New York Independent Film Festival

[unberto]

Why would you drop $300 on an entry fee? It's a scam, right?

[KevinCarr]

Basically, yes, it's a scam.

However, there are ways to take advantage of this if you're willing to fork over the $300. Like much of this industry, if you're creative and proactive, you can make anything work for you.

If you pay the $300, you are pretty much guaranteed to get in. Let's face it, they ain't gonna turn down $300 from you, so there's no standard of quality in the submission process. It's not a legit festival in the eyes of some folks.

But, if you submit your film to have it shown, you basically get a New York screening. There's ways to take advantage of this, like sending out screener copies of your film to NY reviewers, so you can get some press in a New York paper. (Otherwise, it's really hard to get any reviewer to look at your film if it isn't showing in their city.) So, you have a chance to get some press clippings about your work. If that's worth $300, then give it a shot.

Of course, if your movie sucks and reviewers hate it, there's not much you can do with the press mentions. But chances are you'll spend much more than $300 on other film festival submissions and maybe not even get in. At least you may get a nice pull quote out of pity. (And if your film sucks, it probably will never see distribution anyway, so that's the gamble.)

Also, you can use the screening to send invites to acquisition folks in New York and try to meet with them when you come to town to show the film. (Still, many of these acquisition people will look at your movie if you just call them up and send it to them from Peoria or wherever you happen to be.)

I admit that in my early days of filmmaking that I paid a fee like this to be in a market like this in both NY and LA. The LA trip was marginally successful. Didn't sell the film, but had the opportunity and excuse to travel to LA and make some pretty good contacts I've used since then for other projects. For the NY trip, we chose the date and hoped for a slow news day since we hammered the press with invites and screener copies. We actually got some preview coverage in NY papers, which was cool. But the slow news day didn't happen. Our screening was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on September 11, 2001. Not the best day to schedule a NY screening.

The biggest thing to realize with a fest/market like this is that they are there to take advantage of you. Once you pay for the screening, they will put the hard sell on your to buy one of their bogus agency (sometimes called "distributor") agreements, in which you pay thousands of $$ for them to supposedly rep you at other festivals and markets. This is, of course, a total scam. When was the last indie hit you've heard of that was sold by these folks.

Their venue is crappy - at least it was 2 years ago. I've been there (although we didn't end up showing on 9/11). It was basically loft space with chairs, a screen and a projector. The LA market I went to that had a similar deal was screened at Raleigh Studios, across the street from Paramount Studios, and it was screened in a pretty cool screening room. So at least that one got more points for presentation. (This LA fest, however, is no longer in business and just runs an online casino. Big surprise.)

Sorry for the rambling, but I thought it might be good advice. ***Please note this is not an endorsement for these festivals, so don't blame me if you're out $300 after this. ;-)

Bottom line, if you're dying for a NY screening, pay the $300 but do plenty of your own marketing and contacting folks. At the very least, it gives you a screening in NY and it's cheaper than renting out a theater yourself. But don't be flattered when you're accepted. They'll take anything as long as you send them the $300.

[camopdp]

they called us three years in a row...saying they heard how great our film was...

when i asked them who recommended our film...they could not tell me..."we heard great things..." even after the film got distribution, i got a call from them..."we would love to program DREAMERS at our festival.."

i tried to turn the tables on them and get them to drop all their fees and make them feel that they should be lucky to program our film...of course their policy is you pay to get into our festival...

this festival is scary...

[KevinCarr]

Oh yeah, they are a bunch of sharks. I've talked to several other filmmakres who have been approached by them with similar calls. (e.g., "I'm calling you about the excellent film XXX.")

When I got a call for an upsell (which was passed up the "management" chain when I started asking too many questions - kinda like buying a used car), they wanted to "rep" my film at festivals and markets. They wanted like $3000, plus a commission fee. I said that if they were so impressed with my film, they should increase their commission by 10% and drop the "set-up" fee. He wouldn't have any of that. I was stunned. ;-)

I was also called by one telling me that USA Networks was interested in my film, but they wouldn't disclose any info to me unless I signed up for their "agency" package. I declined, and a couple months later was able to get in touch with the acquisition folks at USA. They never heard of the festival or my film. They allowed me to send it in for consideration (it was rejected), but sometimes that's the easiest approach - the direct one. Screw the fake "agents." (There's also tons of shyster lawyers out there that will charge a "retainer" to rep the film - they're full of bullshit as well.)

Yeah, these festivals are scary and total vampires. They pack it with films, no matter what. Shorts, music videos, features? They don't care. They just want the money. (The only reason to ever do one of these is if you just need an excuse to show in NY or LA, it'll guarantee a spot. But just know what you're getting into.)

And they won't do shit to promote your film, no matter what they say. That's a no duh.

[unberto]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KevinCarr
[B]Basically, yes, it's a scam.

That's what I thought. Thanks.

They should be ashamed of themselves. Trying to get poor schmoes to pay $300 just to have their 4 minute short screen somewhere. Ridiculous.

[Whitegrl]

I just got off the phone with these scammers-twice actually as they called again and couldn't remember that they had spoken to me about an hour before when I first told them to stuff the $300 thing. If you want to screen your short in NY, send to NewFilmmakers-it's free and they are honest. And Elvis Mitchell's not coming to your one-time showing of your thesis film anyway no matter how much candy you send him. These other people who prey upon filmmakers to give them $300 for a screening should be ashamed of themselves. They are pathetic and if i had less of a life I'd contact their sponsors. I hope their karma catches up with them soon.

[camopdp]

when we were on the festival circuit with DREAMERS...i was able to get most of the festivals to waive their fees...

i started to get really good at it and it was fun...do you think the big films are paying submission fess?...i don't think so...

[sonnyboo]

Originally posted by KevinCarr
Basically, yes, it's a scam.

But, if you submit your film to have it shown, you basically get a New York screening. There's ways to take advantage of this, like sending out screener copies of your film to NY reviewers, so you can get some press in a New York paper. (Otherwise, it's really hard to get any reviewer to look at your film if it isn't showing in their city.)


It is good to get a New York screening and get reviews, but there are wiser, cheaper routes. There are even some film festivals that do not charge ANY fee. The film festival being referred to is DEFINATELY a scam and they are reknown for it.

There was another one identical to this called "AngelCiti" that was the same way. $250-300 entry fees, promises of promotion, and there's less people than a podunk homemade film festival.

Remember to find the other Film Fests in those cities that don't cost as much to try to get press in those cities' papers.