11th Annual NY Int'l Latino Film Festival

It's that time of year again! The 11th Annual New York International Latino Film Festival starts this Tuesday, July 27. Latino films large and small will be screening at 2 venues in the city: the School of Visual Arts Theater and the Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 9.

If you want to get a head-start on the festivities, head over to the Iron Dale Center on July 26 for the kick-off celebration, presented by Chillin On Da Corner and Beyond Film Series.

The ever-growing film festival is sure to be a star-studded affair. This year's event includes a few highly-anticipated star-studded indies as well as a few new directors to watch. Buzzed-about films include the The Dry Land (starring America Ferrara and Wilmer Valderrama) and Tropico De Sangre (starring Michelle Rodriguez and Cesar Evora.)

I'll be there closing night to catch Stolen Dreams, the 2009 Rio International Film Festival winner, directed by Sandra Werneck.

Come one, come all! Bring your friends! This increasingly popular and well-respected festival is sure to deliver some promising fare.

NYILFF BROOKLYN LAUNCH PROMO!!!!!!!! from Ephraim Fetti Benton on Vimeo.

A Blurb on IFP by Yours Truly, Christa

At the request of IFP, I am going to be writing a few blog entries about this years Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto. As a member of the US Delegation, I am attending all events and will just be giving some insider info.

I am posting the article here, but you can check out this article and future ones at http://independentfilmmakerproject.blogspot.com/

IFP Member and U.S Delegate Christa Boarini Blogs Hot Docs

I guess depending on your level of experience in film festivals and your degree of success within the film industry, you view festivals quite differently. I, Christa Boarini, am a New York based filmmaker, working on my first feature length doc. Needless to say I am more of a buzz-following festival goer than one who is buzzed about. At least for now.

It is day 3 at Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival, here in Toronto. True, the real heavy industry stuff begins tomorrow, Monday, but even in these past three days there has been a lot of mingling, theatre-going, crying, laughing and badge-reading. Things may have been a bit slow here in the Filmmaker Internet Lounge/Sales Desk (the first couple of days offered only complementary water, while now there are tables decked out with coffee and gourmet local teas).

But now fellow Industry Pass holders wander in an out, having meetings, checking their email, having some coffee or trying to sort through the three or four thick textbooks of information that came in the goodie bags they give us at registration. We get a Program Guide, an Industry Guide, a guide of attending commissioning editors, etc etc etc. All great and useful information, but it takes a while to sort it all out.

Oh, and if you are coming to Hot Docs later next week, be sure to ask for a flexible badge holder. The others break.

In any case the festival so far is has proven to have nicely balanced programing, combining the heavier humanity-is-awful features with equally as compelling docs that leave you feeling happy to be human. For example, yesterday I watched Talhotblond, a cautionary film where a cyber love triangle of people who have never met ends in a 23 year old man's death. The young man's parents were there, they cried, we cried, it was wonderfully heartbreaking. I then walked over to the screening of Wasteland and my broken heart mended and soared to see a mixture of art and opportunity and good things happening for good people. You simply must see Wasteland and you will instantly understand why it has won the Audience Awards of basically all the film festivals it has been at.

Another great thing to take advantage of is a new program added to Hot Docs this year called "Ripping Reality: Essentials from Documentary's New Wave". This compilation of great documentaries made in recent years gives us the opportunity to see these wonderful films on the big screen. Whether you've seen the film a million times and it is the reason you decided to quit your job and go into documentary filmmaking, or if it is a movie you've heard of but never got around to seeing, Ripping Reality has so far been a great success.

So, between the regular film screenings, the Industry Only events, the parties, the Rendezvous meetings, the Documentary Forum, the International Co-Production day etc, I have had to make out meticulous schedules for every day, reminding me of what I am going to see, what meetings I have and what are the must-attend events of the day. So far it has been a great experience and I plan to take full advantage of it. By the time I get back to New York on May 10th I plan to be absolutely exhausted.

