Film Submissions Open
THE 15TH ANNUAL SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FOR 2009 FESTIVAL!
If you want the full scoop, you can check out our press release on the press page or our News section... but the important info to digest is this: if your independent films are food, then Slamdance is hungrier than a Hilton! We can't wait to take a look at what you got... features, documentaries, shorts, animated shorts, music videos. If it moves, we want it.
Entry forms, rules and regulations are available on the Slamdance web site. The early submission deadline is August 25, 2008 and includes a significant entry fee discount. The final submission deadline is October 10th.
This is our 15th Annual festival, believe it or not (I know, we're in a bit of shock ourselves)... we're looking to pull together our most dynamic selections of films ever, and you won't have a shot to join the family unless you submit! So get to it; we'll be waiting.
Slamdance Screenplay Competition 2008
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED TO THIS YEAR'S 2008 SCREENPLAY COMPETITION!
WE ARE UNDER WAY AND EXTREMELY THRILLED TO READ YOUR SCRIPTS.
Announcements for the 2008 competition: August 22 Second Round, September 19 Top 50, September 30 Top 25, October 10 2008 10 Finalists/ Grand Prize Winner.
Broken Egg: Help Fix a Filmmaker
Independent film is all about community, and one of our own is having a rough time of it!
Slamdance two time alum Benh Zeitlin (EGG & THE ORGINS OF ELECTRICITY) was in a bone-cracking car accident before the SXSW screening of his new short. Like many filmmakers who get by on charm and favors, Benh doesn’t have health insurance and is currently holed up in the hospital.
Mark Rosenberg from Rooftop Films, which co-funded Benh's SXSW short GLORY AT SEA, posted a blog about Benh’s story, his successes with GLORY and eventually, what people out there can do to show support. Please check it out, and see how you can lead a hand to a super talented filmmaker.
The good news is that GLORY also won an award, which you can read about here!
Photo of cast on boat, courtesy rooftopfilms.com
View & Vote: New Anarchy Videos!
Our March Anarchy videos are up to stimulate your eyeballs. And your heart. If you didn't get to take part in the primaries, this is also your chance to vote! Anarchy is a really simple idea, we must say. Each month, three videos are selected to play online where you, the viewing public, get to watch and then choose your favorite. The winners from each month get to screen at the festival and have an overall winner chosen.
It's democracy AND it's indie filmmaking. Slamdance 4-prez!
Now, I'm admittedly biased, but we have three really fun films this month so I encourage you to check them out. They're short, they're well-made, they could be you next month (submit your own on the Anarchy page). Check them all out here at Slamdance Presents, or hit them up individually:
Harrold Was At the Bus Stop, directed by Brandon Mugar
This is the story of Harrold, and how he fell in love, but did not get his love.
An Artist, directed by Danny O'Malley
An artist who confesses all while remaining pretentiously unclear.
My Hands Are Bananas, directed by Nick Andrews
This dark German techno tells the tale of a young man und his appealing attributes.
Writing Submissions & New Video
After some technical hiccups, we're thrilled to announce that our Writing Competition is now accepting submissions online. You hear me, writers? Get on that! Grand prize is $7,000 and all the acclaim you can eat. You'll need to register as a user to submit, but that's easy. (Incidentally, that's the good kind of user, not the kind your mom worried about you turning into when you got into all this Hollywood nonsense)
Secondly, if you were wondering when you could get a visual on the actual award winners from this year's festival - have I got an answer for you! Slamdance TV. I could not make this up if I wanted... but thankfully, Heidi Van Lier is still churning out video from festival footage, bless her, and the most recent posting is of the first half of the awards presentation. Oscars, schmoscars, right? Enjoy!
I Was Caught In The Middle Of A Railroad Track
Thanks to one of our great documentaries, I now have a new reference point when I hear the word "Thunder".
This lovely lady is part of the Lightning and Thunder duo and was wonderful enough to grace us with her magical voice at last night's happy hour.
She brought the house down not only with her renditions of Patsy Cline, but do you know anyone else who can rock gold lame like that? She puts American Apparel models to shame. Speaking of great outfits, as part of their promotional materials, the Song Sung Blue team provided us with two magnificent costume pieces, as worn by L&T, to wear on the day of screening. I was wondering who would possibly step up to the plate to rock out these pieces when the answer appeared before me:
I don't know if the phrase "A Vision in Sequins" fully sums up my emotions when I see this image of our President and Co-Founder (on the left) Peter Baxter, and our Production Supervisor (on the right - with some random chick in the middle) Scott Pourroy, but it's pretty close.
Let Your Back Bone Flip But Don't Slip A Disc
Did someone say Slamdance Sled Off?
For those of you who missed out, yesterday was our annual Sled Off which took place about as close to the Pearly Gates as you can get.
