Black Alphabet Film Festival (BAFF) is Chicago's premier film festival for the Black LGBTQ community. Our tagline, Telling Our Stories Beyond the Rainbow, encompasses our mission to provide a platform and resources for the storytellers in our community.
BAFF has relationships with several filmmakers and festivals in the industry. What sets our festival apart is our incorporation of storytelling forms, including music and poetry during our event. In 2014, we had several performers and sponsors; We look forward to an even bigger year in 2015!
MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival (HHM) is the perfect mix of independent film and live indie music. Still under the radar, but we’re starting to make an impact with our guests.
"I don't remember much of my two years going to Hell's Half Mile. That's how much fun I had." – Rider Strong, “Cabin Fever” and two time guest.
Our taste is eclectic, everything from quirky comedies to hard hitting documentaries to emotional drama. Our goal is to find "the little film that could" -- a bunch of them actually -- and bring the filmmakers together to take over Bay City, MI. Our primary concern is community, and the filmmakers who attend our long weekend walk away with lifelong friends and future collaborators.
"I’ve been to SXSW several times, San Francisco, a bunch of smaller festivals all over the U.S. It [Hell’s Half Mile] feels like the real deal. It’s people who genuinely love film, love the independent film community. The quality and lineup is incredible” – Ashley Spillers "Arlo and Julie"
Over the last ten years over 100 directors, producers, screenwriters and actors have joined our growing audience. We provide travel and accommodations to a select number of filmmakers, plus all-access passes and catered receptions. All of our venues are within a few block radius and hotels are within walking distance, making it super easy to get around. Visit hhmfest.com for links to the venues and video recaps of previous festivals. We schedule events to help you with other filmmakers, musicians, movie fans, and our supportive local community. Our goal is to provide you with a professional, casual and fun experience during your stay with us, including unique outings that give you a taste of the local flavor. It’s the least we can do in return for providing our festival-goers with great independent cinema.
Once your festival experience ends, Hell’s Half Mile looks to the future. HHM alumni receive fee waivers for future projects and all-access passes for subsequent year’s festivals, whether you have a film in our program or not. We continue to support alumni projects through social media and newsletters celebrating victories and other milestones through our growing network of filmmakers and film lovers.
“Hell's Half Mile gives me warm feelings in my heart. The warm feeling in my pants is possibly unrelated. It’s worth every minute and it's the kind of festival that you make movies for.” – Kenny Stevenson, writer and actor, "Love, Sex and Missed Connections".
Guests are not left alone to fend for themselves amidst our rabid audiences and interested community members. Programmers and organizers are ever present and ready with introductions, recommendations and the occasional swift exit from oversharers. Bay City nights are filled with raw rock and roll sounds giving us the moniker of “little Detroit”, especially into the wee hours at super-secret-after-parties. Daytime in Bay City is cool Fall days with sunny riverside strolls or bike rides past historic lumber baron mansions. Or, there are always plenty of great films to watch. Its up to you!
Filmmakers are also encouraged to participate in panel discussions, receptions and other events. We continue to foster student and local filmmaking, which provides opportunities for guest filmmakers to present a workshop or lecture focused on a specific topic or specialty. Other guests are invited to screen our student and local short films and give constructive feedback to the filmmakers. This type of mentoring helps to strengthen local filmmaking and continue our relationships with area universities.
Hell’s Half Mile, ranked 27th in Moviemaker Magazine’s Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals of 2016. Just a prediction.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
After ten years, Hell’s Half Mile organizers continue to strive to be an innovative festival for genuinely independent films and original music. This festival is about connecting the filmmaker and the festival-goer. Period. Well, and parties too.
In addition to relentless promotion of films, Hell’s Half Mile recognizes and rewards films with jury, programmer and audience awards, some with prizes. Prizes include a cash prize of $1000 for the Grand Jury Award, as well as other valued prizes. Grand Jury Winners include the controversial “Lamb” (2015), the Icelandic “Metalhead” (2014), and the acclaimed documentary "Remote Area Medical" (2013). Past jurors include Damien Chazelle (Whiplash), Adam Busch (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Adam Schartoff (Filmwax Radio), Jasmine McGlade (Maria My Love), Joey Kern (“Super Troopers”), Geoff Marslett (Loves Her Gun), WAW Parker (Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench), Rider Strong (Cabin Fever), Leslie Raymond (Ann Arbor Film Festival), Mark Covino (A Band Called Death), Michael Dunaway (Paste Magazine), Joel Potrykus (Buzzard) and Jeff Meyers (Metro Times).
