Monday, December 12, 2011

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 5 - June 20 - 24, 2012. Withoutabox site to launch by new year.

@PhilaIndie fans and foes alike,
Happy Holidays! This was a great year for us around these parts. We want to thank one last time in the soon to be old year all supporters including film makers, fest organizers, participants, sponsors, venues, and most important the legions of fans of film for their commitment to Independent film and to our festival in particular. It's been a fantastic experience with all of the storyline of a fiction book or a "How to toil in obscurity in Independent Film and make a living" book (so we think at least). Thank you for this experience and we hope you have learned and gained along with us.

Welcome everybody (back) to the festival blog. If you are new, this is where we update everybody during submission and screening season. The submission and screening time frame is July - May. We had 357 official submissions last year and screened 101 film's. This year we expect submissions to rise (early submissions which started In Oct. are already up)! Thank you. We have already started the underground film forum (#uff) as of October (1 month earlier this year!)

We are very excited to be currently producing the 5th festival with the past 4 years as our template. We have many changes and additions including launching (finally we know) a companion e-com site, http://buyboards.com. Our experience as festival programmers and film fest organizers has been intense, vast, and edgy. We feel good we are imemrsed and learning from our 10+ years of digital film and festival experience and are excited to carry it over and reach new heights. We had planned from day 1 to be able to achieve great things for the film makers and fest participants by fest #5. We are very close to bringing forward a truely unique fest experience, 12 months a year. We hope you agree and want to participate in the fest by seeing a film, sitting in on a discussion, interacting online, or lingering in the fest lab or lounge for inspiration. Comments always welcome. We are open daily online and offline.

We will be posting regularly in the new year. For now, subscribe to the fest blog Feed via the subscribe button on the top right of the is site. As usual, feel free to contact us at any time, we love to talk about film and what surrounds it.

Thanks again and we'll see you at the festival, June 20 - 24, 2012. #piff #Pi5 #uff #film

More information to come before the new year!

Benjamin F. Barnett Festival Director Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 5 June 20 - 24, 2012

http://PhiladelphiaIndependentFilmFestival.com http://Twitter.com/PhilaIndie http://Facebook.com/PhiladelphiaIndependentFilmFestival Box Office Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 338 Brown Street Philadelphia, Pa 19123 215 592-1242

Saturday, December 3, 2011

"Chega De Saudade" A Moment to relive.: Far away in the land of possiblilty

From our friends shooting in Brazil.
A message from the field ...
"Chega De Saudade" A Moment to relive.: Far away in the land of possiblilty: Friends, Time has passed by like a speeding train. We have spent close to a month here in Curitiba, a small city in the south of Brazil ...

- #piff #Pi5

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 5 - June 20 - 24, 2012.

Welcome film fans! We are gearing up for the 5th annual festival from June 20 - 24, 2012. We will be accepting submissions in December of 2011. Thank you for your support and we are excited to screen in 2012. The 5th year looks to be the best yet. Our festival has dedicated itself to Independent film in Philadelphia and we have done so on the backs of hard work, loyalty to Independent film, and a commitment to exposing new film makers. Nobody int he city fo brotherly love does it like we do. Thank you for the next level partnerships that will propel #Pi5 into the next stage of it's development. Most of all, thank you to the global film community that supports us and screens with us. We welcome you to Philadelphia. Benjamin Barnett Festival Director Philadelphia Independent Film festival Festival Submissions 338 Brown Street Philadelphia, Pa 19123

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 2011 Award Recipients.

Thank you to all.
It takes time for us to figure out best of festival. We truly believe all movies in our fest deserve such accolades. It is also true that we screen movies for reasons other than "cinematic" appeal.

We really take a hard look at the awards.

Thank you for your patience and we are sorry for any confusion :)

If you would like a High Resolution (300 dpi) Adobe PhotoShop .psd file, please email us directly and we will send it to you.

We want to thank you all for submitting, sponsoring, and participating.

See you at #uff...

Benjamin F. Barnett
Festival Director
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival Best of Festival recipients 2011:
Posted: v o2

Best Feature – From The Head (91min) (Comedy, Drama) Dir. George Griffith. On his third anniversary as a bathroom attendant in a New York City strip club, SHOES sees the same idiosyncratic characters that have flooded his porcelain kingdom for years. But before this shift is over, Shoes will discover that things have changed, and it’s no longer “same tits, different day.”

Honorable Mention - Rachel & Diana (76min) (Drama) Dir. Dave Janetta. "Rachel & Diana" is the story of one young woman's search for perspective and clarity in a modern, digital world. When an unexpected package arrives in the mail shedding new light on her past she takes to the highway.

