Sundance.

Phil

Phil

Veteran
I could use some mental help! :) ...

If you read this, take two seconds and tell me how you feel towards Sundance.

I built Sundance up in my head as this Holy Festival...

Is this the one that everyone tries for?
Is this the BIG one that counts?

Since they only accept films that are premiering worldwide, if you go to other festivals first they won't let you in?

Recently I've been studying their trend in film acceptance, and it seems only the BIG films are getting in. I know everyone says NOVEMBER...but that's a big movie too, it had Courtney Cox in it.

Anyways, Just wondering if anyone else felt Sundance was the ultimate goal like I have been.

Also, anyone think touring the other festivals instead of Sundance is better?

Thanks for your time.
 
Re: Sundance.

[quote author=TheAmPro link=board=Offtopic;num=1089261480;start=0#0 date=07/07/04 at 21:38:00]I could use some mental help!  :) ...

If you read this, take two seconds and tell me how you feel towards Sundance.

I built Sundance up in my head as this Holy Festival...

Is this the one that everyone tries for?
Is this the BIG one that counts?

Since they only accept films that are premiering worldwide, if you go to other festivals first they won't let you in?

Recently I've been studying their trend in film acceptance, and it seems only the BIG films are getting in. I know everyone says NOVEMBER...but that's a big movie too, it had Courtney Cox in it.

Anyways, Just wondering if anyone else felt Sundance was the ultimate goal like I have been.

Also, anyone think touring the other festivals instead of Sundance is better?

Thanks for your time.[/quote]

Telluride and Toronto are well thought of. Many people, even South Park, have taken swipes at Sundance for going glitz, but having never attended I cannot say for sure.
 
Re: Sundance.

Wasnt OPEN WATER a SUNDANCE pick?  What about PRIMER?

I agree though.  Doesnt seem terribly independent.
 
Re: Sundance.

It's always worth sending in an entry. You never know what will be accepted. I attended back in '98 and there was a wide variety of stuff- some big budget films loaded with famous people, others from middle of nowhere with complete unknowns.

Sundance can do great things for your film- get it distribution or at least seen by all the bigwigs. You can launch a career from showing there. One thing to keep in mind always is that the odds are quite long. So if you don't get accepted it's not something to take personally.

It is true they will not allow any films into competition that have screened anywhere else first. So- if you plan to apply, it's best not to go into another festival unless it's another biggie like Toronto, Telluride, etc. Sundance has other categories that aren't competitive as well but the prestige factor is lower.

Noah
 
Re: Sundance.

I live in Utah... and have been around the Sundance Fesitval alot of years. (I use to Drive shuttle from the airport to Park City, for the fest)
It is a big thing here in Utah, although till I got into film I really never wanted to know more than... what stars were apering up there.
THis last year, I decied I was going to go see a few shorts and was supprized how many small and unknown films where acutly shown.
There was only a handful that was big that I saw.
 
Re: Sundance.

Yeah it won some awards.

Thanks for the replies guys...So would it be advised, that if someone is working on a film, that might not be finished until after the deadline, to wait until next year and premiere it there? then the rest?

Or since they accept near finished, to go ahead and send it?
 
Re: Sundance.

Also if you shot on DV doesn't have to be transferred to film? I don't think they accept dvd or tapes...I think it has to be film which limits like hundreds of films
 
Re: Sundance.

[quote author=Bsmith link=board=Offtopic;num=1089261480;start=0#7 date=07/08/04 at 13:20:29]Also if you shot on DV doesn't have to be transferred to film?  I don't think they accept dvd or tapes...I think it has to be film which limits like hundreds of films[/quote]

16 or 35mm. They have a no video rule, even though more and more productions are on video.
 
Re: Sundance.

Actually sundance and most of the bigger film festivals are digital now.
 
Re: Sundance.

Sundance is not anti-video at all. Quite the contrary- they were an early adopter of DV. Over half the films shown at Sundance last year were originated on DV. They will either screen them as a 35mm transfer or a bump to HDCAM depending on the filmmakers budget. Transferring 90 minutes of DV onto HDCAM can be done for around $500-800. Probably can score a donation from a local dub house wanting Sundance publicity- if you are persistent enough. :)

That being said- it's always better to submit a more polished film rather than rush out something that just isn't ready. Sundance will re-screen resubmitted films once but only if they have changed substantially from the year before.

Noah
 
Re: Sundance.

[quote author=NoahK link=board=Offtopic;num=1089261480;start=0#11 date=07/08/04 at 14:24:50]Sundance is not anti-video at all. Quite the contrary- they were an early adopter of DV. Over half the films shown at Sundance last year were originated on DV. They will either screen them as a 35mm transfer or a bump to HDCAM depending on the filmmakers budget. Transferring 90 minutes of DV onto HDCAM can be done for around $500-800. Probably can score a donation from a local dub house wanting Sundance publicity- if you are persistent enough. :)

That being said- it's always better to submit a more polished film rather than rush out something that just isn't ready. Sundance will re-screen resubmitted films once but only if they have changed substantially from the year before.

Noah[/quote]

I think of it as they were forced by circumstances, kicking and screaming, to accept DV, and even now they are not really into it. The requirement for a bump to HDCAM, which does zero for DV in terms of increasing its quality, is silly. I could set up a digital theatre with a hard drive array to play DV films on multiple screens cheap.

The refusal to accept DV is an elitist stance by the film festivals. If it were a quality issue, then they would refuse to allow anything not shot in HD in the first place.
 
Re: Sundance.

Does Toronto or Southwest accept DV? Are there any other big festivals that don't accept DV?
 
Re: Sundance.

DV allows more creative control, I feel you might try a better shot/angle/take on something if you're not paranoid about how much money...i mean film you're wasting.

In turn, I think that all the major festivals are encouraging DV because of the creative aspect, not that they're pushed into it...besides REAL digital theaters like the ones they have are expensive, that's why the smaller ones don't have it...

I think that they don't have it because of money, not that they are pro-elitism.
 
Re: Sundance.

Ok so after about 20 quick yahoo and imdb searches, I'm taking "Gray Christmas" is your film?? :D
 
Re: Sundance.

LOL yeah it is...I posted a trailer here a while ago, but it's offline right now...

I have no idea whether to expect it gets in or not. Does anybody know what the shorts are like that get accepted into the Toronto film festival?
 
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