Festival Interview

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

festreviews festival deadlines, Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

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
_____

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)

festreviews festival deadlines, Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , ,

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.

_____

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)

festreviews festival deadlines, Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,
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.
_____

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 Dave Merson Hess (Rush Process Festival of Handcrafted Animation)

festreviews Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Rush Process celebrates handcrafted animation. The festival’s first edition – set for August 27-28, 2016 in Houston, Texas – will combine curated and competition screenings with filmmaker Q&As and a DIY animation jam. RP aims to screen visually and emotionally stunning, non-digital animation.

I recently sat down with Festival Director Dave Merson Hess to talk more about the festival:

What is Rush Process succeeding at doing for animated filmmakers? 

On the screening side, we’re bringing handcrafted animated films to an enthusiastic audience that appreciates the gesture of choosing to work with tangible, analog materials. And with our workshops, we’re encouraging absolutely everyone to embrace low-budget, DIY animation as both a rich area for visual exploration and an accessible entry point into personal filmmaking.

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

Eye-opening screenings of handcrafted animated shorts from around the world, workshops offering the opportunity to collaborate with complete strangers who share a passion for time-based collage and scribbling, and snacks. We’ll definitely have snacks.

What are the qualifications for the selected films? 

I’m not involved with judging, but I can tell you that we only screen handcrafted animation. These are painstakingly produced films made by hand, with real ink and paint, and often by lone practicioners. To quote our site, handcrafted is “a materials-focused practice at the intersection of DIY, auteur-driven cinema and analog animation art.”

What makes a great independent film? 

A great independent film: 1) chooses the discomfort of honesty and doubt over audience-pandering via formula and cliche, 2) embraces the limitations of the particular context of its own making, and 3) demonstrates a passionate dedication to a unique and highly developed personal or collective vision.

What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

The opportunity to become DIY animation enablers for as large an audience as possible, and the genuine feeling that we’re filling a niche programming void.

>Where do you see the festival by 2020?

I see the workshop element expanding dramatically. Imagine a DIY animation-focused Hack Week, with independent animators, artists and film lovers of all ages meeting and collaborating on free-form, time-bound production challenges.

How has the festival changed since its inception?

Well, 2016 will be our first edition but I’ve been working on Rush Process for a year and a half. It began as an idea for a monthly screening series, then after some reshuffling and delays it morphed into a full-fledged animation festival. On the workshop side, we were inspired by Tom 7’s Crap Art Manifesto, and our friends at Beta Theater’s Make-A-Movie Night, which was this rad monthly happy hour event where filmmakers got together in teams and each made a short start-to-finish in about three hours.

What film have you personally seen the most in your life?

As a teen: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Wayne’s World, and Jan Svankmajer’s “Alice”.

While in film school: “Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies”, by The Brothers Quay.

As an adult: I’m not really someone who re-watches films much anymore. Despite this tendency, the films I’ve spent the most time with in the last five years have been: Penny Lane’s “The Voyagers”, Terence Nance’s feature, “An Oversimplification of Her Beauty”, Karolina Glusiec’s “Velocity”, and my friend Dax Norman’s whole body of work.

How is the film scene in your city?

On the production side, it’s relatively small and a bit fractured, with grant-funded video artists at one end of the spectrum, indie genre filmmakers at the other, documentarians somewhere in the middle, and the vast majority of local film professionals focused on industrials and commercial work.

In terms of curating and screenings, Houston’s film scene is downright incredible. We’ve got Mary Magsamen at Aurora Picture Show bringing the likes of Jodie Mack and Roger Beebe, Houston Cinema Arts Fest, annual festivals hosted by the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, even more screenings at the CAMH, video art/installations/transmedia madness at Civic TV Collective, Peter Lucas’s “Jazz On Film”, the Menil projecting work in a museum context (William Kentridge, anyone?), plus Mystical Crystal Revelations Movie Club showing rad cult flicks, and newer nomadic programmers like Suplex starting to screen stuff around town.

_____
Bio:
Dave Merson Hess is an animator, media arts educator and film curator based in Houston, Texas.
Twitter: @lofiaction

_____

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 Bobby Keller (Nepa Horror Film Festival)

festreviews Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , ,

I recently sat down with the Festival Director of the new festival Nepa Horror Film Festival. Bobby Keller is a big champion of Horror and it shows in this interview. Enjoy:

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

Bobby Keller: Getting their films shown to an audience. The festival is still just starting out, but as a filmmaker, I am grateful for ANY screening of my movies, so I would hope that I am helping other horror filmmakers out.