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Best Political Documentary - Zielinski (66min) (Politics / Documentary) Dir. Chase Thompson / Ryan Walker. By 1983 John Zielinski was a well-known author and photographer. His work had appeared in Life Magazine, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune and countless other publications. But in a devastating 1984 contract dispute, he lost $50,000 and his professional credibility.

Honorable Mention - - A Hitler (min) The film, by writer/director Barry J. Hershey, is a phantasmagoric journey into the darkest recesses of the mind of Adolf Hitler. In a dreamlike subterranean environment removed from historical time, Adolf Hitler confronts the demons of his psyche. As he dictates his memoirs, Hitler encounters apparitions of his fiendish confidant, Joseph Goebbels; his enigmatic mistress, Eva Braun; the mastermind of his military campaigns, Hermann Goering; Jewish psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud; and a mysterious Woman in Black.

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Best Short - Bathing and the Single Girl (11min) (Underground Romance). Dir. Christine Elise McCarthy. A raw & irreverent comedic look at the unspoken horrors of dating - and bathing with - younger men.

Honorable Mention - The Pond (19min) Dir. Dan Hannon. Shelly, a young woman distraught over the death of her husband, sets about scattering his ashes on the pond in an apple orchard they had both loved. But the waters of the pond hold a secret, and when a stranger appears unexpectedly, she learns the truth about this stunning locale.

Honorable Mention - - Blink of an Eye (Augenblicke) (Germany) (19min) (Thriller). Dir. Martin Bargiel. In the middle of the night a fight between Schenker’s neighbors won’t let him rest. Half asleep his mind is playing tricks on him: constantly he awakes in different places. Now he has to face questioning by an inspector about a dead woman, and his nightmare begins.

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Best Documentary Virtual JFK - What if JFK had never been assassinated? (91min) (Documentary) Dir. Koji Masutani ’05 (Watson Visiting Fellow ) Watson Professor Jim Blight and Adjunct Associate Professor Janet M. Lang have been focusing their research on this question and on the lessons that revisiting the Vietnam War could provide for contemporary US policy.

Honorable Mention -- Schooling the World The White Mans Last Burdon (65min) (Documentary) Dir. Carol Black. If you wanted to change an ancient culture in a generation, how would you do it? You would change the way it educates it’s children.

Best Doc Short: - Voices of Sculpture (30min) (Documentary) Dir. David Steele. Featuring some of the most important and innovative sculptures and sculptors of the modern art world, Voices of Sculpture is a tour DE force documentary exploring the role and interrelationship of art, artist and observer. Set in the unique Grounds For Sculpture located near Princeton N.J., the film tells the story of Seward Johnson's founding and development of this extraordinary venue for the arts and explores the sustaining spirit that made it grow into being.

Best Real Time Documentary - Cure for the Crash - The Art of Train Hoppin (91min) (Doc / Narrative) Dir. Brian Paul Higgens. Just beyond the tracks and the world you find familiar, endures a freedom found on the edges of American excess. I traveled these outer limits via the art of hopping freight trains with a photographer named Sepher and a brave women named Ruin. We rode through mountains, over clear meadows, near hidden canyons, along sprawling farms and countless other American...


Best Music Documentary – - Meet Me on South Street - History of J. C. Dobbs (50min) (Music Documentary) Dir. George Manney. Meet Me On South Street, The Story of JC Dobbs documents, the evolution of Philadelphia's fertile music and arts subculture in the 1970's until the sad closing of JC Dobbs in 1996. Between the gritty walls and dressing room grandeur, to the mystique and dysfunctional family-like workplace, what was once the club in Philly known for live music seven nights a week, showcasing artists in the infancy of their rising careers, JC Dobbs was Philadelphia's premiere rock & roll bar!

Honorable Mention ToddStock (91min) (Music Documentary). Dir. Todd Rundgren, Ed Vigdor. Camping out at Todd’s house for his 60th birthday. Toddstock was born.

Honorable Mention - BEATBOXING - THE FIFTH ELEMENT OF HIP HOP (55m, U S A)
Dir. by Klaus Schneyder The undocumented 5th element of HipHop. Beatboxing.

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Best Comedy – - Big Guns Big Guns: (85 mins) (Comedy) Dir. Chris McDonnel. The world's worst cop gets fired and for reasons unknown becomes the target of every criminal in town. As a PI he must overcome incompetence and several character defects to solve the case and save his life.

Honorable Mention - Frontman (104min) (Comedy) Dir. Ben Hyland. When the former frontman of 'Stanley and the Knives' suddenly dies his old friends and band mates are forced back together after twenty-five years apart. Cracks soon start to appear in their relationships and it becomes clear why they split up in the first place. Frontman is a musical journey of five strangers, becoming friends for the second time.

