Iron Crotch Festival Announcements

[Greg]

I will not be going to Warsaw. I'm noticing that if I haven't been told by the deadline, I'm not going. If the Festival wants you, they will tell you well in advance.

Dear Greg,
This is an automated email to notify you that 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival has updated the Judging Status of your submission.

Iron Crotch

Not Selected
Project was not selected to be included in festival.

[Greg]

I stand corrected. I believe the United states Martial Arts Film Festival has watched the entire film. Well, 2 different locations in Arizona combined for one complete viewing.

[Greg]

Well, I don't know how to react. This could be real or not. Usually the acceptance into a film festival is much more dramatic. This email just says my status has change to selected. It is so minimal. Until I am told otherwise, I'm excited be selected to another Film Festival.

Dear Greg,
Congratulations!
Orlando Film Festival has updated the Judging Status of your submission Iron Crotch to Selected.

Iron Crotch

Selected
Project has been selected to be included in festival.

[Greg]

There is this on Film Freeway.

[Greg]

Orlando has confirmed.

[Drunk Monk]

Awesome. Congrats! Gonna go?

[Greg]

Thinking seriously about it. It's near the Queen's mom.

[Drunk Monk]

That’s perfect. You gotta go!

[Greg]

Well, I'm not going to the Great Lakes Online Festival, which is good because I didn't want to do any online festivals. I don't know how that snuck in there.

Good day,
I am contacting you today to regretfully inform you that your film has 
unfortunately not been listed among those that have been officially 
selected to participate in the 2026 Great Lakes International Film 
Festival.

We would like to thank you for submitting your film to our 2026 Festival, 
and We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work 
and dedication to your craft. Please know that your film was well done and 
we encourage you to continue your craft, and we wish you the best of luck 
with your film, any future projects, and in all that you do.

Additionally, we would be more than happy to consider another of your 
films for a future festival.

Thank you once again, 
Sincerely,
Brian Sparks
2026 Great Lakes International Film Festival

[Drunk Monk]

Here is the rare positive announcement from Indiewood.

Congratulations, we are officially accepting your film for the Indiewood Film Festival.

An official laurel is attached.
Once you have read through this email please confirm receipt by emailing back the festival.
The festival takes place September 10th - 18th  at the TCL Chinese Theatres. 
All films will screen on DCPs in the theater, while an MP4 or downloadable Vimeo link is needed for your trailer for promotion purposes.

All accepted movies need to click on the link below and fill out the following form from our tech partner DCBBOT.COM (a completed form is required for all DCPs even if you are supplying your own).

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQ...sp=preview  

If you have any DCP questions, reach out to Digital DCP through their email: info@dcpbot.com.
Finally, if you are coming in from out-of-town and looking for a place to stay, we have a hotel deal with the Loews Hollywood Hotel right next to the theatre starting at $209 per night. For more information here's a booking link: 
https://www.loewshotels.com/hollywood-ho...tival-2026
If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Again, please confirm receipt of this email.
Finally, please tweet us at  https://x.com/indiewoodff like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/IndiewoodFilmFestival/   and follow us on Instagram at  https://www.instagram.com/indiewoodfilmfestival to help us promote your film through the festival.
We are excited to be screening your film at the Indiewood Film Festival.

I have another friend who has a film debut at Indiewood now. Coincidentally he also wrote for KFTC back in the day. He often credits my encouragement for his writing career since we published his first paid articles. He shifted gears to horror writing, both reviews and his own fiction. and has made some short films based on his stories. We cross paths at SDCC every year. He usually tables for his uncle, an indie artist, but this year he was free floating and we managed to connect out of sheer luck.
Mike Lera’s The Shell debuts on the 14th at 7:30.

TTT for Greg (in reference to a DM convo we’re having)

[Greg]

Now it all makes sense. As much sense as it ever makes.

Ooh, he had a good time slot.

[Greg]

No trips to Ireland this year for Film Festivals. Cork says no.

Dear Greg,
RE: Iron Crotch
Thank you for taking the time to submit your film to the 71st Cork International Film Festival.
I am sorry to let you know that unfortunately your film has not been selected for the programme this year.