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

Bobby: Our first festival was in October. It was 13 short horror films, local, national, and international. Now I do monthly screenings at Ale Mary’s in Scranton, which have been consisting of ‘cult following’ shot-on-video horror movies from the 1990’s feature films along with a few short films prior to the features. Last month I did a tribute to Todd Sheets and screened his Zombie Bloodbath trilogy. And February 18th, we will be showing Boardinghouse, Death Metal Zombies, and Warlock Video’s remake of Evil Night.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Bobby: For the short films, basically be under 20 minutes, be horror themed, and don’t suck.

Matthew: What are people’s fascination with horror films?

Bobby: “It’s a way of life, maaaaan!” Seriously though, horror fans are the greatest people in the world. I think that’s part of what makes the festival so much fun. If 100 people show up or 5 people show up, everyone is still going to have a great time and get along. It’s not a bunch of hipsters with Twin Peaks TEETH saying “Shutter Speed” loud enough for girls to hear them.

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

Bobby: I started it to ‘showcase’ local filmmakers in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. And maybe one guy in Nanticoke. I had shown my own films locally with a friend of mine, Stachio. He asked me if I wanted to do anything in October, and I figured since it would be around Halloween, a horror film festival would be a great idea. I set up a FilmFreeway page for submissions, and ended up getting dozens of films from all over the world. The theme was “13 Short Films”, so only being able to pick 13 was tough. I guess my love for horror, being a filmmaker, and wanting to provide something for people in my area to do besides GET THEIR GLUG ON.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Bobby: We’re slowly and surely getting to the point where we won’t screw something up at a screening. Haha. It’s usually just little things that I’m sure the audience doesn’t even notice, but I’ll be sitting in the back having an anxiety attack and choking on popcorn.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Bobby: In space.

Matthew: What film have you personally seen in your life?

Bobby: I think I saw Creepshow 700 times.

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

Bobby: Chainsaws and The Butter Cream Gang.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Bobby: Not bad.. Voyager Video, JVW, and Twenty Five Eight are doing some cool stuff. But then you have assholes who spend more time updating the trivia on their IMDB page that nobody is going to read. I’m more into the Frog scene in Scranton. Philadelphia isn’t too bad either, check out Johnny Dickie and NEPA native Sam Valenti’s stuff.

_____

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 Mark Mos (Los Angeles Short Film Festival)

festreviews Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,
Don’t miss Los Angeles Short Film Festival
Sat-Sun, March 5-6
Promenade Playhouse, Santa Monica CA

smarturl.it/lsff

I recently sat down with the Festival Director Mark Mos to chat more about the festival.

Matthew Toffolo: What is the Los Angeles Short Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Mark Mos: We invite specialists from Industry. They see potential dreaming in hearts of filmmakers. For sure they have great audience and if we screen web episode for example, same audience go online and follow rest of the episodes.

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

Mark: We have short film with James Franco, called Walk in the Winter, but also 30+ films, directors, producers, actors at Q and A we organize after each block/program.

Matthew:  What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Mark: Quality of the story. You don’t have to rent or purchase great camera if you want to tell what is inside you. Just invite your friends, shoot something, practice. One of your films maybe good, another not, but let judges of the festival decide. Each judge is different, so you never know what they will pick up. But please…place credits at the end of the film. We do not want to see your sponsors, or whole bunch of names at the beginning. We want to see first scene of yours…not bunch of letters and who sponsored you. This may wait, when we select your film.

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

Mark: First 2 minutes of the film is very important. I guess festivals want to see some professional skills, even if film is submitted by student. If your actress reads script in her mind and her work is terrible, festival judges will not suffer for rest of the film. Directing might be good, cinematography brilliant, but if you actor is terrible then whole project you may considered trash. I know it’s heavy, but you do the same while watching TV…you skip channels to see something interesting. I guess judges go to another film if yours is not interesting or not well done.

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

Mark: Helping each other. We like to see smiling faces when they get award or certificate. There is nothing more beautiful then happiness of another person.

Matthew:  How has the festival changed since its inception?

Mark: Oh it changes constantly. We have more films for screenings, Q and As are longer and venue is upgraded with bigger screen with new seats.

Matthew:  Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Mark: Bigger, better, nicer

Matthew:  What film have you seen the most times in your life?
Mark: I’m a fan of Die Hard, so when it’s on TV it’s not easy for me to switch channel for something else.

