Reporting on film festivals
“STAR LIGHT is a highly entertaining thriller of a film featuring an exciting, fresh young cast and a solid track record of inventive horror courtesy of Mitchell Altieri. We look forward to audiences around the world discovering the film,” said Lev Avery-Peck at 1091.
EarthxFilm’s Artistic Director, David Holbrooke, added, “It was odd but exciting to see all the award winners gather for this year’s EarthxFilm Awards ceremony on our computer screens. We had winners join us from Mossville, Louisiana to Zimbabwe, all of whom are doing critical work on the environment. It wasn’t easy to pivot from our terrestrial festival to a virtual one but it worked and while we look forward to being able to gather again and meet these wonderful filmmakers and their remarkable characters in person, we are really heartened by what we pulled off with EarthxFilm 2020.”
“The importance of curating this weekly mix is to showcase the versatility of our filmmakers and highlight how global cinema unites us,” Executive Director Melanie Addington said. “Whether through a music documentary about fighting a conservative government with art, or Queer cinema from southern filmmakers, to gorgeous animation from Oxford Film Fest alumni like film professor and fest circuit favorite Geoff Marslett, this week’s virtual film festival again allows us to narrowly focus in on these great films and engage much longer detailed conversations about filmmaking.”
OUTstream Film Fest (June 1-7) announced the QUEERING THE QUARANTINE FILMMAKER CHALLENGE, which is now open for submissions. Short films made while observing social distancing orders and submitted to OUTstream Film Fest will be screened on the fest’s website and shared on social media, with a “Best of” compilation screened together as part of the kick-off for the inaugural edition of the virtual film festival on May 29.
The 24th Annual Full Frame Film Festival, which would have taken place April 2-5, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to the fest’s credit, they still announced the films that were officially selected for the film festival and just revealed the films that were presented with jury awards and cash prizes.
Executive Director Melanie Addington, said, “The Oxford Film Festival has become a vital showcase for independent film and filmmakers for close to two decades now, so rather than reducing the number of the films that routinely receive the benefits of having that platform, we decided to create these weekly presentations in lieu of a one-week online virtual film festival. We’re excited by the idea that we can give each film that much more of a focus. It is important for festival organizers to adapt in this pandemic to do what is best for their filmmakers as they are our partners and the only reason our industry exists.
“So many of the stories we share about conservation, climate change, and the heroes working to protect our planet are a testament to the triumph of the spirit, and our collective hope for the future.” David Holbrooke, EarthxFilm Artistic Director adds “We can’t think of a better time than now to gather (at a distance) and experience those stories, highlighting the difference we can play.”
CineCina Film Festival Founder and Director Vina Sun, added, “We have great pride in being a part of the film and film festival community of New York City. Our theme for this year’s edition of the CineCina Film Festival is “Love and Duty” and donating these masks – so needed at this time – most definitely comes from our sense of love and duty toward our beloved New York.”
“We’ve been looking for a way to emulate the iconic Record Store Day idea for years,” said Lela Meadow-Conner, Executive Director of Film Festival Alliance. “It was always a challenge for film festivals since not everyone has access to a theater at the same time. So now, we gladly take this opportunity to bring audiences from across the country together, at home, and celebrate what makes the film festival experience so unique: connecting people communities through cinema.”
McCarthy added, “OUTstream Film Fest could reach people that want to have an understanding about LGBTQIA+ people or appreciation for queer cinema. It’s all about inclusivity. Films are made to tell someone’s unique story and if it’s only being seen by people that have “lived” that story, then it’s not reaching everyone that could legitimately connect with and be touched by that story.”
