L.E.S* Film Festival

Well here we go again, Gang. The 3rd annual L.E.S* Film Festival is right around the corner, June 13th-23rd, here in NYC’s Lower East Side.

L.E.S* began in 2011 in an effort to support and showcase low budget filmmakers, specifically. We sold out all our screenings and were placed on New York Magazine’s Approval Matrix – “Highbrow & Brilliant.” Treat! Apparently there was an interest…

We have continued to expand into bigger venues (Sunshine Cinema, Anthology Film Archives, the Crosby St. Hotel) and incorporated some of the best names in film. Our judges panel includes the likes of Academy Award Winner Susan Sarandon, Sundance Winning Director and Writer Rebecca Miller, Academy Award Nominee Travis Knight (Paranorman), Academy Award Nominee Dan Janvey (Beasts of the Southern Wild), legendary performance artist Justin Bond and many many more exceptional individuals.

In the process we have worked hard to stay true to our mission: show the best in low budget filmmaking in New York City’s Lower East Side. Wait… did we mention a lot of our events are FREE and completely awesome?

We wanted to answer some fan mail we’ve received… Kidding – ifp emailed us these questions:

Q: What are festivals looking for in submissions? What about writing a good Artist Statement? How do we know which festivals to apply for?

A: Well, we can’t speak for other festivals, but for L.E.S* we look for the basics first: can you hear the sound? Is the editing good? Are the shots not blown out? Basic things like this are CRUCIAL to watching. You’d be amazed how many people send in films with a weird buzzing noise, zero sound mix, we can’t see or hear the actors… there are many films where we say “if it was just edited a little differently…”

Acting – so important. DO NOT CAST YOUR FRIENDS because you don’t want to pay actors!  If they cannot act DO NOT PUT THEM IN YOUR FILM!

Writing – make sure it’s good! Less is more. Edit, edit, edit! Do a reading with people before you film to see if it makes sense. A reading will change your perception of your writing!

TELL A GREAT STORY! That’s it. Give the audience credit. We have ALL spent our whole lives listening to and telling stories all day every day. There is something in us – ALL OF US – that can tell what is good, what is bad, and what is an artist indulging themselves.

Q: Do we care about an Artist Statement?

A: Not really. The Artist Statement guides the artist. An audience doesn’t care about the artist’s intention. Say you read all about an artist’s intention before you see their film, because you’re curious…if you actually see the film and there’s nothing interesting about it, the artist’s intention or statement is not going to change the bad experience you had.

Applying to festivals requires research. Do not apply to a Christian Film Festival if your film is about a Satanic Cult, or DO because that’s kind of ballsy… but they’re not going to take your film. You may shock them with some blatant hedonism, but they’re not putting your film in their fest.

Every film festival has its own aesthetic and programming committee. Look to where your film may fit best. Look at previous lineups. Where do you think you have the most chance of getting attention from? One of the great things about our festival, we’d like to think, is that it is in NYC and we can get industry to your screening. The great thing about Sundance, SXSW, and Toronto is that everyone knows about them and they can get industry to your screening. Can Big Stone Gap International Film Festival get industry to your screening? No. They can’t. Cause where the hell is Big Stone Gap? Well, it’s where the tip of Virginia meets Kentucky.

Q: What do we do once we’re in a festival? How do we promote our film/short film in the festival?

A: Once in a festival, spread the word like CRAZY! Don’t sit back and think the work is done. The work never stops, and it’s on you to keep pushing!

Q: Do festivals care about having an online following/community or are they just looking at the film?

A: Absolutely!!! Online community is huge! We all know that. If we didn’t we’d be asking for your submissions on Betamax.

Q: When at a festival, how do I maximize the experience for my career (i.e. building relationships with the right people etc.)

A: Don’t rely on the festival to do everything for you. It’s up to you to network and push your film. If you’re travelling to the festival, try to set up meetings wherever you are. Go to other films and reach out to filmmakers whose work you like. There are usually Q+A’s and drinks as well as panels. Go to as much as you can and introduce yourself. Everyone likes meeting future collaborators and friends. If you’re shy, pretend you’re not.

Q: Are festivals going to care if I release my film online?

A: That’s up to the festival.

Our goal, at L.E.S* – to support the next generation of low budget and creative filmmakers. If you are one of them, a film lover, or just want to have a fun time, please come to our Fest. We’d love to have you!

Sincerely,

Damon and Shannon

www.lesfilmfestival.com