The Circuit

In an article for Variety's weekly, I tackle the glut of film festivals:

At the fourth annual Intl. Film Festival Summit in Las Vegas last week, fest honchos huddled together in panel sessions with names like "Creating a Sustainable Festival," showing a sense of camaraderie, friendliness and mutual support.

But then, most attendees there were new to the game. Among veteran fest programmers and execs, it's more a case of strong rivalries, poaching and a secret desire that their compatriots would disappear in a puff of smoke.

Competition among film fests has always been sharp, but it's become cutthroat as fests proliferate, with literally thousands of them vying for world premieres, stars and, crucially, sponsors. If the films are good, it's almost a bonus.

The piece also touches on a growing controversy amoung fest execs - rising distributor and sales agents fees. 

Full piece here.

SXSW's Matt Dentler has a good report from the Denver Film Festival, where Michael Chandler's doc about a family murder in rural Maine, "Knee Deep" won the doc award from these trio of jurors: David Wilson of the True/False Film Festival, "Kurt Cobain About A Son" director AJ Schnack, and indieWIRE's Brian Brooks.

Denver held a film festival, and guess who showed up?  Why "Juno,"of course.  Jason Reitman, all dressed up, talks at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House screening. There was also these guys (below), who run around festival screenings of "Juno" yelling "JUNO, JUNO, JUNO!" alternately with "DECEMBER 5, DECEMBER 5, DECEMBER 5!" -- finally, the date when film festivals are allowed to program something else. 

"Juno" is a very good film, but it's reaching a saturation level akin to "Weird Science's" 12,000th showing on HBO -- you just know they'll be another one soon.

Photos by Soren McCarty.

Long time artistic director and festival founder Ron Henderson is stepping down from the Denver Film Society (and the Starz Denver Film Festival) after 30 years.  He’ll remain as a senior program consultant.  In recognition, he’ll get the John Cassavetes Award at a presentation opening night – an award created with Gena Rowlands, and presented annually to an individual who has made “a significant contribution to the world of filmmaking and whose work reflects the spirit of the late John Cassavetes.”  Recipients have been Steven Soderbergh, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, William H. Macy, Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins. 

Henderson oversaw the festival’s rapid growth in the last several years.  Britta Erickson, formerly the director of media and industry relations, will step into the festival director shoes.  Brit Withey, who has served as the film society’s program director, is taking over artistic director of festivals.

Snooping around the (great) Variety Asia blog site, I found the below Patrick Frater post from Pusan that puts the circuit life in perspective.  Appropriate, as we approach the Denver Film Festival and their now-infamous Late Night Lounge of alcohol and sin via sponsors Bombay Sapphire, Ciroc Vodka, Moet Champaign, Stella Artois, and Sterling Vineyards.  Infamous, because the party has grown out or been thrown out of four different venues in four years.  This year they found a warehouse.  They’re still waiting on a liver sponsor. 

Am I an alcoholic?
Tuesday, 09 October 2007 - PUSAN

I'd like to think that I can blame this on something other than myself. Korea maybe.

I'm going to all it a "festival headache." But whatever fancy name I give it, there is too much drinking in my life this week. Take yesterday evening for example.

The Variety Asia one year anniversary party: lots of water before my speech; mixed wine and beer afterwards.

Post-party drink: bottle of wine shared between five people.

Pusan market party: I can't remember (!)

Dinner with Chinese talent agents and French cultural attache: I taught the Chinese to mix baekseju and soju like a real Korean, they taught me to 'gan' or drink shots like an idiot.

Wide Angle Party: some beer I think, but it was too noisy to drink, so I didn't stay. But I left my phone there as a token of my appreciation.

Boracai night club: Walking in I met two women friends from Hong Kong who may have been using the club for its normal function of speed dating. We never found out. One stayed with us and danced. Management wouldn't let us order less than 12 bottles of beer. Seriously.

Slowly wending my way back into my hotel, I met a dear friend from Korea who wanted to talk. Went to a nearby fish restaurant, where she talked. I sipped more baekseju and had the impression I was falling asleep in her soup.

This has to stop.

(P. Frater)