2010 DIY FILM FESTIVAL CALL FOR ENTRIES

2010 DIY Film Festival Call For Entries
Saturday, September 19, 2009


The 2010 DIY Film Festival is now accepting entries for its year-round program celebrating independent and self-produced films. The festival, which screens in Los Angeles and other cities, seeks to honor films produced without studio or corporate funding.

This year, the DIY Film Festival adds a new twist. In addition to our screenings and our traditional filmmakers reception, the festival will also offer a special salon dinner that will allow our top winners to sit down with film industry experts and plan a course of action for their projects now and in the future. This intimate exchange will put YOU in the seat next to the people you need to talk with and allow you to ask the questions that need to answered!

FILMS SHOULD BE MAILED TO JM Northern Media, DIY Film Festival, 7095 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 864, Hollywood, CA 90028. Deadline is January 25, 2010. Please note that films cannot be dropped off in person.

WINNERS OF THE 2009 FILM FESTIVAL

2009 DIY FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED
2/14/2009 LOS ANGELES (Feb. 14, 2009)_ The disturbing short film “11 Missed Calls” has been named the Best Film of the 2009 DIY Film Festival, which honors the best of international do-it-yourself filmmaking.

The film, which also won the Best World Cinema category, will be screened at the American Film Institute on Friday, March 13 as part of the 2009 DIY Convention, which showcases the top independent films, music and books of the last year.

“11 Missed Calls” details three people seemingly trapped for an interminable length of time in an elevator. The tension mounts as they try desperately to summon help, quell dissension and find a way out. Director Philip Moran’s surprise ending will linger in your imagine for a long time.

The other winners of the 2009 DIY Film Festival:

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: “Hard Coal,” an examination of the hardscrabble world of independent mining and the stacked deck such operations face;

BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE: “The Appearance of a Man,” a dark look at mysterious lights
over the Southwest;

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT: “Hung Up,” a noir-ish tale told by a red dress;

BEST STUDENT FILM, “Escapism,” a look at how two characters from different worlds find common ground;

BEST ANIMATED SHORT, “Larry and Roz,” a nostalgic look back at a grandfather’s attempts to woo his bride;

BEST WORLD CINEMA: “11 Missed Calls,” which details the interactions of three people in a stuck elevator;

BEST DIRECTOR: Philip Moran, “11 Missed Calls”
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Find out what festival screeners think

A smart move from the Festivus Film Festival; this series of YouTube videos presents volunteer screeners talking about the films they pulled from the stacks and got through to programming. It's a great way highlight the films in your festival, present yourself as an organization that keeps its filmmakers' interests in mind, and draw attention to your event in the process. There's a bunch of these on the Festivus FF Youtube channel.

How to "do" the Toronto Film Festival

I've been to Toronto before for Hot Docs, but this will be my first trip there for "Toronto" - the shorthand for the Toronto International Film Festival (I've never heard anyone outside the staff call it "TIFF.")

Larry Richman, on the other hand, seems to have been a number of times, and offers this three-part guide of "tips for real people," ranging from line etiquette to specific advice about particular venues.

Check it out. Part one, part two, and part three.

Festival Tips from The Pigeon: Impossible Blog

Fellow Austinite Lucas Martell has been hitting the fest circuit with his new short, Pigeon Impossible. (You may recall that I linked to an episode of Martell's podcast a while back.) Here's what he has to say about getting to know the festival staff.

One big thing that I learned at Palm Springs: do your research. More specifically, know the names and titles of the key people working at the festival. There’s usually 3-7 people ranging from print traffickers, to the festival director, programmers, and media coordinators. If you don’t get something from the festival introducing these people beforehand, they’ll definitely be in the printed program. Be sure to glance over those names so that when you run into them at a party, you’re able to put a face to the name and say thank you for all their hard work.

Read more on The Pigeon: Impossible Blog.