Stro

[Drunk Monk]

I blame DM. He's usually behind this sort of crap.

I blame DM. He's usually behind this sort of crap.

That being said, my film is now in the hands of the BIFF.

[Greg]

Quote me once, shame on me. Quote me twice, shame on you.

Today was going to be a Validation Day for the Coney Island Film Festival. I entered it because it was one of the top 25 films according to Moviemaker Magazine and it was close to Brooklyn and I am eager to screen in Brooklyn. But they pushed until Sunday. I also have validation for another BIFF on Monday, the Boston International Film Festival. Fun fact: I have only had one viewing in Massachusetts and that person only watched 19% of the film. To compound matters this is the second festival in Massachusetts. Why compete in Massachusetts? Bragging rights with my cousins, of course. I don't hold out a lot of hope.

In general, I haven't had anybody watch the film in over a month despite the fact I still have to hear back from about 38 festivals. For instance, I have two festivals in Ireland and one in England, but no one has watched the film in those countries. Although I was invited to participate in an online festival in London. At this point, the enthusiasm level is low.

I will feel a bit better once BIFF the first sends out an announcement and hands out laurels, because then I can make public announcements. That will be fun for the old ego. I did IM with Stro Jr today about release dates and such. He wants to show people the film and was ready to hand out the private link.

[Drunk Monk]

So for those of us not keeping score:

Where has Stro been accepted?

How many more submissions are awaiting validation?

When are you moving on and starting DM & the Yeti?

Sorry, the pandemic has been distracting...

[Greg]

Just read the thread. It's not like you have anything better to do. Sigh.

I've been accepted into 4. One in person: Warsaw International Film Festival. 3 online: Liftoff Extravaganza, Malta, and BIFF. I have declined two(Malta and Liftoff) of the online festivals because of conflicts. I have withdrawn from 3 because of conflicts. Although one of those withdawals wanted me to send them a film anyway.

I've been rejected by by 10, one of which rejected me twice, so it's a 11.

I have yet to hear from 37. I will betting notifications until next April. But i have about 20 between now and the end of October.

[Greg]

First, it's Validation DAY! I'm hoping to hear great things from the Coney Island Film Festival

Second, BIFF finally sent out their laurels, so I get to post them. For reals this time. Totally.

Until they take it all away some time next week.

[Greg]

Ha! Coney Island Validation day moved to tomorrow, as I suspected. Although what one extra day is going to gain them, I don't know. But I thought it was odd when they pushed it to Sunday in the first place.

[Greg]

I started the day with a note from Coney Island, saying that I was not accepted. That's not a good way to start a Monday. I'm also waiting on validation from the Boston Film Festival. They are supposed to announce today. I checked FilmFreeway and they haven't changed their notification date.

In amongst the sadness, though, I got a note from Warsaw saying they are ready to accept the film transfer. Every time I get an email like that, it makes the Warsaw festival feel more real.

[Greg]

Those scamps at the Boston FF changed their notification date to Aug 21. Today's validation has been cancelled. Our next validation day will be Sunday.

Meanwhile, I've paid to set up the transfer of the movie to Warsaw.

[Drunk Monk]

[Greg]

Right before I went to bed I received a surprise notification from the Bushwick Festival saying I was not validated. So, no Brooklyn Festivals fro Stro.

And maybe a little less repudiation before I go to bed.

[Greg]

I just reviewed the analytics for Stro and an amazing fact came to light. Someone watched the entire film in Brooklyn yesterday, the home of the Bushwick Film Festival. My conjecture is the Bushwick people saw the film yesterday and rejected the film yesterday.

[Greg]

The New Orleans just emailed me a survey about online festivals and to remind to check my mailbox Aug 25th for the announcement. They also wanted to tell me that I'll have to have Closed Captions for the online film if I'm selected.

Seeing as how no one in New Orleans has seen the film, I don't hold out a lot of hope. Although, as Bushwick proved, the film can be seen and rejected in the same day!

[Greg]

BIFF will be the death of me.

I noticed on instagram that BIFF has started to post movie posters showing which films will be appearing at the festival. I keep checking hoping to see a post for Stro. In the comments section of each poster post, BIFF mentions that tickets are now available. You just need to click the link in the Bio to get them. Great. That would be good news to share with the people who might want to see Stro.

Clicking on the link in the Bio does bring you to the official BIFF site. It's just not the site where the tickets are available for purchase. The official site is from last year and still touts the fact you can see the films at the AMC Burbank in person. It's a site from the before times.

But I happen to know, that movies will be showing on the BIFF Festivee. I check BIFF Festivee and sure enough there is plenty of ticket information on there and a way to buy tickets. I can even see the poster for Stro and the day it will be playing. Great. Super. Wonderful.

But. There has to be a but with BIFF. But it is currently listed under Foreign Films. Or at least according to the header it's Feature Films on the Foreign Language Day. If you scroll down further, you can playing see a listing of the Documentary films under the heading Documentary. A further clue that Stro is listed in the wrong place. Or maybe they think we are speaking a foreign language?

If you click on the poster, it does bring you to the Stro page where it is categorized as a documentary. But Aaarrgggh.

I'd call BIFF to tell them about the miscatergorization but then they might think oh we didn't need this film.

Death. Death awaits me.

[cranefly]

A week ago I checked https://www.burbankfilmfest.org/, but was confused by it.  I just checked it again.  It is really messed up.  Granted, what film festival anticipates a pandemic that will preempt attendance?  Still, couldn't they put up "work in progress" or "TBD" or something?  Every link in the site leads to confusion.  Wrong year, wrong info, etc.  Actually, I take that back.  I clicked on Donate, and that mechanism seems to be fully functional, though I didn't follow it to the end.

Does Instagram point you to other info?  I don't seem to see as much as you.

Anyway, good luck.  Hope they get things straightened out soon.

[Greg]

I am not alone in my conundrum.

You need to go to https://burbankfilmfest.festivee.com to get the real scoop.

I wrote to the organizer about the instagram thing.