First congratulations Miss Zen on the award, you must be quite proud of that achievement. And, welcome to Candid Conversations.
C. Zen: Thanks so much! Everyone on the team, sponsors, speakers, judges, nominees, winners and talent all excited and humbled.
Cliff T.: I will admit I have not heard of the New Media Film Festival® but from the release I noticed that the festival has been running since 2009. What exactly does this festival offer that is unique, different from say the TIFF or Sundance?
C. Zen: So glad you know about us now. New Media Film Festival® is constantly creating opportunities outside the norm for creators.
Some examples,
We discovered that creators needed a way to broadcast their content within a certain window to be able to submit for an EMMY® so, we created a way to do that for appropriate content.
We created a DIY market to connect buyers and creators (sellers) with a short registration https://newmediafilmfestival.vuulr.com
This image shows of the other unconventional successes we have had/offered.
Cliff T.: I bet you get an interesting mix of people from professionals to amateurs submitting work to the festival.
C. Zen: Outside all of the amazing stories and technological creations that are submitted from all over the globe. What is the most fascinating is when a submission is being reviewed and those reviewing are all ages, from all different cultures and they collectively laugh, sigh, are in awe, etc. You know you have experienced a story that transcends everything. Very exciting.
Cliff T.: New Media, that suggests things like YouTube and tech like iPhones to shoot a film. I visited the site and you even have a drone category, cool. How many submissions do you get and what is the most popular category that people submit work in?
C. Zen: Thanks for checking out our submit page as our categories change as New Media is an infinite catalyst for story and technology. For example, we recently added a Metaverse category! Its funny, each year the category that is most popular changes.
Even our grand prize winners have been from all different categories, not one predominantly.
Cliff T.: Now I noticed that your not just showcasing works your also promoting the creators as well, from what I see there is a lot of networking opportunities for creators. What are some of the ways the festival encourages networking?
C. Zen: We constantly create new opportunities. People can find out about it by signing up on our monthly newsletter www.newmediafilmfestival.com in the footer of any page.
Recently we have Ask an Expert Series, pay what you can (zero was fine) – you had a chance to network online live. There is a VIP Soiree every year where you get to meet the nominees, speakers etc. When you go to the festival, we bring up the nominees on stage for Q & A so you have seen their work, get to see them and can talk to them in the lounge in between screenings. There are many more opportunities.
Cliff T.: Miss Zen, 2022 is here and you are planning for the festival which by the way is in June. What are you expecting to see this year and how are you going to work within the framework of continuing to deal with the pandemic?
C. Zen: We are going hybrid this year. June 1st will be online, June 2 will be at the state of the art theater, The Landmark 10850 W Pico Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90064. We are working with the venue and following all CA and CDC guidelines as they change so rapidly. We are excited to bring back live (it was all online last year) the Red Carpet Press Junket, the VIP Soiree, The Screenings with Q &A, the International Art Exhibit, the Live Music Opener, the Award Ceremony. It will be exciting, tickets are on sale now, use code WOW and save. https://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/events/
Cliff T.: As I mentioned earlier your festival has been around since 2009. How did it get started and how long have you been working with them for?
C. Zen: It all started due to the economic crisis in 2008. Our Founder/Director Susan Johnston (www.linkedin.com/in/susan-johnston-media-futurist) Saw colleagues leave in droves, especially studio level. So she pulled on her life’s experiences to create something that could empower creators wherever they lived and share those stories to the globe, henceforth our mandate “Honoring Stories Worth Telling”
I’ve been here about 5 years now and LOVE IT.
Cliff T.: What excites you the most about the festival? And do you get surprised by a particular submission or creator?
C. Zen: It’s the people and their stories.
Cliff T.: When the general public comes to the festival what do you want them to take away from it?
C. Zen: I’d like festival goers to experience joy and wonder. In meeting new people, seeing new stories, experiencing all the festival has to offer.
Cliff T.: Besides submitting work to the festival how else do you want people to engage with the organizers?
C. Zen: It would be so nice if people shared www.newmediafilmestival.com with their friends, family and colleagues as we really feel we have something for everyone. If they would like to help out during the festival, or have something they want to give out to the festival goers, or sponsor or be on the board or _____ we would love to hear form you. We are known to have a quick response time, this is the easiest way to get to us https://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/contact/
Cliff T: Miss Zen Thank you very much for letting us know more about the New Media Film Festival. I hope the 13th year is one of the best you have.
C. Zen: THANK YOU
Crystal Zen is one of the team members of the New Media Film Festival. The film festival will be held on Jun 1st and 2nd in Los Angeles CA. To learn more about it you can visit their site at https://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/.
If
you are wanting to submit work should be aware that the latest you
can submit is April 3rd
2022. There are a lot of cool perks that come with being nominated
and you could win an award not to mention hooking up with industry
leaders who
can help get your work distributed.
Miss Zen wrote to us for L.A. CA.
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