It was a fun filled afternoon of snowy mayhem that saw fight to the death finishes, sneaky stealth tactics and much improvisation on the definition of the term "Sled".
How ingenious are our filmmakers? Not only do they create interesing, thought provoking films, they figured out a way to turn the Slamdance banner into a sled! Now if that's not independent thinking, I don't know what is.
Our good friends at Parish sponsored the event and resident Alumni Filmmaker, Heidi Van Lier, was there to capture all the action for Slamdance TV (which you should be watching if you aren't already).
Cory Desrosiers captured all the great shots featured here as well as a bunch more over on our MySpace page. Do I really need to say go check it out?
Marina Zenovich Comes Back to Utah with Roman Polanski
Question Time with Peter Baxter
At Slamdance 1998, Marina Zenovich premiered her documentary about US indie filmmaking called Independent's Day. Since then, she's gone Euro on us, following up her first feature with docs Estonia Dreams of Eurovision!, Who is Bernard Tapie? and this year's Sundance entry Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired.
Although Marina's thing for seductive and flawed Francophiles has been checked by marriage to an English TV writer, P.G. Morgan, she remains committed to documentaries. In between stints in the edit room, Marina cuts to the chase with a festival Q + A ...
Since Independent’s Day how has independent filmmaking changed?
It seems like its become hip. But the challenges are the same as ever.
How have you changed as a filmmaker?
I'm not that different. I go between passion and work projects and I've been lucky enough to find a balance. I never take no for an answer. I think it's a very American trait and it's worked well for me in Europe. Having a child has put things into perspective. Ten years ago, I had every weekend to figure out how my career was going to work. Now, there’s no time and decisions are made quickly and instinctively. I became aware of this the day before we started shooting Polanski when I found out I was pregnant. I had no idea how I would feel but we continued ahead and there was no problem.
In scandal or film Roman Polanski has long fascinated the media. How did your interest turn into a documentary about him?
After my Bernard Tapie film, I had a hard time finding my next project. I toyed with several things until I come up with the Polanski idea. I read an article in the Los Angeles Times in January 2003 which examined whether Polanski would come back to LA if he was nominated for an Oscar for The Pianist. And then I saw the girl and her lawyer on 'Larry King Live'. He said that the day Roman Polanski fled was a sad day for the American judicial system. That's when I realised something wasn't quite right about Polanski's court case; the whole thing appeared weird. And here began the beautiful process of making the film.
5 years in the making... how did the editing collaboration actually work?
My first choice for editor was Joe Bini, but he was not available. After many attempts with different editors, he joined us and it was the perfect collaboration. My instincts had been right -- he was the perfect fit for the job. Joe, my husband P.G. Morgan, and myself wrote the text in the film.
I’ve heard Polanski was tough to complete. How did you get through?
The story elements were very complicated. Polanski's attorney Douglas Dalton or Los Angeles District Attorney Roger Gunson had to be convinced to talk to me.
Like Polanski's case, the production itself became Kafkaesque. Laying out the facts and telling a story that took place between 1978 -2003 took a lot of time. Through it all, my producers Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Lila Yacoub made it happen.
Given how competitive the documentary is today, how important is it to have naturally built-in publicity and marketing devices in order to exist as a filmmaker?
I only go after things that interest me. I guess flawed and seductive Frenchmen are one of them! I'm actually challenged and excited to complete a trilogy and follow with French President Nicholas Sarkozy next. Everyone finds his or her filmmaking niche. I just did whatever it took to make the Polanski film happen and wasn't scared about its outcome.
What is the most important lesson you have learned about filmmaking?
Have the right editor.
Onward and upward Marina!
Fright Night
Day Four of the Festival is under way! Last night we had our Twilight Screening of Paranormal Activity with The Henry Convention. I was waiting outside the theatre and got freaked out of my mind just from the sounds coming from behind the door, so I am assuming everyone else was scared too. Although I have been known to jump at my own shadow so I don't know if I am such a relevant measuring post.
Paranormal Activity
The Henry Convention
We also had our annual Alumni Hot Tub Party sponsored by our good friends at Parish.
It was a fun filled, Twin Peaks-esque time up at that old hot tub, let me tell you. The Slamdance Alumni were answering questions left and right, and there may or may not have been some impromtu water ballet flexing. I don't think you can call yourself an Independent Film Festival unless there is water ballet flexing.
Lipstick Cherry All Over the Lens
Does anyone else not believe that it is only Sunday? We've had so many great films screen already, and so many fun events take place. it feels like it has been an entire week of frenzied fun instead of just the three offical days of screening we have actually had. One of the films shown last night was Pageant.
A great time was had by all and I think everyone was in awe of all the fabulous costumes/hair/eyelashes. Ok, FINE, I was absolutely dazzled and completely jealous of how those ladies did their hair and make up, not to mention how they carried themselves in a pair of heels.
Aren't you jealous this wasn't your office yesterday? You're jealous.