Break, but also Star Wars saga, Gone with the wind, Vittorio Gasmann’s movies… But there’s a movie that moved me and made me cry like anything else: The Wrestler, of Darren Aronofsky. Really, it’s an incredible movie, shooted as an european indipendent film. I can’t see it as often as I would like because it hurts me, but I mean it as the true essence of the cinema, at all.

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

GS: Well, a great film must hit you, leaving you something you can’t explain but you feel it so strong that it will never leave you.

MT: How is the film scene in your city? 

GS: The film city in Minturno is very low, but we feel that people are hungry of culture, in all its way. That’s why we’re making Visioni Corte. It makes you dream, laugh, cry, think, move but especially, it enriches all of us in spirit. Thank you so much for the interview. I’m honored.

visioni_corte

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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 towww.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Amanda Perry (Cutting Edge Film Festival)

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The Cutting Edge Festival is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization which endeavors to promote the best filmmakers and their films to an ever-growing worldwide audience as a powerful medium that inspires creativity, encourages introspection, and compels the exploration of the senses, and expands the imagination.

The festival uses the monies raised from film submission fees to promote and expand the world of Independent Filmmaking as an ever increasing endeavor.

www.cuttingedgefilmfest.com

Interview with Amanda Perry:

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

We feel that in the two years since we established our Festival that we have offered hundreds of Filmmakers from around the world a lot of additional exposure for their work to countless lovers of Independent Film the world over. As I’m sure that you know, for an Independent Filmmaker, exposure of their films is everything.

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

First, our festival is produced strictly through a virtual film screening platform, and there really isn’t a physical event to attend. However, what a Filmmaker who is screening at the CEIFF could expect is not only a great deal of exposure for their film, but additionally they should expect the potential for their film to come to the attention of Distributors, and a Filmmaker should most certainly expect that the audiences for their film will be of the warmest kind. What a virtual attendee of our festival should expect should be films of all genres that are among the highest caliber in the world.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Like most Festivals in the world, ours makes it’s film selections based on the quality of Directing, cinematography, story line, script plot, writing, acting, production values, and lighting along with many other elements of the film. Most importantly though, we think that a film overall should be entertaining and should capture the viewer’s attention from start to finish.

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

I think that most Festival, ours included, try their best to offer every Filmmaker who submits their film an equal opportunity to be selected and screened. However, I also think that there are a few Festivals out there that seem to focus more on the big budget films which have celebrities attached to them, and less on the smaller budget films with no celebrity involvement. Though this is not the case with the majority of Festivals, there are a few with this focus, and I feel that it is unfortunate because there are countless films that are produced with little or nearly no budget that would rival those larger budget films.

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

Very simply, a love of film, a great respect for the Independent Filmmaker, and our passion for the art of Filmmaking.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

The Fest hasn’t really changed, though we have learned quite a bit and have refined many of our systems and processes as to allow for what we feel is a better overall experience for the Filmmaker from the submission process all the way through to the end of the Festival.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Hopefully still producing Festivals that are much better, and much more well attended each year.

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

That is really hard to answer because I have seen so very many, both Independent and “Hollywood” films.

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

As I said above, what I think makes a great film is for the film to have the ability to capture the viewer’s attention from start to finish, drawing the viewer into a new reality created by the Filmmaker to the point that the viewer forgets that it’s a movie.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

As with many cities around this Country, I think the the demand for Independent Film has grown, and will continue to do so over the coming years.

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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 towww.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Pavel Pankov (World International Film Festival)

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The World International Film Festival is a global industry event held around the year in the world’s biggest cities:  New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Amsterdam, Reykjavík, and more to come – an around-the-world film festival tour bringing together filmmakers and film fans, auteurs and cineastes, great new independent movies and a global audience.

The around-the-world film festival tour option showcases some of the very best independent films on the scene today, in a truly international event bringing new cinema to audiences on a global scale.  

See more at: http://worldinternationalfilmfestival.com/about

Interview with Pavel Pankov:

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

Pavel Pankov: The very international aspect of WIFF is immediately evident from the great number of “foreign” films we’ve selected — “foreign” if you’re from the U.S.A., not so foreign if you live elsewhere in the world. We’ll be screening exciting work from filmmakers from all over the map.