Each year we screen great narrative films, like the Midwest Premiere of Terry McMahon’s “Patrick’s Day” jury award winner for Best Feature at the 2014 Woodstock Film Festival, and winner of the Hell’s Half Mile jury award for Best Screenplay. Quirky comedies like James Westby’s “Rid of Me” and Neil LaBute’s “Dirty Weekend” have been big hits with HHM audiences. Co-director Mark Covino attended with the international hit "A Band Called Death" which won the HHM "Fest Best" award. Rider Strong has been a guest at HHM with four amazing films over two years, including “The Dungeon Master,” written and directed with his brother Shiloh and winner of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Best (Online) Short Film. Visit hhmfest.com for complete lists of all films presented.
Some of the great music we’ve had over the years connects our film and music events. Matt Pond PA joined us at HHM in 2010. This same year, screening at the festival was “Lebanon PA,” with original score by Matt Pond and Chris Hansen of Matt Pond PA. Another great band that performed at HHM in 2011 was The One AM Radio, led by Hrishikesh Hirway who also did the original music for the 2012 feature film “Save the Date.” Visit hhmfest.com for lists and links of previous music performers.
HHM, a partnership with the Bay Arts Council, utilizes a unique mix of venues including Bay City’s historic Mayan themed State Theatre, the Delta College Planetarium, and a turn-of-the-century red sandstone former Masonic Temple, saved from demolition by the Bay Arts Council. Likewise, the Hell’s Half Mile programmers are looking for the right mix of creative and challenging works, including those from underserved segments of the film community, to bring to our seriously appreciative audiences. We hope you’ll consider us.
What's with the name?
In the late 1800's, a stretch of Bay City's riverfront was lined with raucous saloons and two-bit hotels where turn-of-the-century loggers and shipmen would go to blow off steam and take in more than a little local color. This strip was known to locals as Hell's Half Mile. "'Hell's Half Mile' was the strip of waterfront where lumberjacks used to go boozing and whoring. Now, a bunch of us from Hollywood go there for a film festival. Not much has changed." – Rider Strong
Time has passed, but the same rough-and-tumble spirit of the day is reborn in the Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival. Today, the city boasts a beautiful downtown riverfront with boutiques, restaurants, theatres, pubs, hotel accommodations and other points of interest....a state of the art planetarium, art galleries, a thriving business community, and an active shipping lane for Great Lakes freighters...Downtown Bay City is alive with activity.
The Bluestocking Film Series is an exclusive showcase for Bechdel-Test, high-quality, provocative short fiction films featuring complex female protagonists driving the story and leading the action. This innovative screening series originates in the beautiful, culturally vibrant city of Portland, Maine and travels to other film-loving cities around the country and the world.
The only film event in the world to require female protagonists, submissions must also pass the Bechdel Test. We celebrate and promote talented, established and emerging filmmakers who take the creative risk of placing female protagonists front and center. We introduce audiences to those who are contributing to the art and craft of cinema and who have the potential to influence the future of filmed entertainment.
We encourage and promote production of narratives that reflect the diverse experiences of women. We have a marked preference for well-structured, highly visual, cutting edge, provocative films, especially ones that explore the plurality and variety of women’s relationships.
To be considered, your submission must feature a female protagonist and pass The Bechdel Test (film must feature at least 2 female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man). To find out more about the test, please Google it.
At this time, we invite submissions of short NARRATIVE FICTION films ONLY. Feature length films will not be considered. Straightforward documentaries will not be considered.
Our mission is to present films that place women and girl characters front and center, driving the story and leading the action, films that portray these characters as strong, capable, flawed, and complex as their male counterparts.
The Bluestocking Film Series was founded by filmmaker Kate Kaminski and is produced with partner Betsy Carson (Gitgo Productions).
LIFE AFTER OIL International Film Festival is an environmental & human rights film festival
As we are preparing for the post-petroleum era?
This festival starts with the intention of overshooting the simple exposure. Although it is important to raise public awareness on the risks connected to the exploitation and to the use of natural resource in the production of fossil fuels, still remains, the enormous and dramatic problem of the disasters caused by the lack of energy, with particular reference to the water supply, highly relevant to the world population. The main objective of the festival will be, therefore, not only emphasizing problems related to the use of fossil fuels, but especially identifying the alternatives which take into account, according to the present scientific knowledge, the several well-known methods of production.
