The Palm Springs International Short Fest lived up to its reputation as the biggest and best short film festival and market in the United States. The film were hot. The filmmakers were hot. Oh, and so were the temperatures -- 107 degrees, give or take. And Mini Movie Channel was right in the middle of it all. The MMC booth in the Marketplace was the centerpiece, attracting the more than 600 registered filmmakers who attended this year’s fest. There were over 60 national and international press in attendance, and over 100 delegates from the entertainment industry, as well as festival programmers from around the world who came to check it out. People from all levels of the industry, from Paramount Pictures to Panavision came to see what all the short film buzz was about…
Actor Bill Pullman was one of the stellar jury members and Jessica Biel appeared to check out her new film on the big screen. In addition, Kate Hudson, Mathew Modine, Tony Shaloub, David Arquette, Kirsten Dunst, Winona Ryder and Jason Clarke all participated in short films screened at this year’s fest.
Elena Muravina, president of Mini Movie Channel, hosted a party at the Hotel Zoso (excellent food, btw) where invitees heard about the filmmakers who have signed deals for exhibition on the channel. So far, MMC has made offers to over 100 of the filmmakers who participated in the competition and market. And Peter Hanson, acquisition manager, helped inform an eager workshop audience about how to market their short films. If that wasn't enough, MMC also awarded the "Mini Movie Channel Best Live Action Short under 15 minutes" prize at the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening. The first place winner of $2000 was Bogdan Mustata from Romania for “A Good Day For A Swim” and the second place winner of $500 was Jean-Julien Collete and Olivier Tollet from Belgium for “E Finita La Commedia.”
It was a great week of top-of-the-line shorts. You don’t have to buy or pack a lot of clothes for next year’s trip to the PS Short Fest (just your shorts ... to go along with your shorts), but don’t miss it.
August 27, 2008
Movies of the Week: Politics
After the intense primary season defined the first half of this year, now the Washington hype machine springs into overdrive with conventions, a new Cold War, and of course, questions on how many houses one needs to become president. In honor of the machinations that govern our lives at every turn, we’ve chosen politics as our theme for this week’s films…
Campaign Manager: Joe McKenna wants to spur change in the status-oriented politics of his high school. More comfortable with pulling the strings behind a pretty face, Joe motivates a charismatic peer to run for office against the Powers That Be. But when his puppet turns out to be a reckless womanizer, Joe must learn to believe in himself.
Welcome Back, Clinton: The White House staff puts on a show to receive the Clintons once again in this political parody.
Tainted Sequins: An ambitious young dancer navigates the most difficult political environment around … her elitist high school dance team. She soon discovers a cutthroat world of jealousy and backbiting (like we said, high school) where she learns that winning means beating her rivals at their own game.
George Finally Gets the Message: Our President withdraws to a quiet room to escape the clattering press, only to find his problems compounded when someone slips him a brief -- and pointed -- note.
Business As Usual: Jerry is a struggling businessman whose car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Instead of reaching a tow truck, he is recruited by the CIA for a one-off spy gig. Will Jerry have what it takes to defend his country’s ideals?
Campaign Manager: Joe McKenna wants to spur change in the status-oriented politics of his high school. More comfortable with pulling the strings behind a pretty face, Joe motivates a charismatic peer to run for office against the Powers That Be. But when his puppet turns out to be a reckless womanizer, Joe must learn to believe in himself.
Welcome Back, Clinton: The White House staff puts on a show to receive the Clintons once again in this political parody.
Tainted Sequins: An ambitious young dancer navigates the most difficult political environment around … her elitist high school dance team. She soon discovers a cutthroat world of jealousy and backbiting (like we said, high school) where she learns that winning means beating her rivals at their own game.
George Finally Gets the Message: Our President withdraws to a quiet room to escape the clattering press, only to find his problems compounded when someone slips him a brief -- and pointed -- note.
Business As Usual: Jerry is a struggling businessman whose car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Instead of reaching a tow truck, he is recruited by the CIA for a one-off spy gig. Will Jerry have what it takes to defend his country’s ideals?
Hillary’s Humps
Just in time to turn a few heads at the Democratic Convention, we’ve come across a special video from Hillary Clinton’s campaign. In what appears to be a last ditch promotional effort, the senator shows off a more, let’s call it, progressive side in her very own version of the Black Eyed Peas’ smash hit “My Humps.” Be forewarned: it’s disturbing, and all kinds of racy.
Clearly Obama, the “new Lincoln”, was not spared by the desperate campaign managers. Neither was John Edwards, who makes an appearance “missing” on a milk carton. We’re expecting a phone call from every corner of Washington for leaking this video, but as Hilary said herself, “Turn up the Heat!”
Clearly Obama, the “new Lincoln”, was not spared by the desperate campaign managers. Neither was John Edwards, who makes an appearance “missing” on a milk carton. We’re expecting a phone call from every corner of Washington for leaking this video, but as Hilary said herself, “Turn up the Heat!”
August 18, 2008
Mini Movie Channel is HOT!!!