Of course, we do have a few American movies too, including one picture with real breakout potential, “Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story,” an award-winning Hollywood biopic about the “legendary” director Oskar Knight, played by Lenny Von Dohlen. It’s a very funny mockumentary, and ultimately, quite touching.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

PP: Our festival jury is a wide-ranging team of industry veterans from about 20 countries. We have a big internal world forum online where we exchange opinions and make decisions on the films.

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

PP: I can’t speak for the decision process at other festivals. But I’ll say, in terms of getting a response when your film actually screens at a festival, because 99.9% of filmmakers don’t have any publicity budget and don’t do a Q&A, that really diminishes your chances of drawing a big crowd. But WIFF itself is promoting its events more and more, and we strongly encourage and assist filmmakers in setting up Q&A’s.

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

PP: I can tell you, it’s actually not money.

In the festival business, unless you are Cannes or Sundance or the like, you are just trying to maintain, so you can achieve your goal: discovering and spotlighting great new works of cinema. And helping them find their audience.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

PP: We are changing every day… A year ago we started with one festival. This year we’ll be hosting as many as 25 festivals in 20 different countries.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

PP: In most of the biggest cities and cinema capitals on this lovely cinema planet of ours.

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

PP: “Once Upon a Time in America.”

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

PP: Great buzz…? Or so it seems.

But more seriously: There are many “Great things” which it takes to make a great film: Great idea, great script, great shooting, great producer, great director, great actors, great voice, great cutting, great marketing.

All these great things make one big great cake. If any “great” is missing
— that cake isn’t going to rise.

Even when a film has all these ingredients, just like a cake it needs time to rise. Hopefully, the films we’re getting behind will rise to the attention they deserve this year.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

PP: I’m really never in one city longer then a month, these days, as I need to manage and host up to 25 locations as you know.

But the World International Film Festival has five basic centers now: Los Angeles, Toronto, Brisbane, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and we’ll be showing many films in all of those great cities.

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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 towww.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Stanley Cobos (Action Packed Film Festival)

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Action Packed Film Festival, is an event that is solely dedicated to films that are covered under that genre of action. Any project that has stunts, well coordinated fighting scenes and can be easily categorized as an action film can finally find a dedicated home at this film festival.All films that we receive will be viewed by industry professionals, and only a few of the best that we received will be officially selected to screen at the festival.

http://actionpackedfilmfest.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/actionpackedfilmfestival

Interview with Stanley Cobos:

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

Stanley Cobos: We’re setting up for a community of filmmakers that love to make films, more focused on action genre. We’re not opposed to other genres, but this festival in particularly focuses on the action genre. Action packed films are usually the tentpole films of the industry. Blockbuster films, that generate followings and an automatic hit (for the most part) in the box office. Most award ceremonies and film festivals appeal to the comedy,lighthearted and drama films. Regardless of the box office success of the action packed film. The action packed film is pure entertainment. What we intend to do and what is makes it succeeding for our filmmakers, is to focus on them now and push them further in their career. Our festival will showcase two seminars, networking events, and a special award ceremony where we intend to award three individuals (that are not in the festival) that are professionals working and mainly focused in the action film genre as stunt performers.

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

SC: I would hope that it will be a complete success and entertaining, but most important, that our filmmakers have an amazing and memorable experience. It’s important that they continue in their path towards this at time difficult journey as a filmmaker. We want to acknowledge them.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

SC: A well executed film that has action and well coordinated stunts. It took a great deal of time and dedication to make these films, especially if they had little to no budget. When we see a project and we like it, and found it truly entertaining, it makes the cut. It wasn’t easy. Our judges viewed hundreds of film. We had to decline a handful of amazing and just plain beautifully shot films that looked so beyond professional, it was hard to say no; but they did not fit our genre – action. So the films have to be considered an action type film. Regardless if it’s action-thriller, or any other type of film; as long as it falls in the action classification (chases, stunts, fighting sequences, etc.) that’s what we’re looking for. As well as the obvious, good story telling.

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

SC: I really do. It’s a lot of based on who you know and if you have the right amount of funding backing your project. There are amazing films that exist, but don’t get the full amount of recognition because there wasn’t enough money to place it in-front of enough eyes. That’s why web content is starting to gain momentum. Also, it’s difficult to succeed without a name talent. It’s not easy to have someone watch a film if there is no “attachment” to it. It’s unfortunate because there are a lot of great actors out there that will act and do a stellar performance without the need of hassling through the red tape of managers and agents and payment that at times is more than the films project, especially if it’s independently made.

