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Interview with Festival Director Roger Sampson (Focus International Film Festival)

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Roger’s creative journey started late in life. He didn’t realize his passion for the theater arts until his 30th birthday.  In 2003, Roger moved from Dallas, TX to Los Angeles, CA to pursue his dream. Since then, Roger has enjoyed acting, screenwriting, and directing success through the years.
Roger started the Focus International Film Festival in the fall of 2015.  His mission was to celebrate and honor the best in independent cinema through a festival which lets the working professional community judge the material presented.

Interview with Roger Sampson: 

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

Roger Sampson: The Focus International Film Festival provides film makers a platform to showcase their skills and talents using the opinions of the working professionals that film makers hope to work with and impress as the baseline to providing them a level of credibility many festivals lack. Its more meaningful to the films and the film makers.

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

Roger: The festival is actually online only at this time. We hope to grow into a live festival with screenings, but we’re just starting out with this format and need time for it to grow legs before we venture into a live event.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Roger: The grading system used to select the films looks at three primary areas of focus, which are production quality, performance and story. Many films excel in one area or another, but great films excel in 2 or more areas. We seek out the most well rounded material. Story well told with excellent production quality given in excellent performances. As film makers ourselves, we are all students of the craft and all have areas to improve on. But we seek to honor those film makers advanced in their craft enough to produce quality material but have yet to be recognized on a larger scale by the entertainment community.

Matthew: Why would a filmmaker be motivated to submit to your festival?

Roger: Since the event is online only at this time, we are able to keep our submission fees low, which is an aid to all film makers. Add in the credibility of our celebrity jury and if a film maker can spend a small amount and be able to promote their film as having been voted the best by working entertainment industry professionals, that is something as a film maker I would do without hesitation.

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

Roger: Our primary motivation relates to our own festival experiences. Festival choices are always subjective, and determined by the education and experience level of the decision makers. So we figured if those decisions should be made in terms of cinematic excellence at the independent level, who better to judge that than the working professionals the film makers are striving to be and work with.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Roger: We’ve actually had only 1 event so far, in the winter of 2015. The jury voting period expires January 31. The Spring 2016 event is the first with the celebrity jury panel. In the summer we’re planning expansion efforts to include longer trailers, longer shorts and feature films in addition to other changes.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020?

Roger: Its hard to tell at the moment if this format will find a sustainable market, but we’re confident that the celebrity jury format will take hold and by 2020 we will host a live event once or twice a year and with any luck feature appearances by the jury itself. For this article though, lets call that a wish list.

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

Roger: The film I’ve seen the most times would have to be The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

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

Roger: A great film is an amazing story well told with excellent production quality and committed performances which provides the audience a meaningful emotional experience.

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city?

Roger: The film scene in Dallas and North Texas as a whole is vibrant and active. Film makers are hungry for quality story telling and take steps toward mastery of the craft every day.

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

Interview with Kevin McLaughlin, Founder Boardwalk Film Festival

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The First Annual Boardwalk Film Festival with be premiering in September
of 2016 in Asbury Park at the beautiful New Jersey Shore. The BFF promises to be one of the key events on the film festival circuit. They will kick off a long weekend of films and events that is sure to become a must-attend festival for filmmakers and film lovers far and wide.

Kevin smallerWriter/Director Kevin McLaughlin founded the Boardwalk Film Festival, an annual 4 day event taking place in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Go to http://www.boardwalkfilm.com/ and learn more about the festival.

Matthew Toffolo: What is the festival attempting to accomplish for filmmakers and the attendees? 

Kevin McLaughlin: We want to give filmmakers and film fans everything that any good festival does: First, we offer a great screening experience in a quality venue and the opportunity to see new and unknown works and meet the people behind them.  Secondly, we’re making sure that there are numerous opportunities for networking and making connections, both personal and professional. And most importantly, we want the festival to be a fun, welcoming event that people will want to put on their calendars year after year.

Matthew: There are a lot of film festivals out there. How will the Boardwalk Film Festival separate itself from the pack with its first annual festival?

Kevin: The BFF will be different from most festivals in several ways. First, we won’t be showing any films that glorify or

trivialize violence.  There are a lot of great films being made that don’t involve blowing people’s heads off, and we want to insure that they have a venue in which to be celebrated.  We’re also honoring storytelling, and the people who do it well.  Unfortunately, a lot of indie filmmakers will create a beautiful-looking film that just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.  We’re more interested in a well-told story that entertains and informs.  Finally, we intend to honor the filmmakers above all.  I think it’s important to remember that if it weren’t for the filmmakers, there would be no film festivals.

