1. How many
entries did they get this year? For films make sure to ask them to distinguish
between features and shorts.
Approximately 250 total entries were received and at least 150 were shorts in 2013. They tend to get more 40-60 minute films than true features that are over 90 minutes.
2. How many
films do they aim to screen each year? How many papers/presentations do they
accept? Again, for films make sure to ask them to distinguish between features
and shorts.
The festival aims to screen a minimum of 4 new independent features and it typically varies for he amount of shorts they accept. They have the screening of the shorts at the Brooklyn Grange on the rooftop which is awesome and unique. They also had a tribute to a filmmaker this year and a few of his films played at the Museum of the Moving Image. They have never had any paper or presentations but Alan Webber did seem interested in incorporating that into his festival somehow.
The festival aims to screen a minimum of 4 new independent features and it typically varies for he amount of shorts they accept. They have the screening of the shorts at the Brooklyn Grange on the rooftop which is awesome and unique. They also had a tribute to a filmmaker this year and a few of his films played at the Museum of the Moving Image. They have never had any paper or presentations but Alan Webber did seem interested in incorporating that into his festival somehow.
3. What is
their pre-screening process?
They have a Submission Review Committee. There is an online committee and a hardcopy committee. Submissions are equally distributed between DVDs and online submissions.
They have a Submission Review Committee. There is an online committee and a hardcopy committee. Submissions are equally distributed between DVDs and online submissions.
4. How many
pre-screeners do they have each year?
They had 9 judges on their Submission review committee. Most were local, in Astoria, and there was one in Amsterdam and another in Portland. It is cool to see how these two judges contribute to the festival even though they are not present with the rest of the pre-screeners during the jurying process.
They had 9 judges on their Submission review committee. Most were local, in Astoria, and there was one in Amsterdam and another in Portland. It is cool to see how these two judges contribute to the festival even though they are not present with the rest of the pre-screeners during the jurying process.
5. Who is
typically chosen as a pre-screener?
Pre-screeners for the festival are chosen based off of their experience with the festival in previous years as well as trying to incorporate newer people involved with the festival. According to Alan, for a pre-screener, he mainly wants them to have an apparent knowledge for independent film and an interest in what Rural Route Films is about . He also encourages people from other festivals to help out during the prescreening process. For example, Alan had a woman from the Woodstock Film Festival, in Upstate New York, come to help out this past year.
Pre-screeners for the festival are chosen based off of their experience with the festival in previous years as well as trying to incorporate newer people involved with the festival. According to Alan, for a pre-screener, he mainly wants them to have an apparent knowledge for independent film and an interest in what Rural Route Films is about . He also encourages people from other festivals to help out during the prescreening process. For example, Alan had a woman from the Woodstock Film Festival, in Upstate New York, come to help out this past year.
6. How do they
score entries? Do they use a scoring template/rubric? Are there scoring
guidelines?
They have a rubric or review form (filled out by at least 3 different people) that includes different categories including technical aspects (cinematography, editing, sound, producing etc.), creative aspects (acting, directing,lighting, overall aesthetics etc.), . They score each section on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the highest. There is also room to make additional comments on each section of the submission review form. There is also another question that is of great importance; "Does this film fit the criteria for our festival?"
They have a rubric or review form (filled out by at least 3 different people) that includes different categories including technical aspects (cinematography, editing, sound, producing etc.), creative aspects (acting, directing,lighting, overall aesthetics etc.), . They score each section on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the highest. There is also room to make additional comments on each section of the submission review form. There is also another question that is of great importance; "Does this film fit the criteria for our festival?"
7. Do you have
a jury after the pre-screening process has ended?
Yes they have a jury after the pre-screening process, in order to discuss which films will make the cut into the festival. They also have to weed out a lot of submissions that do not apply specifically to their film festival.
Yes they have a jury after the pre-screening process, in order to discuss which films will make the cut into the festival. They also have to weed out a lot of submissions that do not apply specifically to their film festival.
8. How far in
advance do they send out their call for entries? How do entries typically roll
in? Early?
Late? In
waves?
Call for entries starts in November and typically runs until mid-March. According to Alan, most of the submissions come towards the end of the deadline, aka a week before. However, some of them are submitted early because they wanted to submit the previous year but missed the deadline.
Call for entries starts in November and typically runs until mid-March. According to Alan, most of the submissions come towards the end of the deadline, aka a week before. However, some of them are submitted early because they wanted to submit the previous year but missed the deadline.
9. How many
paid employees do they have each year? How many volunteers?
There are not really "salary" employees for this festival but they do have do have a few employees that make stipends including the directors of the festival and the managers of publicity and social media. It mostly relies on the help of volunteers throughout the pre-production and post-production of the festival.
There are not really "salary" employees for this festival but they do have do have a few employees that make stipends including the directors of the festival and the managers of publicity and social media. It mostly relies on the help of volunteers throughout the pre-production and post-production of the festival.
10. Do you use
specific programming, trafficking, budgeting software? Do you like it?
He uses a good-ole spread sheet to keep track of budgeting and expenses. I told him about how Visions was going to be using a new budgeting software and that I would let him know about it once I pay around with it/get the hang of it.
He uses a good-ole spread sheet to keep track of budgeting and expenses. I told him about how Visions was going to be using a new budgeting software and that I would let him know about it once I pay around with it/get the hang of it.