By You, For You, About You”
Mission
Welcome to the 11th Annual World Music and Independent Film Festival (WMIFF) 2019. WMIFF was established to celebrate and provide a platform of achievements for international cinema artists. Dedicated to building a global film community and supporting emerging filmmakers, WMIFF offers all selected artists exceptional exposure with an inclusive vibe that has won over alumni, attendees, and industry members alike. WMIFF festivities are open to all, featuring some of the most talented artists in both film and music.
The International Animal and Environmental Film Festival of Mexico City welcomes you for its 5th. Edition where we accept films from the 5 continents like every year.
Our task at the Festival is to promote values, causes and activist struggle through Art where we open different windows of opportunity to show the work of great Filmmakers in it. During the year we have different cultural events, Mobile Cinema, Government Spaces that open the doors for this Dissemination, as well as a Streaming platform that averages a month of time to be seen in greater opportunity, closing with our Honorary Closing.
The 3 themes for this year are:
-Animal
-Environmental
-Children's rights
Will be accepted:
-Animations
-Short films
-Feature films
-Documentaries
-Music video clips
Because it is a Festival with reasons of Animal and Environmental awareness and this year the cause of "Children's Rights", all projects will receive a participation laurel if they are not in the final sample, likewise the official selection will have its laurel of participation. Official selection and a diploma sent to your email, then the Winners will win the FICAA 2024 statuette with their recognition sent to the registered email.
The final Award is in the Month of December where guests from different Countries and States of the Country arrive to collect their statuette.
The Hamilton (New York) International Film Festival
July 20th- July 26th, 2020
Feature, Comedy Short, Horror Short, Dramatic/Thriller Short, Documentary Short and Canadian Short Categories
Global Cinema in the Heart of New York State
"...such a great town and a wonderful festival, so welcoming. It was so inspiring to be around so many young and talented film makers.
-Finn Taylor, Director Unleashed & 3 Time Director Sundance Film Festival
"Can't say enough about how wonderful SBE's Hamilton International Film Festival has been. Truly honored to have our film "My Hero" included and I want to thank Grant & Todd Slater and everyone else involved for such a great experience. Just amazing.
Hope you'll have us back next year!"
- Loring Murtha, Actor/Director My Hero
"SBE’s Hamilton International Film Festival presents an incredible opportunity to network with other ambitious filmmakers, exchange ideas and fundraising strategies while experiencing the charm of Hamilton, New York. The Hamilton Theater is a gorgeous venue and Grant Slater has put together a 5 star festival with a great selection of film, food and local beers. This is a must-attend festival that offers more than just frivolous laurels to it’s filmmakers… one could say that you leave Hamilton with a new group of friends that offer a different perspective on making and watching movies!"
-D.J. Higgins Director, Writer/Producer Meet Mario
"The charm and intimacy of the Hamilton International Film Festival makes it a MUST for all filmmakers. Grant and Todd Slater and the entire Hamilton community couldn't be more hospitable. I can't wait to make another film just so I can come back!!"
-Doug Dearth, Producer/Director Underdogs
"It was an absolute honour to be part of such a well respected film festival. Thanks to the help, hard work and commitment from SBE my career in the UK has gone from strength to strength. My Single, Worry hit the iTunes Download chart and peaked at Number 6. The follow up track I've recently released has hit the viral UK Top 50 on Spotify and we have now put a European Tour together. Its thanks to people such as Grant believing in me from an early stage of my development that has helped me get to where I am now."
Bašta Fest is an international short fiction film festival held in Bajina Bašta, Western Serbia. It is an annual event that is taking place during the first weekend of July and it lasts for four days. Due to the profession of the founders (actors Jovan Jelisavčić and Maja Šuša), the festival's main point of interest is a collaboration between directors and actors. We believe that focusing on the quality of that joint artistic effort will have a positive impact on the positioning of Bašta Fest among short film festivals. Bašta Fest is of great importance for the decentralization of culture since it has brought diverse film, music and off program to this beautiful region. One of the priorities of the festival is to promote the incredible natural beauty to a large number of visitors. Nevertheless, our primary goal is to convert this festival into an exciting cultural oasis, which supports local and international young artists, putting emphasis on short fiction films with authenticity. The main selection is a competition short film program, while two films are screened as a part of non-competition, special program every year - one during the opening and one during the closing ceremony. The last to be screened is a Serbian debut feature film, chosen by Bašta fest team as the most successful one in the previous year. The entrance to all screenings at Bašta is free of charge, while they are always being held under the open night skies. There are currently two official festival locations: Borići park and lake Perućac.