I also think it’s important for the festival to give a true picture of the community to which it belongs.  There are other festivals in the region that have a festival director and a programming staff, none of whom live in the state. How could they possibly represent the community?  We’ll do that much better because we are truly a part of this community, and most of us have been for all our lives.

Matthew: How did the festival get started? 

Kevin: As a veteran filmmaker, I’ve screened my films at a number of festivals, I’ve attended several major festivals, and I’ve worked at a couple of festivals as well, and I’ve always thought that I could do it better. Too often, festivals are run by bankers and businesspeople who just want to boost the economy of their town. I thought it was important to have a festival run by filmmakers who understand the needs of the indie filmmaker. So I gathered a number of people I’ve done productions with over the years, and started this festival from the ground up.  We’re adding more people to our team all the time, and as we gain sponsors and supporters, the team becomes more rounded and broad-based, but at the core is a group of people who understand and revere filmmaking and that will be reflected in this event.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival in 5 years? 

Kevin: I’d like to see our festival become an important date on the calendar of every filmmaker and film lover. I know we’re not going to be challenging Sundance for the top spot anytime soon, but I think that east-coast filmmakers and film lovers will come to know us as a must-see festival every September.

Matthew: How is the film scene in Asbury Park?

Kevin: The arts scene in general is booming in Asbury Park.  In a city that’s best-known for its music scene, artists of all stripes are a key component.  The city has numerous art galleries and there is a small community of filmmakers as well.  There’s another film festival in town – the Asbury Park Music in Film Festival, which only shows films about music (that’s why we DON’T show music films) and while they just launched last year, they’re off to a great start.  There’s no limit to what can happen here.  Travel & Leisure magazine recently named Asbury Park among the ten best places to travel to in the whole world!

Matthew: How many films do you anticipate showcasing at your 2016 Film Festival?

Kevin: We’re still working out the details of our screening schedule, but we will probably be showing about 30 feature-length films and around 70 to 80 short films.

Matthew: Can you give us a sneak peak of what to expect for the 2016 Festival?

Kevin: FUN!  That will be the most-used word you’ll hear on the boardwalk that weekend.  We’ll have films, parties, the beach, and lots of great people coming together to celebrate their love of film. We have some great sponsors that will be hosting events in some of the city’s famous venues right alongside the Atlantic Ocean, and in mid-September, the crowds are gone but the weather is still beautiful.

Matthew: What do people living at the Jersey Shore think of that infamous reality show based on the area?

Kevin: I’m so glad you asked that. There is no doubt that the LEAST popular TV show in this area is MTV’s Jersey Shore.  A fact most TV fans are not aware of is that NONE of the people on that show were from New Jersey, and the image they present is not remotely what The Shore is about. Visitors to the Boardwalk Film Festival will see an environment that bears no resemblance. You’ll meet people who are educated and articulate, who go TO THE BEACH when they want to get a tan!

Matthew: What’s the best place to eat at the Jersey Shore?  

Kevin: Well, a lot of people don’t realize that the Jersey Shore is an area over 140 miles long, encompassing hundreds of little towns, each with its own personality and hot spots.  In Asbury Park, where the Boardwalk Film Festival takes place, you’ve got a small town with over 60 restaurants, clubs, and brew pubs.  That includes five-star spots like Moonstruck and Porta, along with more casual places like The Wonder Bar or Johnny Macs, where you get free pizza anytime you buy a drink! There’s even a food truck park where, in one spot, you can get Korean Tacos, Peruvian food, and New Jersey’s favorite guilty pleasure, Pork Roll and Cheese!  The festival shuttle bus will stop at a lot of these spots, so you can judge for yourself which one is the best.

Matthew: How are people in New Jersey reacting to your Governor, who is currently running for president?   

Kevin: I myself was never a fan, and I think since he’s been running for president, Chris Christie has lost many of the fans he did have here. His approval rating is down around 33 percent.  Don’t mention his name to any teachers here unless you want to hear a tirade of negative sentiment.  He’s no more popular among filmmakers, since he killed the tax credit program the state had for film production.

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

Kevin: That’s a tough one, since there are a number of old favorites that I’ll watch over and over again – The Wizard of OZ, The Graduate, The Jerk, Citizen Kane, The Grapes of Wrath, A Christmas Story, Rocky, Blade Runner… the list goes on and on. Any time Titanic pops up on my TV, I just can’t change the channel!