Best Comedy Short - Gratitude (21 min) (Drama/Surreal). Dir. Cyrus Mirakhor. A harried chef learns about cooking and hard choices from a talking fish.
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Best Thriller / Crime / Drama Hamesima X (91min) (Israel) Dir. Or Yashar & Yuval Ovadia. A man is sent to Earth on a mysterious mission and caught trying to infiltrate the Mossad's most highly classified facility. During an intensive interrogation, instead of getting the information he was hoping for, the Mossad's investigator is surprised to be given mystical information and Kabalistic secrets.
Honorable Mention - Murdered - Intersecting Memoires (60min) (Crime) Dir. Terance Ross. MURDERED, intersecting memoirs is an experimental single author movie. It is a cinema/literature fusion and is part of an interactive site best experienced by going to murderedtheweb.com.


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Best Art House - Hunger (min) (Art House / Mystery) Dir. A typical dinner with friends where their secret desires are anything but. (French: Un dîner typique avec les amis où leurs désirs secrets sont tout sauf.)

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Best Foreign : Chasing Che (78m, Iran) Dir. by Alireza Rofougaran One mans journey to follow the footsteps of his hero, Che Guevera while he translates his history into Farsi.


Honorable Mention -DILLI (25m, India) Dir. by Sushmit Ghosh, Rintu Thomas. What happens when you relocate 2 million people to nowhere?

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Best Horror – Summer of Massacre. (78min) (Horror) Dir. Joe Castro. This movie is insane, actually insane is an understatement. It's a 100 MPH gore ride that never slows down. This film offers you not 1 but 8 maniacal, terrifying, relentless, and unstoppable killers. Prepare yourself for a body count so high, so bloody, so shocking, it is unlike anything have ever seen… in the history of slasher films.


Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 2011 Award Recipients.

http://PhiladelphiaIndependentFilmFestival.com

725 N. 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215 592-1242

http://Twitter.com/PhilaIndie



Thank you!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Festival goers - CONTACT INFORMATION for this years 2011 Philadelphia Independent Film Festival.

Thank you for all of your input and comments!

Please follow along with festival happenings and discussions at the following networks:


Twitter: http://Twitter.com/PhilaIndie


Facebook: GROUP - Fest GROUP on Facebook


Facebook: PAGE - Fest PAGE on Facebook


ALL festival venues: Box Office Phone # 215 592-1242 (except Franklin Institute)


Franklin Institute Box Office Phone # 215 448-1254


Franklin Institute festival listings: Franklin Institute screening listings



Thank you! See you at the Screenings.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

COMEDY ...... Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4, June 22-26. #piff4 #Pi4 COMEDY ......

COMEDY ...... Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4, June 22-26. #piff4 #Pi4 COMEDY ......

}-------> Raven Lounge <-------{

1718 Sansom Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 840-3577

(limited seating!)

[[[ Thursday 23rd ]]]

*** Big Guns - 7pm - 9pm

When the world's worst cop is fired he becomes the world's worst private detective. For reasons unknown he finds himself the target of every criminal in town. He must overcome his incompetence and several character defects to solve the case and save his life.

[[[ Friday 24th ]]]

*** Tell your Friends - The Concert Movie ... 6pm - 7:30pm

This is the story of indie comedy in New York City; like classic rock films 'Woodstock' and 'The Last Waltz,' it tells the story of not just a show, but a scene--a generation of comedians who honed their craft in the bars, rock clubs, and little black box theatres outside the mainstream comedy club circuit.

*** Front Man 7:45 - 9:30pm

A Comedy about struggling with Life,

Coping with Death, and playing soft rock along the way.

[[[ Saturday 25th ]]]

*** (Short Collection # ) 6pm - 7pm

... ladies and gentlemen

jordan rock - 40min

This is a glimpse into the world of 20 year old stand-up comedian jordan rock.a georgetown, sc native, following in the footsteps of his older brothers chris and tony (and cousin sherrod) is the ultimate challenge.Can he find his voice and make a name for himself on the new york comedy scene?

... Alienate - 12min

After his race has crash landed on Earth, Harry finds himself in a new and confusing world. As he struggles between assimilating with daily human life and maintaining the distinctions of his people, Harry finds himself feeling like a fish out of water.

... Bull Fighting - 3 min

You guessed it!

7:15pm - 9pm ... PlayStation Killed the Puppet

Imagine a world with puppets and humans co-existing. America's society is used as a template and is spoofed in this film.

}-------> Franklin Institute <-------{

The Franklin Institute Science Museum is located in Center City Philadelphia, at the intersection of 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Box Office # for all Franklin Institute screenings is: 215-448-1254.