Matthew:  In one sentence, what makes a great film?
Mark: Having soul in it.

Matthew:  How is the film scene in your city?
Mark: Well… Santa Monica is a film city. Bay Watch was shooting here and many…I mean many, many more.

_____

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 Juri Koll (Fine Arts Film Festival)

festreviews Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

The Fine Arts Film Festival (FAFF) is dedicated to showing the finest films in the world about art, photography, collectors and artists of all mediums in and out of their studios, galleries, museums, public art, and alternative art spaces. This includes video art, curated as a film medium.

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

I recently met with the Festival Director Juri Koll to talk more about the festival.

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

Juri Koll: We provide a wonderful audience for films that focus on art or the art world in some way – which is a very niche place in the film world. Lots of films of this kind are lost in the mix of film festivals so we provide a place to showcase these kinds of films.

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

Juri: You will see films here that you may never see anywhere else in the world. Sometimes they screen with us before a quick run at theaters.

The location for the screenings is the historic Beyond Baroque Theater in Venice, California, long renowned as a hub of creative endeavor in Los Angeles, and Southern California in general.

You will meet exceptionally creative filmmakers, artists, musicians and literary artists of all kinds, along with your usual film crowd, as many of the filmmakers who work in the studios and independent productions houses live and also work in Venice. Plus it’s a block or two from the world famous Boardwalk and the beach, so there’s plenty to do after you’ve seen the films!

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Juri: Film subject matter must be related to the art world in some way, whether it be art and artists in or outside their studios, collectors, galleries, museums, public art, and alternative art spaces or other art related subject. It can also be a video art piece itself, which may be accept to be curated with others for a film debut.

Films must have been completed after January 2, 2014.

Other than that it can be any kind of film – narrative, doc, experimental, music video, art – anything that speaks to creativity.

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

Juri: Yes, in our case that’s the reason we created the Festival – because these kinds of films are sort of lost in the mix of all the great films you can see when you go to festivals. I think films about artists – especially documentaries – are often overlooked because people feel they have probably seen one and seen them all – that could not be further from the truth. The films we show are dramatic, funny, witty, jarring, crazy, creative, emotional, awe-inspiring, heartfelt, and real.

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

Juri: A love of and belief in the creative spirit in everyone. We love artists because we are artists.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Juri: We’ve gone from a small regional festival with a few entries into a truly international event in the place we believe to be the center of creativity in the arts in the entire world right now – Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, Venice is known as one of the top creative hubs of the city. It’s got a century long history of making art that has impacted the art and entertainment worlds globally.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Juri: We hope to move to a larger venue next year, and perhaps by 2020 we’ll be in multiple venues across the city. We’re working with local museums to bring programming to them as well.

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

Juri: That’s a tough one. Apocalypse Now, perhaps. Maybe Rocky. There’s lots of them.

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

Juri: A film where each shot and each cut are done for a purpose, where the whole film becomes the story, where you remember the film long after you leave the theater.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Juri: We are the film capital of the U.S. and the world, so our standards are the highest anywhere. The scene is dynamic, vibrant. Constantly – 24/7 – projects are being talked about, bought, sold, started and completed…

and sometimes never completed. We live where dreams are made. People here will help you our on your project if you just ask – you just have to be honest, open, easy to work with, and have a great idea.

_____

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.

_____

Juri Koll Bio:

Along with regularly curating and managing traveling exhibits, and exhibiting his paintings and photographs, Juri Koll produces and directs documentaries on artists and other art world figures. He has produced and managed feature films such as Texas Heart (Lin Shaye), Until The Music Ends (Slash, Chrystal Method), American Cowslip (Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Rip Torn), Hardcore Hearts, and The Truth About Kerry (Stana Katic). Juri has produced and/or directed over 90 short films, both fiction and documentaries. His films have screened all over the world, in over 70 festivals, including Cannes, the Cork International Film Festival, the Australian International Film Festival, and won many awards. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and a regular signatory to SAG/AFTRA.