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

SC: We’re filmmakers ourselves and know that feeling of making it. Even if it’s just for one day. We want to spread that. Spread the hope and allow for a great networking opportunity, it’s key in this industry.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

SC: Well, this is our first year and so far, it’s been doing great. We focused on a good genre and have been able to watch some great films and are looking forward to showcasing it for all to see! August 20-21, 2016!

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

SC: It will be a milestone, and we hope to see the growth of it and the expansion of it become something that filmmakers will look forward to seeing and being a part of. We hope that generate a good community and be able to assist in funding other projects.

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

SC: The Fifth Element, it’s one of those films that I can’t ever get enough of. I also enjoy Total Recall, The Professional and V for Vandetta.

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

SC: Great story with an amazingly talented cast and crew.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

SC: Well we’re based in Los Angeles, so it’s a thriving scene, I’m just glad the tax incentive’s are starting to catch-up.

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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 towww.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Interview with Festival Director Umberto Santacroce (The Gulf of Naples Film Festival)

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The aim of the Festival is to promote and circulate cinema and cutting-edge films, foster discussion between various branches of learning, and provide a space for the cinematic arts and other disciplines to engage with each other and grow.

Go to Website

Interview with Umberto Santacroce:

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

Umberto Santacroce: GoN IFF is a new festival, the result of the encounter of three filmmakers with different experiences in cinema, television and theatre. The difficulties we have experienced in distributing our works led us to create a new opportunity for all lo-to-no budget producers; thanks to this opportunity, all those who make low cost yet valuable films, like we do, have the chance to promote their artwork and exchange ideas and expertise.

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

US: This is the second edition of the GoN IFF. Thanks to the serious approach shown in the first edition, our Festival is getting more and more popular and prestigious day by day. There has been an increase in the number of films submitted and of media interested in our Festival. Accordingly, the better the quality of the Festival, the greater the attention given by media to the participants who will enjoy the opportunity to show their works to increasingly wider audiences. And, last but not least, films will be awarded based on their quality.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

US: Although we have decided to select indie films which are not promoted and distributed through the main channels, our Festival is actually open to everyone, but definitely, the films that benefit from a strong budget will not be evaluated from a technical point of view, but only for their concepts and scripts.

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

US: I believe that in the main festivals the awards usually go to the filmmakers who simply had the chance to spend more money on their production, so, they could hire popular actors, as well as skillful technicians and professionals. Moreover, for the support of their high investments, producers and distributors launch massive – at times even deceptive – campaigns, overrating the films and attracting huge audiences. While low budget films usually do not get the success they deserve.

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

US: The fact that different people from different countries with different cultures, sharing the love for this form of art, may gather and become a source of mutual inspiration, getting beyond all borders and potential prejudices.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

US: Now it is too early to talk about a proper change; anyway, since the first year, many more participants have joined our festival and public institutions have started giving us some attention. We are now considering implementing new sections, in order to enhance the cultural value of the festival.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

US: In Naples, of course. With key partners in the national and international institutions. People need quality and we want to continue what we started last year, growing year after year, promoting new awards and turning our festival into the true celebration of top quality films, involving a bigger audience. We also hope to extend the festival’s calendar from 3 days, which is the period set now, to 10 or 15 days. We are well aware that this is very challenging, but there are good conditions and encouraging signs for improvement!

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

US: Well, it happened many times. Every film expresses emotions and fortunately, every film is very different. I love many genres but I am particularly keen on those which are milestones in the story of this art, I mean, the films produced in the 50’s and the 60’s both in Italy and in the U.S.A. Each film represents a step forward in the growth of this sector. For example, just compare “Clash of the Titans” – the 1981 epic film by Desmond Davis, featuring an all-star cast, with well done animated scenes – with its 2010 remake. Even if I prefer the original film, its remake represents the natural evolution of filmmaking with special effects and animations which are light years ahead of the first production. And I could go on indefinitely…

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

US: The depiction of universal values, such as justice, equality, solidarity, and the ability to communicate emotions.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

US: There was a time when Naples was a sort of capital city of the film industry. The famous Galleria Umberto arcade and its lively cafés were the meeting area of people from different backgrounds and the birthplace of hundreds of new production companies. This happened in the years between the 19th and 20th century, a time of intense film production, and implementation of new techniques and art styles.