[[[ Thursday 23rd ]]]

Tell Your Friends - The Concert Movie (IMAX)

This is the story of indie comedy in New York City; like classic rock films 'Woodstock' and 'The Last Waltz,' it tells the story of not just a show, but a scene--a generation of comedians who honed their craft in the bars, rock clubs, and little black box theatres outside the mainstream comedy club circuit.

[[[ Saturday 25th ]]]

Big Guns (IMAX) - Police gone wrong.

When the world's worst cop is fired he becomes the world's worst private detective. For reasons unknown he finds himself the target of every criminal in town. He must overcome his incompetence and several character defects to solve the case and save his life.

COMEDY ......

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4, June 22-26. #piff4 #Pi4

COMEDY ......

Monday, May 23, 2011

Welcome! The decisions have been finalized. We will contact you all in the afternoon. Check WAB, email or call the studio at: 215 -592-1242.

We want to thank the film makers from all over the world who submitted this year. We say this every year, but it holds true, hearing your stories over the months has proven to be as rewarding as ever and is a Fest in itself. Thank you to the underground film forum #uff, underground film guild #ufg, and the Media Bureau for the platform.

14 screenings at the Franklin Institute are on tap. Media Bureau, Cafe Treece, Raven Comedy club, and the Random Tea Room round out the screening rooms. We will post the screening schedule this Thursday, May 26.

Please send in Fest screening copies now!

The Film makers lounge is open June 14th and tickets go on sale May 29th. Tickets are $8 and $10. Opening night, June 22 and closing night June 26, are $20. Please purchase early and support Independent Film Making.

Thank you from everybody at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4.

See you at the Fest June 22-26.

Benjamin Barnett
Festival Director

Monday, April 25, 2011

Congratulations to Toddstock Submitted by William Chapman in Music Documentary.


"For those who missed it, the week-long Toddstock festival celebrated Todd’s 60th birthday. Throughout the week, hundreds of fans from around the globe camped out on his property in Hawaii, and the gala wrapped up with a world premiere concert to launch his Arena album.


Accepted to Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4.

See you June 22 - 26.

Thank you for submitting!

Welcome to Adobe Systems as a Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4 Sponsor

Film Makers -

We will be giving away 2 Adobe® Creative Suite® 5.5 Master Collection software for lucky winners. WE HAVE not decided what category!

We will announce this soon, please contact us with suggestions. :)
More prize announcements as the days and weeks go on.


...
Benjamin F. Barnett
Festival Director
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4
June 22 - 26, 2011

2 Music Video's Selected to screen at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4

Congratulations to Dark Victory submitted by Jeff Mellin in Music Video and congratulations to Sasha Sumner and her Music Video MY Secret on being accepted to the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4.

See you June 22 - 26.

Thank you for submitting!

Benjamin F. Barnett
Festival Director
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 4
June 22 - 26, 2011

Monday, March 14, 2011

WithoutaBox Festival submission link ... 2011 Philadlephia Independent Film Festival

#PIFF4 -

We have asked film makers if WAB is their submission system of choice and for the 4th year, you have said yes. We are always looking for the best and easy way for you to submit to the fest and are happy to be working with WAB for the 4th year. You can use this link http://www.withoutabox.com/login/6382 to submit.


We have added one more deadline for your convenience.

Please contact us at info@PhiladelphiaIndependentFilmFestival.com with questions or call the studio at 215 592-1242 if you have direct questions.

Thank you!

We hope to see you at the festival June 22-26, 2011.

UPDATE: Festival Submission screenings at the Sedgwick date to be moved!


The film forum is on the move again! For on going updates / input we're at the forum blog: http://undergroundfilmforum.blogspot.com/.

We will confirm a spot and date next week. Media Bureau screenings and festival submission preview / screenings will be part of the new dates as well as our ongoing daily screenings in the lab. Sorry for the delay!

It's a tough road out there with so many pro's with the best ideas! But it's healthy for the viewers... ;) We're excited to have our own screenings again.

Thank you for listening to us the past 5 weeks... More soon ...

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Michael Winner - Dirty Weekend (uncut!!). Classic Satire and Revenge all in one ... 'nuff said. Underground Film Forum #UFF

Presented by: Underground Film Forum, Philadelphia Independent Film Festival, and Adam Lippe>>>

Tonight! Sedgwick on Germantown Avenue. Mt. Airy. 7pm.

7137 Germantown Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19119

Michael Winner - Dirty Weekend (uncut). Classic Satire and Revenge all in one ... 'nuff said.

See you there.

Dark Thriller White of the Eye + the short Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance. Screening March 3rd at the Sedgwick in M. Airy.


The screenings have been great and we are moving on with Cafe plans! Come by, watch the movies, tell us your ideas...

Screening time is 7pm.

Thank you to:
http://PhiladlephiaIndependentFilmfestival.com
and the humble...
* http://www.RegrettableSincerity.com