After graduating from California Institute of the Arts with majors in Fine Art and Filmmaking, Mr. Koll produced the first Art/World documentaries from 1990 – 1995. He worked with major curators in their museums and galleries, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The National Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. His subjects included world famous and infamous artists and curators from the Renaissance period to the present. Recently, Juri’s first documentary, In The Steel: A Portrait of Mark di Suvero, (1991), was accepted into the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution. A Founder/Director of the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art, which produces FAFF, he recently curated the traveling show Water Works, which exhibited at the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster, CA in Fall, 2015, and presented films from FAFF at the LA Art Show at the LA Convention Center in January 2016. For more information: juri@veniceica.org

Interview with Festival Director Carey Westbrook (L.A. Neo Noir, Novel, Film & Script Festival)

festreviews Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, shorts showcase, Uncategorized , , , , ,

Now in it’s fourth year, L.A. Neo Noir Novel, Film and Script Festival has been hailed
by L.A. Weekly as the fest with “The World’s Sexiest, Darkest, Crime Short Films.”
Founder Carey Westbrook has helped many filmmakers find success in Hollywood,
including the Academy Award nominated producers of Blue Valentine and Men of Honor.

For more information about the 2016 season, visit:
http://www.lanneff.com

I recently sat down with Carey Westbrook to talk more about the festival:

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

Carey Westbrook: We make filmmakers from writers. We fully produce short films based on screenplay / novel submissions and screen those shorts at our festival.

No other film / screenplay festival in the entire universe does that.

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

Carey: You will be astounded by the greatest neo noir films from L.A. and around the world.

You will behold the world’s most spectacular neo noir writers’ visions coming to life on the silver screen.

You shall witness the incredible live burlesque dancer performances and finest L.A. cuisine L.A. has to offer.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Carey: Be sexy, be dark, and be crime filled with a dash of film noir. The sexier, the darker, more criminal and film noir-ish you are, the better your chances of being in this festival. If your film can’t be all of those things, you better be one of those things very well.

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

Carey: Because celebrity films are getting circle jerked by everyone at the festival for their well known stars, celebrity producers, and overall big money campaigns. Politics stink up the festivals the way politics stink up politics. Not us. Our festival is funky, but not foul stench exclusionary Hollywood elite big wigs mucking up the joint funky.

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

Carey: Anger. Discontent. There was no L.A. Neo Noir Festival when we started…only film noir festivals…only an idol worship ritual of L.A.’s prehistoric white dead famous
cinematic hero carcasses. We love film noir. There would be no neo noir without film noir, but we are today’s independent cinematic guerillas yearning to tell our own sexy dark crime tales. This is our time. This is our town. This is L.A. Neo Noir.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Carey: We were originally L.A. Neo Noir Erotic Film Festival. People kept confusing erotic with porn. We realized we could bring sexy back stronger and reach broader audiences longer if we took the ‘erotic’ out and just focused on neo noir. Now we’ve brought scripts, novels, and monologues in, and we’re three times better for it.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Carey: In L.A.’s Grammy Museum.

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

Carey: Every three months since the age of 14 I have watched the classic film, Under The Cherry Moon.

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

Carey: An ugly meek guy telling a hot greedy girl to buzz off.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Carey: Great, if your city is Canada. If it’s L.A., the scene is what’s it’s always been: unknown indie visionary no budget filmmakers making something out of nothing…the kind who are featured at the L.A. Neo Noir Novel, Film and Script 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 Festival Director Brian Vegter (We Like ‘Em Short)

festreviews Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

We Like ‘Em Short was started in 2009 as a very small local festival featuring local and American filmmakers. Since 2012, it started to showcase more international films and has seen it’s share of award winning shorts and hosted talented directors including Chel White, Doug Lussenhop, Benjamin Morgan and Joanna Priestly in recent editions of this four day festival. WLES is centrally located at the historic Eltrym Theater, in downtown Baker City, Oregon. All shorts are screened on Theater 1’s giant screen through a Christie Digital Projector.

http://www.welikeemshort.com/

I recently sat down with Brian Vegter to talk more about the festival:

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

Brian Vegter:We Like ‘Em Short showcases animation and comedies from around the world with workshops and presentations from some of the best known directors and animators working in short form in the Northwest. We provide funding to the local high school’s Film Arts Club and have brought filmmakers into work with them during the festival and the school year. Because of our format of 20 minutes or less, the films we screen will only be on the festival circuit or the internet. By screening them at WLES we are providing filmmakers the chance to have their work on the big screen, in front of an audience, and share all the creativity that went into the projects.

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

Over the four days of the festival, attendees can see over 50 short films from around the world by award winning directors and emerging filmmakers alike. Special presentations and workshops from directors and animators. Nightly live music at multiple locations that you can walk to from the home base of the historic Eltrym Theater. All in the breath taking Baker Valley nestled between the Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountains.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Brian: We consider all animated films of any genre or style under 20 minutes in length and for live action films they must be comedies. Our selection committee looks for great story telling as the main strength of each selection. Production value is very important as is our desire to showcase up and coming talent.

