news

Deadline Today: ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Festival

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , , ,

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

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

Submit via FilmFreeway:

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

– NEW OPTION: Submit for a guaranteed acceptance.

– 8 Film Festival events a year.

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

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

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

Romance Screenplay Festival happens monthly.

– Full feedback given on all submissions by industry professionals.

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

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

Watch WILDsound DOCS Festival – April 21/22 event

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

Watch the festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/april-21-docs

See the Full Lineup of Films:

TEAM OCEAN, 40min., USA
Directed by Bethany Teague
10 nonprofits along both U.S. coasts fight for a better future for our one ocean, and therefore our world. Team Ocean is a celebration of how each organization’s talents, expertise and passions weave together a beautiful tapestry of teamwork from every sector – fisheries, species protection, food security, arts, education, recreation and more.

https://clickandpledge.com/project-ocean/
https://www.facebook.com/clickandpledge
https://twitter.com/clickandpledge
https://www.instagram.com/clickandpledge/

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/team-ocean-review

TOLLERMANIA, 27min,. Canada
Directed by Karen Lang
In this film, Ukrainian-Canadian ceramic artist, Natalia Laluq, interprets the life and work of Canadian world champion figure skater and artist, Toller Cranston, through a stop-motion installation of individually crafted ceramic plates. The art project itself was almost 2 years in the making. The show took place at Toller Cranston’s studio in Mexico in 2014, the year before Toller died. This documentary shows the work from initial concept through process and completion. It is one artist interpretation of another artist’s work and life.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/tollermania-review

HOSPITAL ART, 2min., USA
Directed by Ethan Knecht
A short aesthetic review of Westchester Medical Center’s art.

https://www.instagram.com/knechtions

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/hospital-art-review

SWISS CHEESE HOLES, 20min., USA
Directed by Ethan Knecht
Covertly filmed in Disney World, Swiss Cheese Holes is a multi-layered documentary that explores the timeless question: How do you make a film about your father’s mental breakdown in Disney World?

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.instagram.com/knechtions

Deadline Today: ACTION/ADVENTURE Film & Screenplay Festival

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , , ,

A showcase of the best Action/Adventure Films and Screenplays from around the world.

Submit via FilmFreeway:

Festival takes place every single month online.

Film Festival will be showcased at the monthly virtual film festival.

Screenplay submissions offers writers at all levels the fantastic opportunity to hear their stories read aloud using professional actors. Full feedback on all submissions as well by our team of professional screenwriters.

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

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

Tier #2 (optional) – Your film plays on the Film Festival streaming service for 30 hours and invite a select industry audience to watch it. With this system, some films have already received a distribution deal as many platforms are looking for solid feature and short documentaries. We can not guarantee anything of course but this has been very helpful to many in the past. (see testimonials below)

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

Filmmaker Roberta Pia De Angelis (THE TWO SPINSTERS)

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

THE TWO SPINSTERS, 9min., Italy
Directed by Ugo Lanzotti, Roberta Pia De Angelis
Two ladies have been living together for many years. One of them, Maria, has to face an old family hostility for having chosen to live love…

https://www.instagram.com/roberta_de_angelis

Get to know filmmaker Roberta Pia De Angelis:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

This film was born as a final project at our university last year. What we wanted to tell was a homosexual story but in a different way. What motivated us to write this story, as it has been written, was to show how love has no age or gender. However, as in most cases, it is not always easy to follow your heart and feelings, especially when the people you loved most during your life did not support you in your choices.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

A few months, during which the whole troupe concentrated on the entire process, each of us on their role, paying attention to the distribution already during the pre-production and production phases.

3. How would you describe your film in two words?!

Gentle, familiar, and different… Let me add a third one, please 🙂

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle for us was trying our best to write such a sensitive topic, avoiding falling into cliché.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I got very excited, thinking back to all the teamwork carried out in recent months, especially, seeing the appreciation the public has given.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Well, telling the truth I realized that I would like to work in the film industry when I was sixteen and worked as an extra on the set of an international series TV that was filmed in Naples (here in Italy), in my hometown. This experience made me think back to the old good days when I was a child and used to spend a lot of time in front of a TV, wondering how films or TV programs were made.

