2012 Film Fest
The New Orleans Film Society is pleased to announce that we are now accepting submissions for the 23rd annual New Orleans Film Festival, to be held October 12-18, 2012.
2012 Film Festival Sidebars focus on films dealing with LGBT issues and Music
The New Orleans Film Festival continues its tradition as a top-notch regional film event, presenting an eclectic program of films, panels, and parties each fall with legendary New Orleans as its backdrop. Offering filmmakers and film fans alike an ideal setting in a world-famous city, NOFF drew in over 13,000 attendees last year. Both established and emerging filmmakers gain media exposure, connect with the region’s diverse audiences, and participate in an acclaimed event attended by industry professionals as well as celebrated luminaries.
Last year’s festival was a great success. We had our biggest audience yet, with a 57% increase over the previous year and more than 120 filmmakers in attendance.
Our final jury for 2011 included such powerhouses as Oscar-winning actress Melissa Leo, Variety reporter Jeff Sneider, on-air host for IFC News Matt Singer, documentary filmmaker Jeff Malmberg (Marwencol), producer Alicia Van Couvering (Tiny Furniture), and actor Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme). Additionally, SXSW founder Louis Black was a judge for our student pitch panel.
2011 also marked the introduction of two sidebars at NOFF, which will continue in 2012: one sidebar called “OUTtakes” which focuses on LGBT-related films and the other called “keeping {SCORE}” which focuses on films about music and musicians. We particularly encourage film submissions in these two areas.
Over the past two decades, NOFF has welcomed numerous indie icons into its family, including Todd Solondz (Happiness), David Gordon Green (Undertow), and Richard Linklater (Slacker). After screening his film I’m Carolyn Parker: The Good, The Mad, and The Beautiful at NOFF, Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme said, “Being embraced by the community where you made your film is the greatest gift a filmmaker can receive. I have the New Orleans Film Festival to thank for this. I hope to show my next four documentaries there in the future.”
Many filmmakers from NOFF’s recent editions have gone on to be nominated for Academy Awards, including Luke Matheny (who won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short for his film “God of Love”), Jennifer Redfearn (“Sun Come Up”), and “Bastien Dubois (“Madagascar: A Journey Diary”). The short film “Time Freak” (directed by Andrew Bowler), which screened at NOFF 2011, has been nominated for an Oscar, and the documentary feature We Were Here (directed by David Weissman) was one of ten films short-listed for an Oscar in that category.
Many others have gone on to be nominated for Independent Spirit Awards, including Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind), Kyle Patrick Alvarez (Easier With Practice), Jessica Oreck (Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo), and Bill & Turner Ross (45365). One of NOFF’s earliest winners was a documentary by first-time director Todd Phillips who has gone on to direct The Hangover and Old School.
We are looking for new and original films completed on or after July 1, 2011, and are accepting films in eight categories: narrative feature, narrative short, documentary feature, documentary short, animated short, experimental short, Louisiana feature, and Louisiana short. We accept films via Withoutbox secure online links and we welcome DVDs. The final deadline for submitting a film is June 4 (though we offer discounted rates to filmmakers who submit early).
We will be awarding prizes to the winning filmmaker in each category. One of NOFF’s earliest winners was a documentary by first-time director Todd Phillips who has gone on to direct The Hangover and Old School. We’ll also be handing out Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature.
The Festival prides itself on being filmmaker-friendly, and every effort is made to ensure that visiting filmmakers enjoy themselves and take away a meaningful screening experience. Last year’s Festival was attended by nearly 150 filmmakers, so it’s truly a filmmakers’ festival.
Last year, all accepted filmmakers were offered two nights’ lodging, airport pickups, shuttle transportation during the Festival, and All-Access Passes offering entry to all screenings, film events, and parties. Filmmakers are also invited to our first-class VIP lounge, a Sunday morning filmmaker brunch (which last year featured New Orleans specialty praline bacon and grits and special entertainment by Mardi Gras Indians), and a filmmaker welcome party at a columned mansion off the streetcar line.
Given that Louisiana now ranks third in the nation for film and television production, the New Orleans Film Festival offers a unique opportunity to connect with industry professionals and showcase your work in this growing hub for film production and exhibition.
“The New Orleans Film festival brings films to the city that you would never get to see here. It’s just another example that the city is fast becoming a player in the movie industry.” -Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme)
HOW TO ENTER Submit at withoutabox.com.