Everyone's A Producer

Often times indie filmmakers glean whatever techniques they find useful from traditional producing. Well, in times when producing and distribution have gone topsy turby, one always needs to be open to new ideas. Well I just want to share some innovative methods that have been getting some attention and some success.

Last month’s Rotterdam Film Festival saw producer Rutger Wolfson including entire audiences into the fundraising of a film. Imagine that: every person in every seat turned into a co-producer for your film!

To see how he did it, check out the explanation of his “coin” method in the full article here.

Scamdance 2010 - Beware of Bogus Film Festivals!

Ok, so indie filmmakers these days are just finding out if Sundance and Berlin and SXSW film festivals accepted or rejected their films- and for those who unfortunately get rejection letters, it is time to move down to Plan B (or C or D or X) and apply to other lower-profile film festivals in order to get their film screened and reviewed.

We all know that while it is everyone’s strategy to apply to multiple film festivals to increase the chances of getting in. But each new submission costs between $25-$60, plus copies of the film and promo materials. That can be a real ouch as it is- even more so when they go to waste on film festivals that turn out to be scams.

What are scam film festivals? Basically a ploy set up by a con artist who puts out a website and maybe some ads about “Whatever Film Festival” in Bumble-nowhere, Iowa. The small, new film festival is set up only to profit from those ever-present submission fees, when actually no films are watched, reviewed or screened. In other words, there is no actual festival. It is a scam.

These scammers prey mostly on indie filmmakers who are new to the whole film fest thing and who desperately want a chance to have their film, their sweat and blood and money, screened to a live audience on a big screen and hear them ooh and aah. The best way to AVOID them is to be prepared, know what to look for and research. Yes, research.

First off, look for red flags.

· New Festivals- New festivals can be a great backup if you are rejected by the Big Boys like Cannes and Toronto. However, take a close look at their website. Check things like, festivals from previous years, ads, reviews or press materials from previous years. Were there any actual events? In this article, its mentioned how the Alaska Film Festival website mentioned that they had a been around for years but had no mention of films previously screened. Upon closer look at the fine print, it said that movies were never actually screened to a public audience. What kind of film festival is that?

· High $ubmission fees- especially it is from a relatively unknown festival. Really it is only the top tier festivals that can get away with fees above $30. And even then, Sundance only charges $35 and is one of the biggest out there. So if Scamdance in Ohio is asking for a $70 fee, make sure to raise an eyebrow.

· Who the Check is Written to- Film festivals are organizations, so submission fees should usually be requested payable to the organization, not to an individual within the organization. If it is, do some more research.

There are many ways that you can further inspect suspicious festivals. Again, research. For example, Google the festival. Sometimes something as simple as that will bring up forums where victims of previous scams report their experiences. If the festival is legit, then there should be some old news, reviews or blurbs about it in local newsprint.

If you’re still not convinced, look up the local film commission for Bumble-nowhere, Iowa and ask. They definitely should be able to tell you if they have heard good things of the festival (or have heard of it at all).

Another thing is the way you find out about film festivals in the first place. As a filmmaker you should probably be at least skimming film periodicals every once in a while to keep yourself up to speed on the industry you want to be working in. These types of publications will have news, blurbs and updates on legit film festivals.

Withoutabox.com Have you heard of them? Shame on you if you hadn’t. This great little website has streamlined the film festival application process and provided a way to research and catalog and keep track of film festivals. You can be assured that festivals on that website will be legit and your application process will be that much easier. Check them out!

All in all have common sense and dig a bit deeper when you smell something iffy. And remember, you should bee keeping yourself informed regardless, so a lot of these tips should just be extensions of stuff you already do. So good luck with your submissions!

Film Festival Guru Chris Gore on the Next Double Down Film Show!

On the next Double Down Film Show we'll be going over film festival survival tips for indie filmmakers with our special guest, Chris Gore. Chris is the founder of the Film Threat magazine and website and also author of the wildly popular film book, The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, which has just been released in a new and updated fourth edition.

