HOLLYWOOD LIBERATION ARMY

SXSW THE NEW SUNDANCE?

Of course I don't mean to suggest that SXSW is turning into what Sundance is now.  Heavens no.  I mean SXSW is turning into what Sundance used to be before it got infested with Hollywood types.  In fact, SXSW might be the perfect inheritor of the Sundance ethos for this decade as it takes the spirit of indie film and blends it with indie music and innovative tech.  I guess you could say its sort of a Sundance for digital media?

Always On

2005 DIY FILM FESTIVAL

The DIY Film Festival has issued the annual call for entries. Dramatic, documentary, animation, student and comedy feature and short films made after Jan. 1, 2002 and shot in DV, Beta, HDTV, 16mm or 35mm will be considered. All entries must be created using commonly-available tools of independent filmmaking without financing from a major film studio or corporate backer.

MediaRights and DIY Convention

MICRO MOBILE MOVIE CONTEST AT BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

The first international mobile "micro" film competition has seen more than 140 entries from 23 countries competing for the Siemens Micro-Movie Award, which will be awarded this week at the 20th International Short Film Festival in Berlin (2 – 7 November, 2004).

The audience will select the winner. The best 20 entries have been nominated and can be viewed and evaluated on the internet.

Digital Media Europe

THE LURE OF 24 HOUR FILM FESTIVALS

As the personal computer became more powerful, and video cameras evolved to capture a digital signal, people all over the world have become digital storytellers. The power of the Internet became the distribution medium, and the notion of digital filmmaking became entrenched in the minds of those who sought to tell a story. Today, those in Hollywood trying to break into the film industry are armed not only with a script, but full blown short films, demonstrating not only their talents, but their desires to make it in Hollywood.

Digital Video Editing

KEVIN SMITH CASTS WEB FOR NEXT GREAT SHORTS

Internal panel will select five to be streamed each month

"With the challenge “We’ve shown you ours. Now show us yours,” filmmaker Kevin Smith is launching an online community, showcase and DVD series for aspiring filmmakers. The Web site is scheduled to be unveiled Sept. 10.

Submissions must be 30 minutes or less, and an internal review panel will select five for streaming on the site each month. Visitors will vote on the five to select the monthly best, and the winning 12 will be compiled into a commercially released MoviesAskew DVD.

The 12 monthly winners also will be screened at the First Annual MoviesAskew Film Festival, which will be held either in the Los Angeles suburb of Westwood or in Smith’s hometown of Red Bank, N.J. Smith and actor Jason Mewes will select five of those 12, which will then be rescreened and subjected to an audience vote for overall best.

HLA: At first glance, this is a move to be lauded. But --

The annual winner will get “an apprentice position” on the next project from the director of such films as “Clerks” and “Jersey Girl” along with a package of home entertainment products.

HLA: The chutzpah! After winning, that's all this marginally talented filmmaker is offerring? Some of these shorts will probably be better than anything he can make. In addition --

Filmmakers will be charged an unspecified fee to submit their creation because, as Smith asks, “What? You thought it would be free?”

HLA: So is this just an attempt to make money out of struggling filmmakers?

MSNBC

CINEQUEST PREMIERES CINEQUEST INSIDER

Cinequest, Northern California's premier motion picture institute, announces Cinequest Insider, an online entertainment and informative show on what's new, what's hot and what's Maverick in the world of film. This second phase of Cinequest Online, a first-of-its-kind online film distribution and promotional service for films, Cinequest Insider will be delivered to subscribers twice a month. The online show features candid and personal interviews with film insiders and Cinequest Maverick Spirit Award guests, including the likes of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; a behind-the-scenes look at the film festival world, and in-depth content on the digital technologies key to successful filmmaking.

"This is not an online re-hashing of shows like Entertainment Tonight or Extra," said Halfdan Hussey, executive director and co-founder of Cinequest. "Cinequest Insider will provide exciting content to fans that they would not be able to see in mainstream entertainment media."

CineQuest Insider

60 FLASH FILM FESTIVAL FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Flashforward announced today the 60 Flash(TM) Festival Finalists, from more than a dozen countries, chosen from among nearly 2000 nominations, by an international jury. The 12th Flash(TM) Film Festival is an online competition and live awards ceremony that takes place on July 8 as part of the Flashforward Conference (July 7-9 in New York City). The selected finalists come from Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, the Slovak Republic, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Festival jury of 30 Flash artists and experts will choose the winners in each of the Festival's 15 categories, including Application, Art, Cartoon, Commerce, Educational, Experimental, Game, Motion Graphics, Navigation, Original Sound, Story, Technical Merit, 3D, Typography and Video. Voting for the People's Choice Award is open to the Internet public through June 28 on the Flashforward site.
Anyone may vote online for their overall favorite among the 60 finalists. The results of this 16th award will also be announced July 8, the evening of the Flash(TM) Film Festival in New York City.

HLA: So this is how its shaping up on the internet movie front -- there will be download services from the major companies featuring mainstream films, and there will be online film festivals for independents and student films. And then there's P2P for everything...so the final question is how P2P will fit with the download services and online film festivals. To be continued...

2005 ZOIE ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL

"The Zoie Films Online Film Festival (ZFOFF) is in its 8th year announced submission details for the 2005 Film Festival. Entry forms are available online at www.ZoieFilms.com website. Early deadline is October 1st, 2004. The 2005 ZoieFest Online Film Festival will begin in March 2005 at www.ZoieFilms.com.

A leader in online film festivals, Zoie Films Festival is open to feature films, film shorts, documentaries, animations, music videos, and mixed media projects utilizing innovative techniques. All entries are judged by a media panel and winning films are showcased online via special screenings available at high speed internet connections. Zoie Films Festival offers their specially designed Zoie Star Awards to selected filmmakers..."

Computer Graphics World

SXSW FESTIVAL TO SURF INTERNET HIGHWAY

"Austin's South by Southwest Music and Media Conference will add a Web media element to its 19th annual festival in March 2005.

SXSWeb is an online festival that will give video artists and filmmakers an opportunity to get exposure on the SXSW Website.

"At SXSW, we're just trying to make sure we leave no exhibition stone unturned," SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler says. "We're hoping to provide another avenue for expression, beyond the annual festival we do every year in Austin."

The celebrated SXSW Film, Interactive and Music Festival draws more than 20,000 people to Austin each spring and generates an economic impact of almost $30 million, according to SXSW.

Austin Business Journal

HLA: The democratization of film festivals. It's a nice trend. Now everyone can take part.

ONLINE FILM FESTIVALS RISING

"A businesswoman walking through an unassuming Japanese neighborhood grabs two cans of vegetables, squeezes the tops off and gulps down the spinach.

What follows are events that are only possible in the world of digital filmmaking. Running at the speed of light (with help from high-heel rocket boosters), she chops down street poles and pushes a car off a cliff before everything goes back to normal.

The three-minute film is a heartwarming effort that succeeds in experimenting with low-budget techniques. "Lady... Go!" by Yoshihisa Nakanishi is among the 80 entries that were considered appropriate for online viewing in this year's Seoul Net and Film Festival..."

Korea Herald