However, after Cinecittà was built, Rome attracted the whole world of film industry.

Nowadays, the new digital techniques have greatly reduced the costs of film making allowing everyone to easily record a video. The young generations are definitely showing a growing involvement in this art. Cinema schools and training courses are now becoming increasingly popular, and I believe that there are some talented artists among the emergent filmmakers, who will be successful in the next future. However, the national institutions still do not acknowledge and support cinema with adequate fundings.

gulfofnaples

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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 Festival Director Janice Kurbjun (Breckenridge Film Festival)

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Since its opening event in 1981, the Breckenridge Film Festival has celebrated the art of filmmaking. Each year a unique and varied array of independent films, premieres, receptions, educational programs and retrospectives honoring featured guests takes place high in the Colorado Rockies. Currently celebrating its 36th year, the Festival has hosted such guests as Alan Arkin, James Earl Jones, Robert Loggia, Marsha Mason, Sydney Pollack, Mary Steenburgen, Donald Sutherland, Eva Marie Saint, Jon Voight, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jon Favreau, Michael York , Jo Beth Williams, Connie Nielsen, Irvin Kershner, Thomas Haden Church, AnnaSophia Robb and DB Sweeney. Educational outreach programs, children’s films, celebrity guests, independent filmmaker forums and other events celebrating the art of film, contribute to the Festival’s diverse program. The University of Colorado at Boulder has presented classic and foreign films with faculty members leading interrelated discussions.

breckfilmfestWebsite: http://www.breckfilmfest.com/

Interview with Janice Kurbjun

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

We host roughly 30 filmmakers at our festival each year. These are filmmakers who submit their films and are accepted through our review process. In attending the Breckenridge Film Festival, they are presented the opportunity to mix and mingle with each other as well as with distributors scouting talent, the Colorado Film Commission, staff of which regularly attends the festival, and with high-level industry talent attending the festival in support of our featured films. We pride ourselves on offering an excellent visit for filmmakers both in terms of quality of experience as well as quality of industry relations.

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

Filmmakers attending each festival can expect the excellent opportunity to take advantage of first-come, first-served complimentary lodging, which helps facilitate filmmakers’ ability to attend festivals to promote their films, interact with audiences and discover new and interesting partnerships, distribution ideas and other creative direction while enjoying the fabulous scenery of the Rocky Mountains. The festival provides support in promoting films, offering unique and interesting opportunities to mix with industry professionals and generally, to enjoy fall and all the wonderful activities offered in the mountains at that time.

MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Films must fall into one of eight categories: Drama, Short Drama, Comedy, Short Comedy, Documentary, Animation, Spiritual and Adventure. Films also must have been completed in March 2015 to May 2016 to be considered.

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

The Breckenridge Film Festival believes in allowing all filmmakers to submit films for consideration, making the playing field as level and fair as possible. We curate only a handful of films every year, and so we pride ourselves on our high acceptance rate of approximately 15%. Filmmakers take notice. We receive excellent films each year, showcasing that not only are there drastic striations in the industry, but that there are excellent films just waiting to be seen. Our audiences marvel at the variety of films we screen annually and leave the festival with a deeper understanding of the depth and breadth of the independent film community.

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

We believe in the power of film and media to inspire, educate and entertain. The best films for our festival will touch on issues in new and interesting ways that resonate with our audiences. The best films will leave audiences feeling inspired. And of course, the best films will entertain audiences as they accomplish the first two goals.

MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?

In 1981, the Breckenridge Film Festival showcased Hollywood front runner films. As the industry has changed, so too has the Breckenridge Film Festival, as it has opted to focus on the broadening world of independent film and up and coming filmmakers. Today, we are primarily an independent film festival featuring unique talent from across the globe.

MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

We intend to be a vibrant, interactive festival focused on the power of storytelling and featuring excellent pictures that resonate with our audiences. We intend to continue to be a place for filmmakers to mix and mingle with each other and find inspiration of their own.

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

Either Star Wars or Amelie. Might be a toss up…

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

To quote a great man, “the movies are like a machine that generates empathy. It lets you understand a little bit more about different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us.” – Roger Ebert.

MT: How is the film scene in your city?

Rich. Our residents are more in tune with art house films than they are with first-run Hollywood features. They seek and crave the inspirational, empathetic experience art house films can provide.

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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 www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.