So, I think it’s something that comes from far away, from my curiosity, and from the fact that my grandparents owned a little movie theatre in the district where I was born.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Of course, the ones of the most famous directors in the past and present days (not all of them, obviously), but my biggest love is Agnès Varda. So, I have watched all of her filmography and also decided to write my final thesis for the bachelor’s degree about her person and her Art.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think, for example, making masterclasses with professionals to review the writing scripts, the direction, and the production of a long/short film, and increasing the distribution opportunities as much as possible.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How have your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Actually, great! It’s a very useful platform if you do not have enough money to contact a distribution company. In this way, you can distribute your film on your own.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Telling the truth, I do not have a favorite meal but obviously, I’m deeply in love with the food culture of my own country, with the Italian cuisine.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

At the moment, I’m finishing my studies (of course on film-making), but I’d like to go abroad and specialize in film production and distribution and then come back here to Italy and do something in my own country, in the Italian film industry.

Filmmaker Alexander Ku (THE CAPTIVE)

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

THE CAPTIVE, 15min., Australia
Directed by Alexander Ku
Two men Simon and Dennis meet online for a real time hook-up. What happens blurs the lines between desire and manipulation, as events fold into a dangerous baiting struggle.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The inspiration behind ‘The Captive’ stemmed from my curiosity to delve into the complexities of the male psyche, exploring themes of loss, desire, anger, and violence. Rather than solely focusing on traditional depictions of male camaraderie, I was driven to unravel the intricate layers of homosocial bonds shared between emotionally conflicted men. Central to this exploration were universal issues such as loneliness, anxiety, mental health, sexuality, and the nuanced dynamics of consent, including the often overlooked ‘me too’ aspect among men.

Moreover, I sought to reimagine the Psychological Drama genre by infusing it with European Expressionist influences. Through the integration of metaphors and symbolism, I aimed to evoke subtext and subjectivity, challenging viewers to engage with the film on both conscious and subconscious levels.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The journey of creating this film spanned several stages over a six-month period.

Initially, I spent approximately two weeks brainstorming the concept and crafting the pitch deck. Once the project received approval, I had a tight two-week timeframe to develop the screenplay, iterating through approximately eight drafts to refine the narrative.

Moving into production, we allocated four days for casting and auditions to assemble the right talent. The studio shoot took place over a concise two-and-a-half day period, ensuring efficiency without compromising quality, with an additional six hours dedicated to exterior scenes.

Post-production involved meticulous attention to detail. Editing the footage took approximately ten hours to refine pacing and narrative flow. Subsequently, we dedicated around five days to color grading, enhancing visual aesthetics to align with the film’s thematic elements.

The music composition phase allowed the composer two months to craft a score that elevated the viewer’s experience. Finally, sound design received approximately five days of dedicated attention to ensure immersive auditory elements.

Overall, each stage was meticulously planned and executed to bring our vision to life.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Intense, Introspection

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle I faced in completing this film was securing financing. When an educational institution came on board to support the project, I had to adjust my screenplay to align with their standards and expectations. This included toning down explicit language and sex scenes to ensure the film complied with the institution’s guidelines without compromising its artistic integrity.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was gratifying to hear the audience’s reactions to my film and to know that they understood the themes, story structure, shifts in focus, perspective, and genre, as well as the subtexts. I appreciated that they recognised the aesthetic choices I made with cinematography and colour palette, set design, voice-over, performances, and music. Knowing that they were emotionally involved while watching the film made me happy.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I realised that I wanted to make films after watching Patrice Leconte’s film ‘Monsieur Hire’ as a school student. Despite initially pursuing studies in ballet, psychology, and education at universities, I eventually attended film school.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

The film I’ve seen the most in my life is Eric Rohmer’s ‘Boyfriends and Girlfriends (L’Amie de mon amie).’ It’s a very charming and delightful film.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I believe this festival excelled in promoting filmmaking and marketing the films. It’s essential for filmmakers to share their work and make it accessible to audiences.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

FilmFreeway, as the festival platform, has been good and friendly to navigate.

10. What is your favorite meal?

My favourite meal is a bowl of fresh fruit salad consisting of mango, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, and kiwi. It’s light and refreshing.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Besides teaching at a college, I am currently in post-production for a documentary feature film, and I’m also in the process of developing a feature drama.

