Archive for the ‘news’ Category

Queens Film Festival founder arraigned for stealing $14,000 in goods and services

Marie Castaldo, 52, of Queens, New York, was arraigned on Tuesday night on charges of first-degree scheme to defraud, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, petit larceny, third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and second-degree harassment. “The defendant is accused of duping advertising and film industry vendors into providing their services for free to her film festival by – in most cases – making a small up-front payment and then refusing to make any further payments,” Brown said.

Back in January I posted a link to an article in which the charges were first leveled at Castaldo – it seems the wheels of justice have finally rolled around to address the complaints.

It’s always a good idea when submitting to any festival to do some research on the festival in question – using Google’s blog search tool and looking for the name of the festival with the words “scam” or “rip-off” is a quick way to find out if there have been complaints in the past.

Read the story at wireupdate.com.

Film Festival instructional video now on sale

HOW TO GET YOUR FILM INTO FILM FESTIVALS! & What to do When You get There! from Sylvia Binsfeld on Vimeo.

Check out this new instructional video on preparing your film and submitting it to film fests. Some good interviews with filmmakers and festival staffers about how to get ready. It’s a fine companion to Film Festival Secrets.

How to get Your Film Into Film Festivals! Insider Video–Trailer from Sylvia Binsfeld on Vimeo.

YouTube’s “Life in a Day” project

Life In A Day is a historic global experiment to create the world’s largest user-generated feature film: a documentary, shot in a single day, by you. On July 24, you have 24 hours to capture a glimpse of your life on camera. The most compelling and distinctive footage will be edited into an experimental documentary film, executive produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.

For more information, visit youtube.com/lifeinaday.

Blog & web site reboot

This week Film Festival Secrets got a facelift: the main site and the blog are now consolidated here at filmfestivalsecrets.com. I’ll be retiring the blogspot.com blog and working to refresh the extras pages.

Film Festival Secrets

There’s still some work to be done but I’m happy to be working on a single platform with a new look, thanks to designer/web guru Roger Tinch, aka @cinevegas. If you’re looking for help in the graphic design or web site construction department, I highly recommend Roger’s work. (He also designed the cover for the print edition of Film Festival Secrets.)

Indie Memphis – come hear me gab on a coupla panels

I’m currently in Memphis, Tennessee for the Indie Memphis film festival. The festival staffers have kindly invited me to speak on two of their “Café Conversation” panels. Both talks take place outside the Malco Studio theater at the Festival Café tent. The events are free to the public so even if you weren’t planning to attend the festival itself (and you should), you can stop by and soak up a little knowledge without spending a dime.

  • The Film Festival Circuit, Saturday October 10 at noon with Heidi van Lier
  • Distribute Me: A Conversation On Getting Your Film Out To The World, Sunday October 11 at noon with Steven Beckman.
  • The World As We Know It Is Over? 10 Insights on the Movie Biz – indieWIRE

    indiewireI would say that only three of the ten “insights” are ideas that haven’t been flogged to death in the indie film press over the last couple of years, but there are a couple of interesting quotes in there if you can wade through the redundant muck.

    Every town has a film festival, there are film festivals of every possible genre, every possible niche that you can think of. And so now we’re kind of entering this world where nontraditional distribution platforms are starting to emerge and film festivals are definitely coping with and struggling with that new world. There’s real fear, I think, of obliteration. People think that technology will obliterate anything that came before it and I don’t believe that at all. I do think that film fess have to recalibrate, reboot, what their role is and why they’re important beyond simply promoting a sponsor’s product or beyond being a good junket for a few celebrities prior to the theatrical release of a big film. – Christian Gaines, Withoutabox


    Read The World As We Know It Is Over? 10 Insights on the Movie Biz – indieWIRE.

    Groth Named Sundance Director of Programming – indieWIRE

    Trevor Groth is taking over the reins as Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival effective immediately. Groth takes the position after John Cooper, who previously held the position, was appointed Director of the Sundance Film Festival following the departure of longtime event head Geoff Gilmore to the Tribeca Film Institute in March.

    No word yet on how this will affect Groth’s duties as Artistic Director of CineVegas.

    Read Groth Named Sundance Director of Programming – indieWIRE.

    IFP searches for a Community Manager

    IFP (formerly known as the Independent Feature Project) is on the hunt for a new Community Manager, someone with a strong background in marketing and web savvy.

    Full-time position available immediately for high energy, organized individual with managerial, marketing and web experience. Must have excellent project management and strong social media expertise – this includes managing forums and online communities for at least 3 years and/or maintaining successful blog for at least 2 years.

    BASIC DUTIES

    The Community Manger is responsible for building an online presence for IFP and its publications and programs. Their primary job will be the maintenance and continuity of information about the organization both internally and externally, acting as a strong community advocate who represents the organization online and off, working to build IFP brand awareness in both directions. They will be in charge of all membership management, online content development and design, and management and marketing of IFP publications, programs and events. The position reports directly to IFP’s Deputy Director and works closely with IFP’s Programming staff members and Gotham Awards Producer.

    Inquire with Amy Dotson, (212) 465-8200 x 203.

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