Worlds Collide - July's Parting Words

(More blog entries from kellykelly)

"Can't forget about the old school, Bam, Cas,Melle Mel, Flash
Rocksteady spinnin on they back
Can't forget when the first rap Grammy went to
Jazzy, Fresh Prince
Fat Boys broke up, rap hasn't been the same since
So irregular, how it messed you up
when Mr. T became a wrestler
Can't forget about Jordan's retirement
The shot Robert Horry to win the game in the finals kid
Some things are forever, some things are not
It's the things we remember that gave the world shock
They stay in a place in your mind so snug
Like who the person was with whom you first make love"

We had somewhere between 400-500 film submissions for this year's festival.  (Naftali is traveling the globe on a planned vacation so we have to wait until he gets back to get the final stats, so Albert has stepped up to make today's announcement possible.) Point is, regardless of the final tally, 400+ films are a lot of film.  We're talking hours and hours of film.

The curators – Lila, Frank and Andre – set aside numerous Friday nights and beautiful Saturday afternoons to sit in a dark, often very cold screening room to dedicate the time to find the finest.  Chris and I made it there pretty regularly, but the ultimate kudos go to Naftali and the curators for their dedication.  And god bless Kimberly, our amazing intern – Kimberly is amazing and we could not have done this without her.

Here’s the reality: not all of the films we get are great.  Doesn’t make them any less honorable and I can tell you every film – and I mean every film – gets looked at.  Hell, they’re still looking at the features because they want to ensure the best programming we can do.

So one particularly beautiful Saturday afternoon, after we’ve loaded up on our favorite Cajun barbeque shrimp pizza from Two Boots, we’re all cooped up watching away and nothing’s clicking, nothing’s standing out. And then a little short animation film called Snake comes on.  Simple, moving, funny and just dead on perfect – from running time to titles to production.  Listening to everyone “ooh,” “ah,” laugh and sigh was like being on the best amusement park ride ever.  By the end we cheered.

That day is cemented in my mind… can’t forget because its those moments I love, that make me realize why I’m doing this, why people are busting their asses to make good films, to program the best, to give people a little respect and a brief place in the spotlight. Can’t forget why independent film shouldn’t just be buzz words or code for “after party”; that the independent filmmaker spirits comes out of a love for creativity.  Can’t forget who you are and what you  - what you say and what you do represents you on a deeper level. Can’t for get all the films we saw – all of them – all the filmmakers we have a responsibility to even if their film isn’t in the fest to say Thank you.  Thank you for believing in us that you would send in your work.  Can’t forget the little girl in Candy and Brandy…

Crown Point: we will never forget.

Comments