An online magazine offering resources and information for film festival directors, programmers, filmmakers, actors, and fans of independent film.
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Cambria Film Festival is offering some great films this week!
Kick off your Festival experience with our special virtual Preview Night, featuring a special welcome from Festival Programming Director Alan Fraser and a compilation of trailers for many of the features and selected shorts.
Barbara Twist of Film Festival Alliance, a CJ Top Women In Cinema alumni, provides an update on how the pandemic has affected her and her business.
Less than three days until NOVA FRONTIER FILM Festival 2021! Join us Juneteenth weekend, June 17 - 20, with Billie Holiday Theatre, Inc., and LaurelChannel, in sharing 16 films from the African Diaspora, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Don't miss out on the NOVA Frontier's 2021 Film Festival from June 17 - June 20 streaming only on LaurelChannel!!!! Trust me, you don't want to miss it😁😁
Billy Gerard Frank Lydia Darly NOVA FRONTIER FILM Festival Billie Holiday Theatre, Inc.
Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab, The Billie Holiday Theater and Laurel Channel TV have once again joined forces to present the 2021 virtual edition of the Nova Frontier Film Festival during Juneteenth weekend from Thursday, June 17th – June 20th. Now in its 4th year, the Festival will feature films from across the African Diaspora, The Middle East, and Latin America, as well as a robust suite of events, all free and accessible to the public. Be sure to tune in! FRONTIER FILM Festival Holiday Theatre, Inc. Darly Gerard Frank
Don't miss the 10th annual TIFF Next Wave Film Festival, which starts this Friday, February 12. Specially curated for filmophiles under the age of 25, Next Wave hopes to “challenge the idea of what a youth film festival should be.”
In the past, film screenings were held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, a cultural center located at the heart of Toronto, Canada’s entertainment and media district. As the cinema is temporarily closed, movies are available for viewing through Bell Lightbox’s digital platform.
To learn more about TIFF Next Wave Film Festival, check out the link in our bio.
Early submissions for the annual Black Cat Picture Show are now underway. The festival will be taking submissions through April 25 from different categories like Feature Narrative, Documentary, Animation, and Student films.
Running on its seventh year, this adjudicated film festival is the first and only one of its kind in Augusta, Georgia that provides a platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and form meaningful connections. Their slogan, “bringing new cinema in the old south” echoes their commitment to amplifying independent films in the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) region.
To read more about Black Cat Picture Show, go to the link in our bio!
"Celebrating Christmas in the Philippines can truly be a unique experience. As early as September, Filipinos from all over the world start putting up their Christmas lights and blasting holiday tunes wherever they go. It wasn’t until Disney’s ad was released that I realized there are virtually zero holiday films made by Filipinos that are recognized worldwide. This realization is perhaps why the ad struck an emotional chord with me along with many other Pinoys, especially those of us miles away from home."
Writer Precious Ringor shares her thoughts on Disney UK's latest Christmas ad featuring a Filipino grandmother and granddaughter and why it hit home for so many Filipinos around the world.
"Many of the movies that I recall loving as a child didn’t hold up against the test of time. The ignorance of discrimination and racial bias peeks out of the shiny ribbons and bows they were wrapped and presented to us in. While that is disappointing, it has been nice to see the rise of representation in holiday films and TV shows. Producers have realized that families need to see themselves in the shows and movies that they watch for holiday productions to keep thriving, and it’s become more and more evident in the last few years."
Writer Aliah Sheffield shares her thoughts on the rise of representation in holiday films and their importance to underrepresented communities.
Link in bio.
Happy Holidays to all of you and your loved ones from our team at Film Fest Magazine. May you receive peace and joy as we approach a new year in a new decade.
"Tears welled in my eyes as I drove home—I was so overcome with nostalgia. The song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” came on the radio while driving back from an essentials supply run at the grocery store. Pre-COVID-19, I was fortunate enough to focus mostly on the lyric about going home—never making much emotional connection to the phrase 'if only in my dreams.' Today, though, it hit hard like a lump of coal stuck in my throat."
Writer Melanie Carden reflects on holidays past, watches her favorite Christmas films and talks about nostalgia in the time of COVID in this special Christmas op-ed.
Link in bio!
“The bottom line is that the pandemic has changed the dynamic of film festivals all over the world,” Jon Fitzgerald
The survey addresses many of the challenges of the online festival circuit and includes feedback from 100 filmmakers, festival representatives, and distributors.
The next edition of Sundance Film Festival will take place in Park City, Utah — and New York, and Ohio, and Tennessee, and Kansas, and California, and Florida. The 2021 festival, which runs f…
2020 has changed the landscape of independent film exhibition - and we’re proud of our member festivals who’ve remained nimble and creative as they’ve shifted their plans and reimagined their audience & filmmaker experiences.
As your local and work to rebuild and reshape, please consider supporting these community organizations who are worthy of your philanthropic support on this and beyond!
“I think film festivals are just as vital a part of expanding cultural horizons, revealing stories that might otherwise not be seen, and also allowing for a gathering of enthusiasts for the art form. The switch to virtual has definitely challenged some of the social and networking aspects of film festivals, but the root idea of creating exposure for diverse and important voices in the art form is still strong."
Film Fest Magazine writer caught up with Phil Davis - founder and creative director of - to talk about the importance of film festivals and their role in the industry.
Read the full article now! Link in our bio!
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"It’s most definitely a gift to the Filipino community. I feel, and I’m sure a lot of people agree, we’re virtually invisible. We're not present in media, in movies, or films. So, I really wanted to make an authentic Filipino story. At the same time, I also wanted to make an American story that almost anybody could relate to. From your grandfather to your little brother, no matter what your race or political leanings, I hope people from all walks of life will have something they can relate to in the film [...] I do think it's kind of for everyone but ultimately, it's a gift to Filipinos and the immigrant experience."