Filmmaker Cory Wexler Grant (SCREAMS FROM THE TOWER)

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

SCREAMS FROM THE TOWER, 2 hours, USA
Directed by Cory Wexler Grant
SCREAMS FROM THE TOWER is a gay, coming-of-age comedy that follows Julien Rosdahl, his best friend Cary, and their outcast friends through high school in the 1990’s. The only thing Julien dreams of is having a show on the high school radio station, but his brand of comedy is very… weird.

http://www.screamsfromthetower.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

After finishing my first feature, PAINTER, which is a dark, brooding, psychosexual drama, making a coming-of-age comedy about a couple of closeted gay boys growing up in the 90’s, felt like nice change of pace. And I’d never seen a gay film quite like SCREAMS. It’s also a love letter to an old friend, who formed me, and shaped the way I saw the world.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

4 years. Is that fast? I have no idea. It felt fast. I had what I thought was a whimsical idea. I handed the script to my producer and friend, Alex Wenger, and the moment Covid restrictions were lifted, we were shooting in the midwestern suburbs of Chicago. Post production took too damn long, but I love post production. I think we were very, very lucky – timing, financing, casting… This film was like a very determined unborn baby who just had to exist.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Boys. Wigs.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Time is the obstacle. Money, of course. All the usual stuff. And our brilliant DP, Sarah Whelden, rightfully won’t shoot at high noon, “Unless you want it to look ugly.” That’s an obstacle. But in truth, nothing was going to stop me from completing the film. I’m always going to complete the film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Well, it’s nerve wracking watching people talk about your film. Especially when you’re not in conversation with them. It’s just terrifying. But, they seemed to like it. And that was quite nice. Thank you.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I’ve always wanted to make movies. I don’t know what else to do.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

“PeeWee’s Big Adventure”. Also, David Fincher’s “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. And of course, “The Shining”. There’s a relationship there. But I have no idea what it is.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I suck at making industry connections. And we are all looking for sales agents and distributors. So anything you can do to help filmmakers along in that regard is always deeply appreciated.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It’s a great site. Incredibly efficient.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Bucatini Amatriciana. Fresh Red Vines too.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Always a new film. A New York City black comedy. I write fast. I have a dozen scripts burning a hole in my laptop. Some stories really bug you, keep nagging you to become real. This next one has been bugging the shit out of me. I can’t wait to make it.

Filmmaker Maclovia G Martel (SPACE FOR ART)

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

SPACE FOR ART, 15min., USA
Directed by Maclovia G Martel
Space for Art is an extraordinary documentary film on the power of hope, courage, and healing. Featuring astronatut, and artist, Nicole Stott the film follows her on perhaps her most important mission of uniting a planetary community of children through the awe and wonder of space exploration and the healing power of art. Meet some of the young children who are wise beyond their years.

https://www.spaceforartfoundation.org/space-for-art-film

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

This had all of the great ingredients for a remarkable story.

Space is sexy. Everybody loves an astronaut.

But for me healing children through art, completely grabbed my heart.

This is a story that was certainly worth telling!

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

This film took a year and a half to complete. This is a long time for a documentary short.

But for us it was important to get this right.

The film is global, which is a great part of the story, but adds to the challenge of the story as well.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Healing Power

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

We wanted the audience to appreciate the power of healing for children.

But we also wanted to tell the story of a remarkable start-up no-profit organization.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Tremendous satisfaction that a story that we struggled to get right, seemed liked it was clearly understood and deeply appreciated. We felt like all of the hardwork was fully redeemed.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I was speaking to astronaut Nicole Stott, and she humbly was explaining the purpose of her new mission in life.

Because she was so down to earth and so humble it took me about 20 minutes to appreciate how beautiful and impactful her initiative really was.

I begged her to trust me to try to capture this remarkable initiative and this remarkable story.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I have seen “Die Hard” the most.

But I have recently been touched deeply by the documentary “Wild Life.”

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

We were super satisfied. We always are open to cross social media leverage!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Of the entire film project, this was probably the most efficient experience!

10. What is your favorite meal?

Foreign, exotic and spicy

11. What is next for you? A new film?

We are looking at doing a documentary short on the California desert flower superbloom

Filmmaker Hugo Hebbe (RORQUAL)

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

RORQUAL, 43min., France
Directed by Hugo Hebbe
Have you ever wondered what creatures might be hiding in the Mediterranean?

http://rorqual-lefilm.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
This is my very first film as a director. Making this film was therefore a real challenge and a dream to achieve for me. I was fortunate enough to encounter the Rorqual (the animal in the film) several times before deciding to make a documentary about it. It was these encounters with it that pushed me to make this film. It was the best way for me to pay tribute to this fascinating creature and to the work of the WWF.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took me a total of two years from the concept of the film, through shooting, writing, post-production, and finally to its release.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Discovery and Awareness

