It's a Wrap on VFF15 Call-for-Entries

Our 2015 call-for-entries have officially closed!

This year, we used two platforms (vs. the three from last year): FilmFreeway.com and Festhome.com and received submissions from 70 countries. 

What surprised us most was the number of films from Iran. This is a country with a rich, cultural history, yet it is also known for censoring films, throwing artists in jail, and forcing filmmakers (and their families) into exile. 

For the first time since 2009, Iran had a tent inside the International Village at Festival de Cannes. Under the Republic's new president, Hassan Rouhani, the new policy appears to be celebrating culture. Fingers crossed this is a new beginning. 

Moving on, below are the Top 10 countries VFF15 submissions came from:

1. United States
2. Islamic Republic of Iran
3. United Kingdom
4. Spain
5. Germany
6. Canada
7. Italy
8. France
9. Brazil
10. India

Countdown to VFF15...T-Minus 75 Days

75 days out and still over 300 films unwatched. 

This week we called upon our screening group volunteers to commit to an additional 10 films. With this plan in place, we're confident that every film can be viewed by August 23. This will allow us time to review the films in consideration, find the content that best complements each other and the festival, program, schedule, and update the website by September 7. 

If we miss this deadline, we miss the 6-8 week press window and we make it more difficult for filmmakers outside of Los Angeles to plan their attendance. Because we rely on our friends in the press to get the word out AND our filmmakers to support their films, this is a really important deadline for us to meet. 

We're also chasing down our sponsors, returning & new, and securing after-party venues. 

We'll provide another update once our submissions close on August 15th! 

Last Chance to Submit to VFF15 ~ Submissions Close August 15th

Dear Filmmakers: 

Don't let the VFF15 submission deadline pass you by. Once submissions are closed, they're closed. We have a record number of submissions (and they're still coming in) and made a promise to filmmakers to view every film, from start to finish. No exceptions. 

Have no fear. If you miss the August 15th deadline, you can always submit to VFF16, in January 2016. 

Film submitted through July 31 are $75 USD and submissions sent in between August 1-15 are $100 USD. Now don't you wish you submitted in February when it was pay-what-you-can?

If you're unsure whether or not to submit your film, we encourage you to look through our archives to get a feel for our programming. 

You may submit through FilmFreeway.com, Festhome.com, or to VFF directly. 

Countdown to VFF15...T-Minus 100 Days

100 days out. This is when we start to get nervous.  Even though our venue is locked down and our call-for-entries is coming to an end, once we hit the "T-Minus 100 Days" mark,  we feel just a wee more pressure to speed things up. 

Our main priority right now is to make sure every film is viewed & reviewed, from start to finish, by August 31. This year, 95% of our submissions are online. Thanks to portals such as FilmFreeway.com and FestHome.com, VFF is now able to include our foreign alumni filmmakers (and fans) in the reviewing process; we currently have approximately 30 volunteers watching submissions from all over the world. 

Usually around this time, we've picked up on submission trends. One year it was female westerns, another year it was 3D films or "Hollywood," but this year we've seen several films set just before, during, and after the Serbia/Kosovo war. While the reality of war is beyond brutal, it warms our heart to know that those affected by this conflict have found their voice via film. 

Next on the agenda is filling in the festival gaps with panel discussions and networking gatherings. If you have ideas, or wish to be involved, please let us know. 

Once we hit "T-Minus 75 Days" we'll sneak in another production update. Until then, connect with us on Facebook or Twitter for everyday interaction. 

Love Movies? Join The Valley Film Festival's Screening Committee

Love watching movies? The 15th Annual Valley Film Festival is looking for volunteers to join its Screening Committee to view and rate short & feature films, including music videos and trailers. 

Our awesome team has been working hard, since February, to get through 800+ submissions, but we need more help to meet our programming deadline of August 31.

If you can bring an objective approach to viewing films, have a strong internet connection, and a few hours to spare, please consider joining us from anywhere in the world. 

There is no minimum or maximum limit and you may go at your own pace. Interested? Please email info @ valleyfilmfest.com or sign up through VolunteerMatch.org

VFF15 will run October 21-25, 2015 at Laemmle NoHo7in the NoHo Arts District.


Pssst - we have a lot of fun! 

The Valley Film Festival 2015 Call For Entries

North Hollywood, CA (February 9, 2015) – The Valley Film Festival is now accepting submissions for its fifteenth annual season of independent films from around the Valley and the world.  The initial period is “pay what you can.”  The final deadline is August 15, 2015.

We have begun accepting short and feature-length submissions for our 2015 season.  We are seeking quality narrative / fiction films, documentaries, animation, and music videos that were produced independently anywhere in the world.  The films or filmmakers may have some connection to the San Fernando Valley area, but this is not required. 

We are accepting entries from now through August 15, with a total of five submission periods.  For each period, the application fee is the same for any film, whether short or feature-length.  Here is the schedule of dates and fees (US dollars) per film:   

February 1 - 28, 2015 -- pay what you can

March 1 - April 25, 2015  -- $25

April 26 - June 20, 2015 -- $50

June 21 - July 31, 2015 -- $75

August 1 - August 15, 2015 -- $100

The initial submission period (February 1 to February 28) is “pay what you can.”  During this time, applicants may pay whatever they like, including nothing.  If they pay little or nothing, we request that they do something additional of their own choosing that helps promote the festival. This could include, for example, “liking” the festival on Facebook, or perhaps distributing some useful information or praise via Twitter.  After this initial period, the per film entry fee then gradually increases until the final deadline in August. 

The tentative festival dates are October 28 - November 1, 2015, to be held at the Laemmle NoHo 7, located in the NoHo Arts District.  For further details, see http://www.ValleyFilmFest.com.

Founded in 2000, The Valley Film Festival, a project of Community Partners®, is the first and longest continually running film festival in the San Fernando Valley.  With a mission to join established filmmakers and emerging talent with adventurous audiences in Los Angeles, the VFF has screened a total of nearly 500 shorts, features, documentaries, animated films, and music videos from all over the world.  While emphasizing independent film, the festival also has occasionally shown studio productions, including Boogie Nights, Chinatown, Encino Man, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Magnolia, Terminator 2, Valley Girl, and World Trade Center. 

In addition to screenings, the festival provides educational panels, social events, and awards.  The juried "Ten Degrees Hotter" award is for one short and one feature from a competitive section.  Additionally, there is an award for short films, in the non-competitive section, as chosen by the audience.

For more information, visit the festival website www.ValleyFilmFest.com

Or send an email to Info@ValleyFilmFest.com

And follow us on:

Twitter (@ValleyFilmFest)

Facebook (“The Valley Film Festival”)

Our blog (http://www.ValleyFilmFest.blogspot.com)