Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The Valley Film Festival Seeks Volunteers

Hello Filmmakers, Friends & Fans:

VFF10 needs your help! We're about 5-6 months away from our 10th anniversary and need to step it up. So, we're looking for an army of volunteers who want to help out in the following areas:

Communications Team: Contribute content to our blog, website & newsletter. Also, help out in the social media (Twitter/FB) areas.

Screening Committee:
Watch movies! Write reviews! Yay! It's pretty simple, but the one rule of VFF -- you must watch the entire film from start to finish. It's a must.

Global Street Team:
Identify film societies, websites, organizations, events, etc. that VFF should be at to promote our call-for-entries & alumni filmmakers, or that will allow us to leave postcards, posters, etc. (Wink. Wink. This can be anywhere in the world...we'll send you the materials.)

Focus On:
This is our new, monthly series, and it needs some TLC. We're currently "focused on" screenings & networking events, but would love to do panel discussions. If you have a great idea or know someone w/ knowledge to share, help us out!

If there's anything we missed, or if there's something you've always wanted to do, let us know -- we'll try to make it happen.


Please email: valleyfilmfest@gmail.com with the areas you'd like to volunteer in or suggestions.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Focus On: Best of VFF09 - May 23 @ Two Roads Theatre

FOCUS ON: BEST OF VFF 2009
MAY 23, 2010 @ TWO ROADS THEATRE


Earlier this year, The Valley Film Festival launched its Focus On: series -- we've had a few screenings, a few networking mixers, and are moving forward with an event every month to celebrate our 10th anniversary!

This May, we're bring you short films that took home Audience Awards in 2009*:
  • CABBIE Directed by Donlee Brussel (Comedy/15min)
  • ENIGMA Directed by Matt & Jason Shumway (Sci-Fi/43min)
  • FORGOTTEN Directed by Reuel Kim (Drama/25min)
  • REACH Directed by Aaron Moore (Drama/7min)
  • STARVING Directed by Sierra Lisa (Drama/15min)
*NOTE: films are listed in alphabetical order, not screening order & are subject to change. Films are not rated by the MPAA and may not be suitable for children under 18.

Since this is a VFF sponsored event, you can submit one short or one feature for FREE to our 2010 festival. Special applications will be available at the screening. You must bring submission with you. One per filmmaker, please.

Admission to the 5/23 Focus On: is free/donation only. RSVP a must as space is limited.

Sunday, May 23 @ 2:00pm

Two Roads Theatre & Gallery

4348 Tujunga Avenue
Studio City, CA 91604


Thursday, May 6, 2010

Beth Dubber Photography

As if the closing down of Gen Art wasn't enough bad news for one week, we learned today that The Valley Film Festival's official photographer, Beth Dubber, suffered a tremendous loss last month. While shooting the Ms. Wheelchair CA pageant at the L.A. Convention Center, equipment worth $4,600 was stolen from her.

To raise funds, Beth is selling selected work from her series, Photo of the Week.


For $125 each print (plus tax & shipping) you get: one 11x14 lightjet, archival print, numbered & signed by the artist.

Please help support an artist who helps support so many other artists. We've picked out two of our favorite pictures from the series, one from VFF09, and the other of our friend, La Coacha, but there are many more to choose from.

For more information, email Beth directly at: info@bethdubber.com

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Gone But Not Forgotten: Gen Art (1994-2010)

At 1:30pm this afternoon, we received "An Important Announcement from Gen Art" and are still in a state of shock that our friends, our inspiration, and our aspiration, Gen Art, has closed its doors after 16 amazing years.

We were first introduced to this organization in 1995 at an art exhibit hosted by Gen Art. We learned of their film festival, then in its infancy, and quickly got involved. It is through our involvement with the Gen Art Film Festival that The Valley Film Festival was born.


Truly a unique company, Gen Art crossed many platforms (visual art, independent film, fashion, etc.) and served many cities. And whether you attended a screening in L.A., a fashion show in NYC, or a house party in Park City, you were greeted as a member of their family. Of course, this is after you got past the person guarding the guest list.


Gen Art staff & volunteers have always made themselves available to assist The Valley Film Festival with answers and helping hands. For that we will be forever grateful. We also sincerely believe that staff & volunteers will continue to make themselves available because that's just the kind of people they are!


Since we wrote about fostering a creative community just yesterday, we wanted to be sure to pay our respects to the organization that, in our opinion, started it all.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Quality vs. Quantity

We're not going to lie. The VFF/Tribe Hollywood mixer last week had a small turnout. Our joint mixers usually attract between 40-100+ filmmakers, fans, and industry folk. This last week, we had 20 join us for Ms. Pac Man & merriment.

VFF & TH admins quickly realized that the attendees were just the people we wanted to meet: long- standing members of Tribe Hollywood attending their very first event, VFF alumni from previous years, and even filmmakers from out of state!

A mission that VFF & T
H share is to foster a creative community. Last week's mixer proved that we're doing something right. We're reaching beyond the monthly newsletters, random blog postings, daily tweets, and Facebook postings, to move people from their cocooned online worlds to the mean streets of Hollywood. (And, The Valley!)

And, P.S., Tracey DOES rock Ms. Pac Man. Consider yourself warned.