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is a multiple award winning short filmmaker. He is currently the CEO of the weekly WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival.

Interviewee Kevin McLaughlin graduated from Seton Hall University, earning a Master’s Degree in Television and Film from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

His credits include everything from elementary school science programs to America’s Most Wanted and The Uncle Floyd Show. He most recently served as Head Writer and Supervising Producer on Where Health Works, a 3-part series created for PBS TV.

THEIR MISSION 

The Boardwalk Film Festival was created to bring arts, culture, commerce, notoriety, and good public relations to the New Jersey Shore.  The annual festival will provide a platform for exhibition of a wide variety of films, some of which would not otherwise be available to the local population.  The BFF will have a special emphasis on well-told stories that don’t rely on violence for their dramatic energy.

Interview with Pat Battistini, Festival Director for All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival

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The “All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival” was established in 2009 by Pat Battistini. The first year of the festival was held on one day and screened thirteen films. Since then, the festival has blossomed into a three-day event screening an average of seventy films.

To learn more about the festival, go to http://allsportslafilmfest.com/

Matthew Toffolo recently sat down with Festival Founder Pat Battistini:

Matthew Toffolo: What is the festival attempting to accomplish for filmmakers and the attendees?

Pat Battistini: The festival was started because there really wasn’t another outlet for independent sports films and documentaries. As in other niche festivals, we wanted to create an atmosphere for sports enthusiasts. As for the attendees, ultimately, we’d love to have a complete sports festival with everything to clinics to memorabilia. But as of now, our attendees get a lot of sports films to watch in 3 days.

Matthew: Are there a lot of sports genre films being made around the world? Besides the United States, what other countries make great sports films?

Pat: We have screened films from 31 countries. I was surprised at how many filmmakers out there are making the sports genre film. Every year I think that we’ve exhausted the surplus but every year we get more and more films.

I imagine each country has their own great film or films. As to what other countries I feel make great sports films, that answer probably lies within the country itself. I think the difference to why a film in the US might be more well received here than in China is because of the pop-culture. We have our heroes, our folklore, and our favorite sports and they have theirs. I’m partial to our films because I’m usually familiar with the sport or the story. I don’t think Brian’s Song would fare well in India. But on the same note, I don’t think a film about one of their Cricket stars would fare here. That’s not saying their films aren’t great, but if you did a search for the top 25 sports films, probably 90% of them would be from the US because these are the films we see.

Matthew: How did the festival get started?

Pat: I always thought someone should do a sports genre festival so I waited a couple of years to see if anyone was going to do it. When nobody did, I talked with a friend of mine who runs a horror film festival and asked her how I woul dgo about starting a festival. She showed me the ropes that first year. I learned a lot in those first few years but now, it’s kind of a well oiled machine.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival in 5 years?

Pat: I hope we can continue to grow and actually be an outlet for the studios to release their big films during our festival. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the sky is the limit with the festival. Since sports is such a huge part of so many people’s lives, I hope to create something that gets people excited to attend and participate.

Matthew: What obstacles has your festival faced (if any) in the last few years?

Pat: The hardest thing for us has been the lack of sponsors. In any give year in Los Angeles, there are over 80 film festivals. That’s a lot of festivals fighting for sponsorship money, advertising, and media time. Having a festival here in LA is like having a pizzeria in New York; lots of them and everyone says theirs is the best.

Matthew: How many films do you anticipate showcasing at your 2016 Film Festival?

Pat: If I could, I’d screen 100 of them. But with time constraints, I hope to screen about 70. That sounds a lot but that includes everything from spec commercials to shorts to features.

Matthew: Can you give us a sneak peak of what to expect for the 2016 Festival?

Pat: Every year there seems to be a certain sport that takes center stage. One year we had a lot of MMA films. But this year there is a huge variety. I’ve seen films about ceremonial lacrosse sticks to world record skydiving. However, the one common denominator that I can say is that almost all of the films are about the human spirit. Sports are more than competitions. Especially sports films. These films are about people and what they do to achieve their dreams and goals.

Matthew: What do you think the best sports film of all-time is? If you can’t pick one, do you have a top 5?

Pat: I guess I’d have to pick my top 5 because some days I like more than others. Here they are in no particular order:

5.) The Natural
4.) Miracle
3.) Rudy
4.) Field of Dreams
5.) Moneyball

Matthew: What sport generally has the best made sports films? You assume it’s baseball, but is there another sport that also stands out?