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

Brian: We watch everything that gets submitted to WLES and base our decision on the quality of the directors storytelling. In 2012 we had a film submitted by director Charles Roseberry who promised he’d come to the festival if we accepted his film called “The Bell”. It wasn’t my favorite film we had received that year by a long shot, but we receive funding from the county’s lodging tax fund and so they want us to bring in as many people from out of town as possible, so we included his film.

When Roseberry showed up, he had a crew with him doing a documentary about the selection process that films went through and it became pretty clear he was making a film about how to get a film like his into festivals. While he wouldn’t admit that, in front of the audience, I could tell by the extra big smile on his face during the Q&A after we screened “The Bell” I had caught him. So it’s true that in some cases because of funding, decisions about art can be influenced. Just ask Chuck.

Another thing that helps some filmmakers with the selection process is the relationship they develop with festival directors. If we’ve seen great work from someone in the past I’ll contact them to see what they are up to near the end of our submission period and possibly add it to our schedule. One because I like their work and because they’ve developed a following with our audiences.

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

Brian: We’re motivated to showcase unique short films in our rural community in Eastern Oregon because it adds something different to the arts scene here. We have many working visual artists here and the festival came about after a monthly art film series known as Thursday Art Night began in 2008. Every month on the last Thursday, films about artists and the arts have been the focus and WLES grew out of that. We wanted to give local filmmakers a chance to be part of that event and it’s grown into the festival we do now.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Brian: Since 2009 we’ve gone from a festival that lasted one night with only 13 films, all local, to a festival that receives submissions from all over the world. We’ve had as many as 180 submissions in one year since we started accepting films through FilmFreeway and WAB online.

We’ve added workshops, special guest screenings and live music to the festival as well. WLES is now a multi-day event with up to seven screenings through out four days.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Brian: I see us celebrating our 12th anniversary. Cake will be served. More seriously, the growth of our workshops and to see more filmmakers make the trip to WLES where they can connect with other talented people. We have become a resource to production crews that come to the region and I’d hope we can continue that as well.

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

Brian: Blade Runner and Twelve Monkeys are the two films I’ve seen the most.

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

Brian: The use of beautiful and dynamic images to tell the story.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Brian: The history of Baker County films includes the cult classic “Paint Your Wagon” staring Clint Eastwood and more recently “Light of Mine” by director Brett Eichenberger and the TV show “Ghost Mine” was filmed here as well. It’s a fantastic well preserved historic place to film and has been on Rand McNally’s list of America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns. The film production community is small and so most productions bring in their entire crew with them.

_____

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 David Aboussafy, Co-Founder and Co-Director Vancouver Badass Film Festival

festreviews Festival Interview, film festival, film festival reviews, FilmFreeway Review, Interview, interviews, matthew toffolo wildsound, Q&A with the Artistic Director, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

The VBASFF Celebrates new genre films from local and emerging filmmakers. The fest has horror (lots!!!) noir, superheroes, dark comedy, gore, naughtiness and so much more!

http://www.vbasff.com/

I recently sat down with David Aboussafy to talk more about the festival: 

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

David Aboussafy: The Badass Festival breaks down walls, and champions the best in new extreme cinema. Our festival provides emerging and extreme filmmakers a venue to screen their films and to connect with fans, other filmmakers, industry, media, funders and distributors, bringing attention and audiences to compelling original work in style and content. Badass 2015 was a completely sold out showcase of new extreme film with a focus on emerging filmmakers. One Badass 2015 short film El Gigante subsequently went on to win numerous awards around the world and, along with another Badass 2015 short, The Promise/ AlphaMem, are being developed into feature films. Another Badass 2015 film, Swingers Anonymous went on to Cannes and a fully funded feature film for the film’s director. Fans and investors who engaged with filmmakers at Badass 2015 and have helped fund filmmakers’ current projects. In addition, some currently active filmmaking teams met and formed at Badass 2015.

The Second Annual Vancouver Badass Film Festival (Badass 2016), continues to celebrates the new, the different, the shocking, the memorable and upsetting in style and content. Why extreme cinema? We champion unsettling films because they don’t pander to us – their style and subject matter challenge us. To embrace them is to engage something worth hanging onto. The different, the disturbing, can establish their own authority. While the audience for truly bold filmmaking might start small, the extreme may be what endures while the run of the mill are forgotten. Badass films also of course have a premium on straight up attention-grabbing fun and visceral excitement.