11. What
community outreach do you do outside of your festival season to keep your event
on the
public's radar
and/or to raise funds? (Workshops, mini-festivals, fundraiser dinners, etc.)
Well they go on tour with their festival and they are currently working on that right now. Alan was very interested in trying to showcase the festival at a University as well and would definitely be interested in coming to UNCW. This is an excellent way to keep their festival on the public's radar because it is getting these independent films and the Rural Route Film Festival exposure to whichever locations they travel to.
Well they go on tour with their festival and they are currently working on that right now. Alan was very interested in trying to showcase the festival at a University as well and would definitely be interested in coming to UNCW. This is an excellent way to keep their festival on the public's radar because it is getting these independent films and the Rural Route Film Festival exposure to whichever locations they travel to.
12. Do you
give out swag bags to visiting filmmakers? Presenters? Guests? If so, what type
of items
do you include
in those bags?
They do give out swag bags to filmmakers and guest that include stuff from their sponsors. Alan talked about some of the merchandise that Burt's Bees donates to them. He loves that they are all natural products and that is what Rural Route Film Festival is all about; the all natural lifestyle highlighted through film.
They do give out swag bags to filmmakers and guest that include stuff from their sponsors. Alan talked about some of the merchandise that Burt's Bees donates to them. He loves that they are all natural products and that is what Rural Route Film Festival is all about; the all natural lifestyle highlighted through film.
13. Do
presenter/filmmakers pay registration to attend?
The filmmakers do not have to pay to attend the screening but they do have to pay to attend the after party on the rooftop of the Brooklyn Grange. He said this because there is a maximum capacity of people allowed on the roof at once for safety concerns.
The filmmakers do not have to pay to attend the screening but they do have to pay to attend the after party on the rooftop of the Brooklyn Grange. He said this because there is a maximum capacity of people allowed on the roof at once for safety concerns.
14. Are you
able to provide presenters/filmmakers with funds to cover travel or lodging?
They try to give as much money to filmmakers who are visiting from out of town but it is hard because lodging is quite expensive in New York and Manhattan. They also give out honorariums to filmmakers who are screening their films and to the international filmmakers visiting.
They try to give as much money to filmmakers who are visiting from out of town but it is hard because lodging is quite expensive in New York and Manhattan. They also give out honorariums to filmmakers who are screening their films and to the international filmmakers visiting.
15. What
"perks" do your filmmakers/scholars enjoy at your
festival/conference? What else do you
encourage them
to do while they're in town? m(Free dinners, tours, exclusive activities…in
Wilm,
we'd try to
take them to the beach, Screen Gems tour, etc.)
The staff shows a lot of the filmmakers around the Astoria area, even though they are interested in going into the more touristy areas of New York City. They also spend the afternoon one day at the Museum of the Moving Image. The staff tries to collaborate with different restaurants and bars each year to get the community involved as well as promoting the film festival.
The staff shows a lot of the filmmakers around the Astoria area, even though they are interested in going into the more touristy areas of New York City. They also spend the afternoon one day at the Museum of the Moving Image. The staff tries to collaborate with different restaurants and bars each year to get the community involved as well as promoting the film festival.
16. Do you
have special donor perks during the event? Or how do you thank them?
They thank a lot of their donors through advertisements, whether it be from their websites or on the actual pamphlets for the film festival. Rural Route Film Festival tries to give good press to all of their sponsors who help make their event possible.
They thank a lot of their donors through advertisements, whether it be from their websites or on the actual pamphlets for the film festival. Rural Route Film Festival tries to give good press to all of their sponsors who help make their event possible.
17. What do
they wish they had done differently or better when they were first starting
out? What do
you wish you
knew then that you know now?
Alan was talking about how when the festival first started they didn't know what they were doing but it ended up being successful (so he was obviously doing something right). "The content of the festival also has definitely improved and could potentially compete with bigger festivals," said Alan Webber. He said he wished he knew this when he was starting out. One thing that he would do better would be to plan around the schedules of films who had NY premieres that were in direct conflict with the festival.
Alan was talking about how when the festival first started they didn't know what they were doing but it ended up being successful (so he was obviously doing something right). "The content of the festival also has definitely improved and could potentially compete with bigger festivals," said Alan Webber. He said he wished he knew this when he was starting out. One thing that he would do better would be to plan around the schedules of films who had NY premieres that were in direct conflict with the festival.
18. If it’s a
festival or conference that no longer is in existence…why did it end?
This festival is still running so this question does not apply.
This festival is still running so this question does not apply.
19. Any other
ideas or advice that we haven’t thought to ask about?
Alan liked how Visions was concise and only one day, but he also suggested maybe expanding it to various venues. I told him a little more about our festival & conference and he seemed very interested in it.
This was a great exercise to do, especially for myself, where I need to work on being comfortable talking to new people involved in the film industry and the festival circuits. I am lucky to have made a great contact with Alan Webber and he told me to come check out his festival next summer if I was going to be in NY still!
Alan liked how Visions was concise and only one day, but he also suggested maybe expanding it to various venues. I told him a little more about our festival & conference and he seemed very interested in it.
This was a great exercise to do, especially for myself, where I need to work on being comfortable talking to new people involved in the film industry and the festival circuits. I am lucky to have made a great contact with Alan Webber and he told me to come check out his festival next summer if I was going to be in NY still!
Awesome!
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