DEA OPEN AIR International Film Festival is a product of MultiMedia Studio "Nositi".
The Festival will take place in the Capital city of Tirana.
VIVA FESTIVAL is a permanent event in the field of culture and art, the founder and organizer is the VIVA Association from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time domestic and international competitive film festival artistic achievements in the field of documentary film and video (electronic).The festival is held in Sarajevo, once a year, takes a maximum of four days.
The Festival reserves the rights of final decision on the program in which the film will be shown.
Movies can be short and medium length feature.
Competition has four categories:
1. Religion (its themed films that promote the specifics of religion, in order to rapprochement, understanding and inter-religious tolerance);
2. Ecology (films that its theme promote the natural heritage of their countries in order to encourage the development of environmental awareness);
3. Tourism (films that its theme promote the tourism potential of country of origin).
4. Youth BiH (Films produced by the youth and young filmmakers from Bosnia And Herzegovina)
The Fabriano Film Fest returns also in this 2022, now in its tenth edition.
The festival will be held from 20 to 24 October in the beautiful city of Fabriano.
There are always many activities that go hand in hand with the screenings of short films, so also for this edition we promise you
"Big emotions, in small doses" ...
Due to some unavoidable circumstances our 1st International Wildlife Animal & Environment Film festival of Odisha 2016 postponed to 14th November 2016 so the date of opening and closing of film submission will be as per notice given.
The 1st International Wildlife Animal & Environment Film festival of Odisha & 3rd International Children Film Festival 2016 will be staged on 14th November 2016 at Balangir. On the day films of various languages will be shown. On the day of the programme a seminar & Photography will be conducted. At many children or general public will be invited to the programme. A souvenir will be published containing messages of eminent personalities and articles.
Objectives:
• To provide a platform to children for watching good films and interact with each other
• To conduct seminars and symposium on cinema
• To encourage production of quality film
• To conduct various competition among children
• To invite eminent personalities on cinema and other arts
• To host the festival on various places every year
• To conduct any other activities for development of cinema and other arts.
Art. 6 - Works submitted to selection must be sent in mpeg/mp4/h264.mp4 format
together with all the materials required at art. 7.
Deadline for applications is April 30th 2015.
Art.7 - The following material must be attached to the entry form and file of the
movie:
- Synopsis in italian and english language;
- at least 5 Pictures from the film (colour or black and white, in digital format)maximum
weight 6 mb, longer side minimum 1600 pixel, 300 dpi;
- the authorization to publish photos of the movie and the dates in the entry form for
free in the Festival’catalogue or to place them at the press’disposal.
XI Edition Pávez Awards - Talavera de la Reina International Film Festival. From October 18 to 26, 2023.
GOYA AWARDS QUALIFYING FESTIVAL.
- Short films of Spanish or Ibero-American production and/or direction.
- Short films produced from January 1, 2023.
- Spanish spoken language or original language with spanish subtitles.
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes with credits included.
- They may not be hosted on free viewing online platforms.
- 5 competitive sections: National (Official Section), International (Ibero-America), Local (Talavera de la Reina), Animation and Documentary.
- 18 categories opting for a prize.
- 5700 euros in awards + 18 Pávez
- DCP required for Official, International and Local Section.
Started in Bologna in 2011, Boff is situated in a beautiful park in the center of Bologna and it open for all who would like to take part.
This year’s programme aims not only to give visibility to films from the national and international film circuit, but also tries to speak to a world of people who are usually cut off from cinema. With the introduction of sound, the deaf left the cinema. With Boff we hope they’ll come back. the program will be vast and full of themes of cinematic language: visual perception, rather than sound – where the only music is in the form of bodily vibrations.
EIDF, Presented by Korea Educational Broadcasting System. is 12th edition this year.
As an unique documentary festival of which all the selected works are screened at theaters and are broadcast during festival, EIDF has contributed to introduce the excellent, various documentaries to the audeince and develop the quialify of docuemtary making.
ANIMA – Córdoba International Animation Festival is both an academic and cultural event, devoted specifically to animation in its artistic and technological dimensions. Held every odd year since 2001, ANIMA is the main animation event in Argentina and a very influential player in its field in Latin America.
Every edition, ANIMA gathers a wonderful community of animators and live action filmmakers, designers, producers, visual and audiovisual artists, who get together the three days of the festival through panels, seminars, exhibitions, screenings and social networking opportunities.