This year, curating our programme has proved to be extremely difficult as the quality of films was of an incredibly high standard. With only a finite number of slots available, many tough decisions needed to be made along the way.

Due to the immense volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to offer any feedback on submitted films. However, we would like to take this opportunity to say that, although your film was not successful at Cork International Film Festival, this is not a reflection on the quality of the work, and we wish you every success for the film’s future festival and screening appearances.

We look forward to seeing new work from you submitted to our next editions, and hope to see you in Cork in future.

Best wishes
Cork International Film Festival Team

[King Bob]

Feck that.

[Greg]

Ooh, now I'm a finalist! Whatever that means. I just know they have Iron Crotch and are screening it.

[Greg]

They are just handing out awards like candy over at the Area 51 Film Festival in Santa Fe. It took me a long time to even find what category Iron Crotch became a nominee. I made the mistake of looking in the Documentary category. Also, the awards are bit confusing because nominee is listed higher than semi-finalist which is what they communicated to me last time.

Suffice to say, Iron Crotch came in 9th Best Performative or Character Driven Documentary and 6th in Best Film Essay. Sadly, there were no film laurels that I could find for Film Essay. They did send out quite the hype-man letter.

There will not be any screenings, at least not that I am aware of.

Dear Greg,
In a landscape where independent cinema fights daily for recognition and respect, your extraordinary voice has not just risen above the rest - it has shattered expectations and commanded attention. From an intensely competitive field of 809 submissions from filmmakers across the globe, your project didn't just participate – it triumphed, setting itself apart through sheer creative force and artistic excellence. Making it this far isn't just an achievement; it's a resounding testament to your creative vision, technical mastery, and the undeniable power of your storytelling. Your NOMINATION at the 2026 AREA51 Underground Film Contest marks you as part of an elite vanguard of filmmakers who dare to push the boundaries of conventional cinema and forge new paths in visual storytelling.  
? YOUR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AWAITS: 
We invite you to explore the full RESULTS LIST and see your name here: https://area51filmfest.com/2026-results/
The results page tells only part of the story - behind each win and nomination lies countless hours of creative passion, technical expertise, and unwavering dedication to your craft. We see it all, and we celebrate it all.  
Let us tell you what AREA51 truly represents - we're far more than just another film contest in the crowded landscape of competitions. We're a covert operation dedicated to discovering and amplifying the most innovative, boundary-pushing voices in independent cinema. Our mission, which we pursue with unwavering dedication, is to bring groundbreaking storytelling out of the shadows and into the spotlight where it belongs. While mainstream channels often overlook the most daring and experimental works, we actively seek out and celebrate them. Your project embodies exactly the kind of boundary-pushing creativity and fearless innovation we exist to champion - the kind of work that makes audiences sit up, take notice, and remember why they fell in love with cinema in the first place.  
? IMDb QUALIFICATION - YOUR PERMANENT MARK OF DISTINCTION: 
As an IMDb-qualifying festival, this triumph transcends the immediate celebration. Each win and nomination becomes a permanent part of your project's professional credentials on the world's most recognized film database. This isn't just a moment of recognition - it's a career-building achievement that will continue to open doors and create opportunities. Multiple wins? Even better - each achievement is processed separately, creating a powerful constellation of credits that speak to your project's excellence.  
? SHOWCASE YOUR SUCCESS TO THE WORLD: 
1. Your Official AREA51 Laurels Await: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q9BBe4ONH5ytPRiwIQJNwNvzcTUNocqG?usp=sharing 
These aren't just graphics - they're badges of honor that mark you as part of an exclusive community of innovative filmmakers. Display them proudly on your promotional materials, your website, and anywhere else your film appears. They tell the world that your work stands among the best in independent cinema.
2. Join the Celebration Movement: https://www.instagram.com/area51filmfest/ 
We're ready to make some serious noise about your achievement! Tag us in your celebration posts - whether it's behind-the-scenes insights, acceptance speeches, or simply sharing your joy with the world. We're committed to amplifying your success across our channels, ensuring your triumph reaches every corner of the global film community. Your success is our success, and we want to shout it from the digital rooftops!
Congratulations from the AREA51 Team in Santa Fe, New Mexico