Pat: Football, Boxing and Basketball probably have to be close seconds. But when it comes to comedy, I think that doesn’t matter. Caddyshack and Dodgeball are always fun to watch.

Matthew: You you have a favorite sport and sports team?

Pat: I grew up watching and supporting all of the Chicago teams. Si if I had to pick from those, I’d go with the Blackhawks. But now I think I enjoy watching college football more than anything.

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

Pat: If it’s any film, probably The Godfather. Since it came out around 1972, I’ve had plenty of years to watch. ;o) I don’t know why but I just can’t turn it off if it’s on. As for sports films, I’ve probably The Natural a million times

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the festival director for the WILDsound Film & Writing Festival.

Interviewee Pat Battistini is a former college wrestler and football player, Pat started his professional career as an Offensive Line Coach at Grand Valley State University.  After several years of coaching, he traded in his whistle for a career in filmmaking.  He has resided in Los Angeles since 1998 where he established the All Sports Film Festival in 2009. Pat has personally represented the festival as an invited guest to Russia, Turkey, India and Italy serving on the jury of their festivals.

Interview with Denise Gossett, Festival Founder/Director for the Shriekfest Film Festival

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Heading into their 16th year, the Shriekfest Film Festival & Screenplay Competition is one of the top Horror Festivals in the world today. Founder Denise Gossett was voted number 5 out of 13 Most Influential Women In Horror History!

Go to the website and find out about the 2016 season.
http://www.shriekfest.com

I recently sat down with Denise Gossett to talk about her festival.

deniseMatthew Toffolo: Bottomline, what are you attempting to accomplish (and obviously succeeding at) with the Shriekfest Festival?

Denise Gossett: Well, my goal has always been to help get exposure for all of these talented filmmakers and writers that people may not know about. We are all about the indie filmmaker.

Matthew: Why do you think there is such large fan base for Horror Films? Why do so many people like being frightened and scared when watching something?

Denise: I think it’s the same reason people look at a car accident, we are curious, however, we like to experience it when it’s not a life or death situation..that’s where horror films come in. Being frightened is fun and exciting, it’s a visceral experience. Same reason people love roller coasters. The thrill of it all.

Matthew: What motivated you to start this festival?

Denise: I had starred in a horror film & realized that there weren’t any horror festivals in the U.S to help promote it, horror seems to be the ignored step child of the industry and I wanted to change that.

Matthew: What have you learned the most running a successful festival for over 16 years?

Denise: You have to be kind, you have to help people and you have to enjoy it and be passionate….these creatives are trusting me with their babies, whether it’s a script or a film, and I should treat that baby with the utmost care and love.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception?

Denise: The main passion and caring has remained the same, of course, but, now we get submissions from every country out there, Shriekfest wins all kinds of awards, and we have regular fans that attend every year. Also, if you have a win at Shriekfest, it does seem to open doors for people.

Matthew: How many films do you anticipate showcasing at your 2016 Film Festival?

Denise: We will screen approximately 45 films!

Matthew: Can you give us a sneak peak of what to expect for the 2016 Festival?

Denise: Hmmm, we are discussing that right now….ways to make our “Sweet 16th” birthday extra special. New trophies, bigger, better parties, some new categories.

Matthew: Where do you see your festival in 5 years?

Denise: Oh goodness….well, I may not be running it by then. I am an actor as well and my career is really taking off and it’s making it very difficult for me to do both. We’ll see. 🙂 As long as Shriekfest is around, I will be involved in some way. It’s my baby and like I said earlier, I want it treated well. So, in 5 years, it will be extremely hard to get tickets to any of the screenings. How’s that? LOL

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

Denise: Grease 🙂 I was obsessed with it when I was younger.

Matthew: Is there a country that consistently makes great horror films that you show at your festival year after year?

Denise: Spain really produces some amazing films.

Matthew: Has there ever been a case where a film that you watch that gets submitted to your festival is just too violent or just too gory?

Denise: Well, there are some, but I have an audience that loves that stuff, so, it doesn’t affect decisions.

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

Denise: A great horror film has a great story with some new or unique ideas, great acting, great filming, great sound, great editing, basically, a complete package.

Thank you so much for the interview. I’m honored.

* * * *

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the festival director for the WILDsound Film & Writing Festival.