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle I faced in completing this film was my seasickness, which made filming at sea extremely challenging. Additionally, as this was my first film, I often found myself questioning and doubting my decisions during the production process. Despite these challenges, I was able to learn a great deal, which significantly enriched my experience and growth as a filmmaker.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Seeing the audience’s reactions in the feedback video was incredibly moving. Hearing our work compared to that of National Geographic was probably one of the finest compliments I could receive. It reaffirmed the impact and quality of our visuals and storytelling. I am also very pleased to see that the audience appreciated the film so much. Their positive feedback is both heartening and motivating as we continue to pursue our passion for filmmaking and environmental storytelling.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I realized I wanted to make films from a very young age. I had always dreamed of encountering the wild animals that inhabit our planet. I watched a lot of films, like “Oceans” by Jacques Perrin, and it was this passion that sparked my dream to become a filmmaker. The desire to tell stories about the natural world and its magnificent creatures drove me towards this path.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
The film I’ve seen the most in my life is “Interstellar.” I’m deeply influenced by its mysterious, musical, and contemplative aspects, and I strive to bring these qualities into my own films, particularly in the genre of wildlife documentaries. I aim to infuse this touch of mystery and contemplation into the stories I tell about the natural world, blending emotional narratives with the awe-inspiring visuals of animal life to evoke a deep sense of wonder and introspection in the audience.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Submitting to the festival via FilmFreeway was a straightforward and intuitive experience. The platform was easy to navigate, which made the process of submitting my film quite smooth.

9. What is your favorite meal?
French Fries

10. What is next for you? A new film?
Following the success of my first film in collaboration with WWF, we have launched the production of a second film, which is even more ambitious. This new project aims to build on the achievements of the first and expand our exploration of critical environmental themes, using a deeper, more comprehensive approach to storytelling and visual presentation.

Filmmaker Elisabetta Zavoli (THE FISHERMAN, THE ALIEN, THE SEA)

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

THE FISHERMAN, THE ALIEN, THE SEA, 9min,. Italy
Directed by Elisabetta Zavoli
In June 2023, the population of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) boomed unexpectedly in the Goro lagoon, Delta of Po River, Italy. Here, amidst the alarmed but inactive shouting of the entire community, a young fourth-generation fisherman, Alessio Tagliati, leader of a small cooperative of clams farmers that has lost all their production to the blue crabs’ voracity, faces this new environmental challenge by reviving a traditional sustainable fishing technique his grandfather taught him and by following what the sea taught him: being ready to adapt to an environment that continuously change, thus showing a tremendous spirit of resilience in the face of the collapsing of his world.

http://www.elisabettazavoli.com/
https://www.facebook.com/elisabetta.zavoli
https://twitter.com/elizavola
https://www.instagram.com/elizavola/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I’m a freelance documentary photographer and filmmaker. In 2023, I investigated the invasion of alien species Atlantic blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in the Mediterranean Sea thanks to the support of the National Geographic Society – Storytelling Grant. One of the outputs was a short film telling the impacts of the blue crabs invasion.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I made this short film from July to October 2023, when I met Alessio Tagliati, the young fisherman, whose approach was the perfect subject for telling a positive story of human resilience and care for the environment.

3. How would you describe your film in two words?
Sea, Hope

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest challenge was to find the ideal weather conditions to support the narrative.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I think the audience got the right message from my short film and this makes me very happy and accomplished.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
The short film was one of the outputs I have to produce for the National Geographic Society – Storytelling Grant but until July 2023 I haven’t found yet the right subject for telling the story. When I found him, the story unfolded in front of my eyes.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
The Piano by Jane Campion

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I think that live screening events where filmmakers can meet the audience are always the best!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
My experience was very good and FilmFreeway was very well organised.

10. What is your favorite meal?
I’m vegetarian, so any dish based on vegetables and fruits.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I hope to be able to follow up the blue crabs invasion crisis in the lagoon and see how the whole community reacts.

Deadline Today: FEMALE Feedback Film Festival

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

Submit via FilmFreeway:

The FEEDBACK Female Film Festival (FFFF) was created for women filmmakers and screenwriters. The goal is to showcase the best of female talent in film & TV from around the world.

—–

Film Festivals (short & feature) occurs 12 times a year (every month) in Los Angeles and Toronto.

Accepted films get their film screened at 2 festivals. The Audience Feedback Festival where you will receive a video of people’s reactions to your film. (Great asset to promote your movie). Plus, the Film Festival Streaming Service Festival where it will be seen by people in the industry and film fans.

Plus, each filmmaker gets the opportunity to do two interviews to further promote them and their work. A blog interview, and a podcast interview on the Film Festival ITunes show.

——-

Screenplay Readings also take place EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

Every submission received full feedback on their script from an industry professional. Winning scripts get their script performed by professional actors and make into a video for you.