Mini Movie Channel will be at the Palm Springs International Short Fest (PSIFF) in a big way for the week of August 21 thru August 27. And it is hot out there. PSIFF is a festival that Mini Movie Channel endorses and highly recommends to anyone who likes mini movies. The Festival is showing 320 short films in competition, and another 2,000+ will be in the marketplace. This festival is one of the prime sources of content for Mini Movie Channel. This year, MMC is showing its support as a Platinum Sponsor, awarding the juried prize for the Mini Movie Best Live Action short under 15 minutes.
In spite of the heat, or maybe because of it, the Short Fest is in its 14th year and has become the major short film festival and market in the U.S. Hundreds of filmmakers arrive from around the world to see their films screened at the Camelot Theatres where they play to a very loyal and constantly growing audience of thousands of film lovers. The programming is superb and very diverse, ranging from popular comedies and dramas to astonishing animation to enlightening documentaries and all the niches in between.
Mini Movie Channel will have a booth in the Marketplace, so all you film folk can go meet people from MMC. In addition, Peter Hanson, manager of acquisitions, will participate in a workshop entitled "Taking Your Short To Market," which is devoted to the practical realities of dealing with the short film marketplace. That’s on Saturday, August 23 at 11:00am at the Hilton Hotel.
So pack your shorts, go see some incredible films and meet some big people in the short film world.
In spite of the heat, or maybe because of it, the Short Fest is in its 14th year and has become the major short film festival and market in the U.S. Hundreds of filmmakers arrive from around the world to see their films screened at the Camelot Theatres where they play to a very loyal and constantly growing audience of thousands of film lovers. The programming is superb and very diverse, ranging from popular comedies and dramas to astonishing animation to enlightening documentaries and all the niches in between.
Mini Movie Channel will have a booth in the Marketplace, so all you film folk can go meet people from MMC. In addition, Peter Hanson, manager of acquisitions, will participate in a workshop entitled "Taking Your Short To Market," which is devoted to the practical realities of dealing with the short film marketplace. That’s on Saturday, August 23 at 11:00am at the Hilton Hotel.
So pack your shorts, go see some incredible films and meet some big people in the short film world.
August 6, 2008
MMC Sponsors Festivals
Mini Movie Channel is a contributing sponsor to several festivals that are coming up this month. MMC is proud to be associated with them and recommends that you check them out. And if you have a film ready for festival exhibition by this time next year you should consider adding these to your festival submission schedule.
RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - August 5 - 10, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island. This festival programs about 300 films, features and a lot of shorts. Certain short film winners qualify for a possible Oscar nomination.
LA SHORTS FEST - August 15- 21, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA. In their 12th year, LASF is in a new location this year in Hollywood. This fest programs hundreds of shorts and, again, certain festival winners also qualify for Oscar noms.
PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST AND MARKET - August 21 - 27, 2008 - Palm Springs, CA. This is the premiere festival and market for short films. They have great programming plus seminars and workshops. It's also an Oscar qualifying festival. MMC will have a booth at the festival's marketplace and are also giving a named cash prize to one of the juried winners.
CENTRAL FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL - August 28 - 31, 2008 - Kissimmee, FL This is not a huge festival, but a nice one. They show both features and shorts.
In the big sea of festivals it's hard to sort and find the ones worthy of your attention, both as an audience and as a filmmaker. MMC is putting a spotlight on 4 for this month that are worthy of your attention. More to come….
RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - August 5 - 10, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island. This festival programs about 300 films, features and a lot of shorts. Certain short film winners qualify for a possible Oscar nomination.
LA SHORTS FEST - August 15- 21, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA. In their 12th year, LASF is in a new location this year in Hollywood. This fest programs hundreds of shorts and, again, certain festival winners also qualify for Oscar noms.
PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST AND MARKET - August 21 - 27, 2008 - Palm Springs, CA. This is the premiere festival and market for short films. They have great programming plus seminars and workshops. It's also an Oscar qualifying festival. MMC will have a booth at the festival's marketplace and are also giving a named cash prize to one of the juried winners.
CENTRAL FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL - August 28 - 31, 2008 - Kissimmee, FL This is not a huge festival, but a nice one. They show both features and shorts.
In the big sea of festivals it's hard to sort and find the ones worthy of your attention, both as an audience and as a filmmaker. MMC is putting a spotlight on 4 for this month that are worthy of your attention. More to come….
MMC pays $$$
There are certainly a lot of websites out there that offer a share of something, like download fees or advertising revenue, but Mini Movie Channel pays filmmakers cash which, as Yogi Berra put so eloquently, is just as good as money. That alone sets MMC apart from every other site out there. (We'd sure like to hear if the rev-share models are working for any filmmakers.) And Mini Movie Channel pays promptly, as soon as all deliverables for the film that's been licensed have been received. If there are other websites out there that are paying up-front license fees, let us know by emailing submissions[at]minimoviela.com
Be sure to put MMC on the top of your list for places to submit your short film.
Be sure to put MMC on the top of your list for places to submit your short film.
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