The Vancouver Badass Film Festival philosophy is one of breaking down barriers between fans and filmmakers, and between filmmakers, collaborators, funders and distributors. Badass 2016 will have a significantly expanded program including the premieres of select features and shorts programs split into local and international sections with juried awards and a gala. Badass 2016 will include Luchagore Productions new film Madre de Dios, Gautier Casaneuve’s House of VHS from France, Izzy Lee’s Innsmouth and Postpartum from the US. Evening feature premiere’s include Mexico’s Atroz from writer/director Lex Ortega, and Canada’s The Evil in Us from writer/director Jason William Lee and Sandcastle Productions.

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

David: To paraphrase a tagline from one of our favorite Vancouver theatres, they would get a festival experience they can’t download, and one that is much more entertaining and interactive than the usual staid film festival. They will get exposure to a diverse range of great, compelling new films in a carnival-like atmosphere thick with enthusiastic fans, as well as accessible filmmakers and genre film performers. Badass 2016 is hosted by hugely entertaining and unique performers who themselves alone would be well worth the price of admission. Tristan Risk, Samantha Mack and Mister Nickel are the festival MCs, ringleading events such as a twisted Oscar-style awards gala, gonzo film discussions, red carpet photos, post screening Q & As, and some awesome surprises. Special guests speakers include Director Gigi Saul Guerrero and key cast and crew from The Evil in Us, as well as some high profile speakers were are not able to announce in advance. Badass 2016 home VIFF/Vancity Theatre is also fully licensed and you can bring alcoholic drinks with you to your seat.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

David: Badass films are new films produced or released in 2015 or later, that meet our definition of extreme or unsafe cinema (which can encompass the avant-garde as well as genres such as horror, noir, SF/fantasy, and wild action); in short, exciting films that are highly original in content and/or style (preferably both), from anywhere in the world. No boring-to-look-at, safe, sappy rom-coms or earnest predictable dramas, please.

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

David: Yes, certainly at both a funding and large festival level, the traditional funding agencies in Canada have long favoured a type of very safe, predictable film making (often from the same filmmakers). As a result, the big festivals they sponsor and fill with their films tend to be rather dull and uninspiring. This conservatism and caution also typifies most films funded and produced in the vertically integrated and risk-aversive studio system. Even the older independent film festivals have been trending toward safer and safer content, leaving more extreme new films out in the cold, and geniuses like the Soska sisters and Gigi Saul Guerrero on the outside looking in.

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

David: The Badass festival was formed to fill the gap left by the traditional festivals, and to meet the needs of new, original extreme filmmakers, which includes giving them and their fans a place to party their asses off together in a celebratory environment. We want to create a festival that supports, encourages and showcases the most exciting new films and filmmakers. In addition, we want to provide fans of such films and performers a truly exciting and engaging festival experience. In the crowdfunding era, fan engagement can be funder engagement, and we at Badass are also motivated to foster innovation and collaboration between filmmakers, producers, fans, funders and distributors.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

David: In our first year, the Vancouver Badass Film Festival was a short film festival. In this our second year, we have grown to include, feature film premieres, new sponsors and events, and have greatly expanded our short film program.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

David: We at Badass are big fans of the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, a multi-week genre film festival with a lively distribution and co-production market. We have set a very ambitious goal of eventually developing Badass into something like that. However, it’s still relatively early days for us; in the next four years we would like to continue to grow with respect to programming, sponsors, and fan and filmmaker engagement, with a longer and even more engaging festival. By 2020, if that sales and distribution method is still viable, we would like to host an international genre film and co-production market to coincide with the festival. Additionally, we would also like the Vancouver Badass Film Festival to be on the vanguard of new approaches as funding, production, distribution and sales models continue to rapidly change.

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

David: As a child, I saw Star Wars many, many times. This past year, I have seen Mad Max: Fury Road three times in the theatre, and I would see it again right now.

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

David: A great film is one you can’t look away from, shows you something new, and one that you can’t forget.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

David: Vancouver is home of the third largest television and film industry in North America, with a multitude of experienced professional crew and an abundance of acting talent. Vancouver is also the home of a very vibrant independent and genre film community, with many active gifted filmmakers, as well as supportive venues such as the Rio Theatre, and the VIFF/Vancity Theatre.

badass_1.jpg

_____

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.