The website has not been updated in months, they are two weeks late in sending out notifications on entries, no one has returned my calls, and it’s only about two weeks to the festival?
What’s happening, guys? When does the site get updated? Some folk on Withoutabox have asked me to find out since I’m local and I’m not having any luck with Parks & Rec.
Thanks, Steve ... well obviously the recent the gas crisis did not help and the fact that Melissa Porter (who had run the festival for several years) left had not helped things. But it’s a big festival nationally and this is making Asheville look bad.
I’ve caught up a little on what’s happening here. The Film Festival has decided to switch gears, and gave their promotion/publication over to Asheville On Tap this year, rather than Xpress, which handled it last year. Thus far, the fest’s organizers haven’t released any information about this year’s event to the media, in spite of repeated requests. The event is still planned to take place in November, but I’m not holding out high hopes for it.
Ah, ha… well, thanks for that much. Looks like the City of Asheville just ate my $35 entry fee plus that of probably several thousand other folk who applied on http://withoutabox.com.
Another late-breaking change this year: Parks and Rec opted to take the film-fest website inhouse; last year Xpress handled both the website and the print guide.
Word is that Parks and Rec’s goal is to have the screening schedule available and tickets on sale this weekend (Oct. 18-9). Likely, the website will go up any day now.
It appears that Park and Rec is working fast and furious, knows they’re behind schedule, and hence has little time to respond to queries at this point.
Xpress aims to provide what festival coverage it can, depending on what information it can gather; we’re working on this at this time.
Any thought on having the city turn things over to a related non-profit that might include skilled professionals in film festival organization and promotion ... I think it is hard for parks people to know how to screen other festivals and make deals for appearances ... even event planning for film festival activities is an art ...
There has been some talk about a joint public/private entity to operate the festival, but no real steps taken yet toward establishing such a venture. This approach would partner the city with a nonprofit. The city has festival logistics down, but, naturally, isn’t able to bring the film expertise to the table. The city faces budgetary constraints that have tended to limit their ability to do the year-round work that’s needed for a great festival. A separate, private nonprofit might be better able to raise funds. Further, Bele Chere is a huge focus for Parks and Rec, which tends to overwhelm the film-fest prep work. All these shortcomings could be fixed, but it would take a change in budget and strategies, in my view.
There has been some talk about a joint public/private entity to operate the festival, but no real steps taken yet toward establishing such a venture. This approach would partner the city with a nonprofit. The city has festival logistics down, but, naturally, isn’t able to bring the film expertise to the table. The city faces budgetary constraints that have tended to limit their ability to do the year-round work that’s needed for a great festival. A separate, private nonprofit might be better able to raise funds. Further, Bele Chere is a huge focus for Parks and Rec, which tends to overwhelm the film-fest prep work. All these shortcomings could be fixed, but it would take a change in budget and strategies, in my view.
I think you understand exactly. Expertise can pay for itself in more focused activities. Better planning. Better fundraising connections. Better film selection. and so on
Dear Zen,
On behalf of the 6th Annual Asheville Film Festival, thank you for submitting your film for this year’s event. The screening committees, comprised of professionals in the industry and avid film-goers, reviewed your submission and we regret to inform you that we can not screen your film My Penis has a First Name; it’s P-E-N-I-S at the festival this year. Please be assured that the screening committee recognizes the importance of your efforts and they take their job very seriously when selecting films.
We will begin film submissions for the 2009 Asheville Film Festival in the spring. Again, thank you for your submission and we encourage you to continue your creative efforts and submit next year.
On behalf of the 6th Annual Asheville Film Festival, thank you for submitting your film for this year’s event. The screening committees, comprised of professionals in the industry and avid film-goers, reviewed your submission and we regret to inform you that we can not screen your film The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at the festival this year. Please be assured that the screening committee recognizes the importance of your efforts and they take their job very seriously when selecting films. ...
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They rejected me too late to get into the Asheville Rejects Film Festival.
This year was a real melt-down at the Asheville Film Festival.