· What are the best film festivals that you've never heard of?

· How should you network at a festival event?

· What should you be prepared to do the moment you're accepted?

· Which festivals do distributors attend?

· What should be in your festival press kit?

The insider answers to all these questions and more will be laid bare in our no-holds-barred interview with the very frank (and funny) Chris Gore. We give you straight answers to pressing questions, for filmmakers by filmmakers, every Wednesday night...Listen and learn.

WARNING: This particular conversation contains some adult language not suitable children under 18.

The Film Festival Show on the Next Double Down Film Show

Making a film is only the beginning of the story. After the film, comes the film festivals. Getting people to actually SEE and RECOGNIZE your film is the next big challenge. On the next Double Down Film Show, we’re going behind the scenes to talk candidly with Karina Rotenstein, Programming Manager at HOT DOCS in Toronto and Leslie Vanderpool, Founder & Executive Director of the BAHAMAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, to get the inside scoop on the best filmmaker practices for festival success. From applications to promotions, we’ll break down the most important things to keep in mind when applying, screening or attending film festivals.

The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here.

Date / Time: Wednesday March 18 - 9pm-10pm

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen To It Online Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

Animation Block Party - July 25-27

Since, I'm started on an animation kick last post, I might as well follow it up with an animation festival. And not just any animation festival. This one is more like a party...actually it IS an animation party right here in our very own quaint little village of Brooklyn, NY.

To be specific, I'm talking about The 5th Annual Animation Block Party which pretty much includes everything the name implies- animation, good drink, and bands all in an outdoor setting in the inner city. Here's one of last year's films from my fellow NYU alum- Sarah Wickliffe:




Apart from the video and description from the official website below, I really know absolutely nothing about this event, but I do know a good time when I see it and this event looks like a good time for anyone, but particularly if you are a creator or fan of animation.

Unfortunately, I will be shooting another party in Brooklyn Saturday night- a multi-venue Barack Obama fundraiser, but this looks like a good time. Perhaps I'll make it through on Sunday sometime.




Here's the info and official website description:

Some call it punk rock, some call it grass roots, but labels aside - NYC based Animation Block Party is dedicated to exhibiting the world's best independent, professional and student animation.

Since the premiere of the first official Animation Block Party film festival on September 9th 2004 - we have received over 4000 animation submissions from all ends of the earth.

Animation Block Party will run from July 25-27, 2008 in Brooklyn. Over 100 films from a record 800 plus entries will be screened at the fifth annual ABP.

ABP opens on Friday July 25th at Rooftop Films, featuring live music from Plushgun, followed by a screening of ABP's most fun and fan friendly cartoons. A party at Bar Matchless will follow with free beer from Radeberger.

ABP continues on Saturday July 26th at Bam Cinematek, with experimental works and music videos in Program One and a storytelling focus in Program Two. Screenings will be followed by an after party at Cherry Tree with free Newcastle from America's News Source, The Onion.

ABP closes on Sunday July 27th at Bam Cinematek, with top professional and independent works in Program Three and the strongest narrative local and international shorts in Program Four. The closing evening party is at Habana Outpost, featuring streaming videos, delicious food specials and free draft beer courtesy of Autodesk.

The Best of Sundance

Sundance 2007 is over, but now the best part of the festival is online. The organizers of the festival have made available a huge trove of material that should be helpful for any filmmaker.

Included on the site are short interviews with many of the filmmakers who screened work at the festival, explaining their filmmaking process.

Another great feature on the site is the inclusion of over 40 of the short films exhibited at Sundance, shown in their entirety along with a contact list and full credits.

One particularly good short is "Motodrom" - directed by Joerge Wagner - which won an honorable mention award for short films at the festival.

Also available at this post-fest roundup is a interesting collection of trailers from the last 25 years of Sundance, starting back when it used to be called "The United States Festival."(!)

Check it out!