Katharine
09-14-2003, 06:46 PM
I had the pleasure yesterday of attending MIFF, the Melbourne International Filmmaker's Festival, in Melbourne, Florida.
The festival ran for three days, with around 50 films shown in total. Many films were from Florida, but just over half were from all over the US, Canada, Iran, France, Sweden, and other countries all over the world.
The festival is run by 3 Boys Productions, a small group of very intelligent and hardworking professionals. The festival is 100% non profit. All the proceeds from ticket sales and the submission fee (which was $5) goes directly to two charities: one that helps HIV+ patients and one that helps to prevent child abuse. The charities are "Unconditional Love" and "Yellow Umbrella."
Administrative costs are covered by the 3 Boys, and food and screens are donated by businesses in Melbourne.
The theatre was a REAL movie theater, with stadium seats. It's a Premiere theatre called the Oaks Stadium 10. Two screens showed movies on 35mm and video. All video selections were converted to Beta at no cost to the filmmakers.
The festival was very well organized and the staff, the 3 Boys and volunteers, were very friendly and positive. There was a filmmaker's workshop and a director's round table Q & A in addition to the screenings on Saturday.
The VIP party was held at a place called The Henegar Center. The reception hall under crystal chandeliers was lined with incredible food from local restaurants, staffed with volunteers from each one. The theatre at the Henegar Center was a 344 seat two tiered luxury, which on normally has both live theatre and movies.
The crowd came out in full force, selling out the theatre and unfortunately, many had to be turned away.
I watched around 20 films during the course of the day, and honestly, I did not see one bad one.
The festival also premiered a four minute preview of a film that recently wrapped in Melbourne called "First Time Caller." First Time Caller, is a Sullivan Brothers comedy with an star studded cast including Patrick Gallo, Chris Elliot, Fred Willard, Moe Rocca, and David Alan Basche.
Patrick Gallo was the guest of honor, and the Sullivan brothers were also in attendance.
The mood was exhuberant, the films were excellent, and the audience was thrilled. I highly recommend that filmmakers submit to next year's MIFF. The Festival has been running since 1999, growing in leaps and bounds every year.
In my opinion, this festival should be the model for the perfect independent fest. The 3 Boys are not charging inflated submission fees, admission, though it all goes to charity was only $6.50 per day at the theatre, and the VIP party was $30 which included open bar, free gourmet food and three hours of films.
The crowd of filmmakers and audience members were excited and happy to be part of it. I didn't see anyone traipsing around full of themselves bragging about this and that...it just wasn't like that.
If anyone has ever been turned off by commericalization of bigger fests, or by unprofessionalism of smaller ones, MIFF is the answer to your prayers.
No, I don't work for them....and yes, every word is true.
Their site is at
http://3boysproductions.com
for more info...
The festival ran for three days, with around 50 films shown in total. Many films were from Florida, but just over half were from all over the US, Canada, Iran, France, Sweden, and other countries all over the world.
The festival is run by 3 Boys Productions, a small group of very intelligent and hardworking professionals. The festival is 100% non profit. All the proceeds from ticket sales and the submission fee (which was $5) goes directly to two charities: one that helps HIV+ patients and one that helps to prevent child abuse. The charities are "Unconditional Love" and "Yellow Umbrella."
Administrative costs are covered by the 3 Boys, and food and screens are donated by businesses in Melbourne.
The theatre was a REAL movie theater, with stadium seats. It's a Premiere theatre called the Oaks Stadium 10. Two screens showed movies on 35mm and video. All video selections were converted to Beta at no cost to the filmmakers.
The festival was very well organized and the staff, the 3 Boys and volunteers, were very friendly and positive. There was a filmmaker's workshop and a director's round table Q & A in addition to the screenings on Saturday.
The VIP party was held at a place called The Henegar Center. The reception hall under crystal chandeliers was lined with incredible food from local restaurants, staffed with volunteers from each one. The theatre at the Henegar Center was a 344 seat two tiered luxury, which on normally has both live theatre and movies.
The crowd came out in full force, selling out the theatre and unfortunately, many had to be turned away.
I watched around 20 films during the course of the day, and honestly, I did not see one bad one.
The festival also premiered a four minute preview of a film that recently wrapped in Melbourne called "First Time Caller." First Time Caller, is a Sullivan Brothers comedy with an star studded cast including Patrick Gallo, Chris Elliot, Fred Willard, Moe Rocca, and David Alan Basche.
Patrick Gallo was the guest of honor, and the Sullivan brothers were also in attendance.
The mood was exhuberant, the films were excellent, and the audience was thrilled. I highly recommend that filmmakers submit to next year's MIFF. The Festival has been running since 1999, growing in leaps and bounds every year.
In my opinion, this festival should be the model for the perfect independent fest. The 3 Boys are not charging inflated submission fees, admission, though it all goes to charity was only $6.50 per day at the theatre, and the VIP party was $30 which included open bar, free gourmet food and three hours of films.
The crowd of filmmakers and audience members were excited and happy to be part of it. I didn't see anyone traipsing around full of themselves bragging about this and that...it just wasn't like that.
If anyone has ever been turned off by commericalization of bigger fests, or by unprofessionalism of smaller ones, MIFF is the answer to your prayers.
No, I don't work for them....and yes, every word is true.
Their site is at
http://3boysproductions.com
for more info...