Film Fest Magazine writer Precious Ringor chats with YELLOW ROSE director Diane Paragas to talk about the 10 year process to produce her film, what it was like to work with Broadway legends Eva Noblezada and Lea Salonga and why YELLOW ROSE is still a timely story, even 10 years after its initial conception.
Read the full article now. Link in our bio!
Meet Doug Montgomery, Executive Director of Japan Connects Hollywood.
Film Fest Magazine writer Precious Ringor sat down with Doug to discuss bridging the cultural divide between the U.S. and Japan and the legacy of Japanese filmmaking and art.
Read the full article now! Link in our bio.
Meet Mallorie Ortega: Director, screenwriter and producer whose film The Girl Who Left Home premiered last month and has garnered her some pretty serious attention as a newcomer in the film scene.
Film Fest Magazine writer Jonah Azurin sits down to talk with Mallorie about the importance of patience and hard work when embarking to create an original film.
Today is the last day to check out 's 27th annual Festival. The festival opened on October 22 and closes this evening.
“AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.”
For more information, go to the link in our bio and go to "Film Festival Resources"!
Meet the Film Producer: Jeremiah Abraham.
"We’re always devices or vessels to uplift someone else’s story. That’s why I really cling to projects like and , because they’re actually putting Filipinos at the forefront [...] I found that, a lot of times, with Filipinos and Asian Americans in films it’s always ‘Culture, culture, culture’, and then maybe you’re interested in someone as a person."
Film Fest Magazine Editor has a virtual coffee with friend and producer to discuss Filipino American history, identity and representation in film and television.
Read the full article now on our website! Link in our bio!
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's virtual festival opens tonight and runs through October 30! Be sure to catch their opening event tonight: Animated Music. The event starts at 7:30 PM and features 6 Baltimore bands and musicians with music videos created by Baltimore animators. Baltimore musicians include . A Live Q&A with the musicians and animators will follow.
To read our full article, go to the link in our bio and scroll down to "Recent Articles".
To learn more or to reserve your tickets, go to https://www.sweatyeyeballs.com/seaf2020_animatedmusic.html
Meet Alisha and Scott Patterson: The Founders of Afro House. Afro House is a company of professional artists in Baltimore “committed to the development of a music culture that is disruptive, exuberant, innovative, emergent, and transformative”. They currently have an animated short, Sun Saw Her Face, premiering in this year’s virtual Sweaty Eyeballs Animated Festival tonight at 7:30 PM!
We sat down with Scott and Alisha to talk more about their new short, producing an epic sci-fi trilogy and their choice to shift from theatrical to film production. Catch the full article now - click on the link on our bio and check out "Recent Articles".
The Superfest Disability Film Festival is running now through tomorrow - Sunday, October 18, 2020.
Superfest has been leading the way as a film festival that prioritizes, not just telling the stories of disabled individuals and communities, but also that their films are accessible to ALL members of its audience.
“It would make a huge difference for showing we’re there, we’re trying to do the work, and we want to do more,” encouraged Superfest co-director Emily Beitkis, “So we can start to see these institutions that have been really inaccessible, start to make progress.”
Check out their films now online!
To read the full interview with Emily Beitkis, go to the link in our bio.
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Superfest Disability Film Festival - happening now through tomorrow/Sunday, October 18 - is one of the longest running disability film festivals in the world. It's also one film festival that's been leading the charge in creating accessible viewing options for its audience, something that many others are struggling to provide in the midst of COVID-19 programming. In March, Superfest held a mini online film festival to bring the community together. This event had a larger attendance turnout than ever before and many organizations reached out to Superfest on how to have a successful online film festival.
Emily Beitiks, the co-director of Superfest, discussed with Film Fest Magazine how Superfest aims to screen films that take a step further, beyond just creating awareness about disability.
“There’s a certain ‘I told you so’ moment happening for people who have fought long and hard for virtual programming. Because of our help and guidance that we received previously from the disability community pushing us to do this early we’re well positioned to make that transition happen.”
To access the full article, click on the link in our bio.
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Writer sat down with Executive Festival Director Francis Cullado and Sr. Festival Programmer Eseel Borlasa from the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival to talk about festival programming, audience engagement, and the importance of storytelling in films.
"This is actually our biggest festival in terms of programming because when you go virtual it’s sort of like Netflix. It’s infinite. How do you give enough time for people to watch [films] without getting virtual fatigue? That’s still a struggle during this time. How do you have natural connections with people when things are this way? The festival is not [just] about film, but filmmakers and artists connecting with each other."
Read the full interview and more on our website. Link in our bio!
The opened last week and runs until Sunday, October 25! Catch it now online! Or - if you're in Bend, Oregon - you can catch one of their 12 drive-in screenings and watch their films in person!
Browse the articles on our website and learn more!
The Superfest Disability Film Festival opens this Friday, October 16 and runs until Sunday, October 18!
Make sure you catch this impactful festival and the films they're featuring about an incredibly underrepresented community.
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Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab, The Billie Holiday Theater and Laurel Channel TV have once again joined forces to present the 2021 virtual edition of the Nova Frontier Film Festival during Juneteenth weekend from Thursday, June 17th – June 20th. Now in its 4th year, the Festival will feature films from across the African Diaspora, The Middle East, and Latin America, as well as a robust suite of events, all free and accessible to the public. Be sure to tune in! @NOVA FRONTIER FILM Festival @Billie Holiday Theatre, Inc. @Lydia Darly @Billy Gerard Frank
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