We got rejected by Melbourne International Film Festival yesterday. I’m used to it by now. Radio National had a bit on their film show about how much competition there is between Scurvy Sydney and Miserable Melbourne film festivals. Turned out largely to be about who showed what first - because they all want the same hot films from European festivals… and to dig up some good films from the past for their repertory screenings. Guaranteed bums on seats I gather. All the best hits from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s anyone?

Three nasty clowns who don’t like our film!

It seems we sit between the devil of the big corporate festival and the deep blue sea of the ramshackled underground.

Our last screening in Melbourne was at Melbourne Underground Film Festival last year. I was really excited about the festival and went down to attend the screening. It was a cold wet night and we went to a cool small place called the Glitch Bar… Things seemed to be shaping up well. No-one was around from MUFF, so we had a beer and settled in to wait for the play - on before the films - to finish. As it the place emptied of theatre patrons the fellow from MUFF arrived. He was flustered and wet and had raced from another screening to get there and start the session.

He had, however, forgotten to bring a copy of our film - or the film we were a double bill with…! I was surprised, but dug through my bag to find a copy of Streetsweeper to hand him. We got the fifteen or so punters in the door and started the film… he stayed for a quick beer and left! I was disappointed with the quality of the projection, (a bit of a greeny purpley hue) and disappointed with the sound, (low and muffled) - but at least they took a chance on us and screened the film - unlike the cursed Dreary Dungog, Miserable Melbourne and damn Scurvy Dog Sydney.

Festival Tally:

44 Rejections
4 Invitations - Revelation 2007, MUFF 2007, This Not Art 2007 and Filmstock 2007 in the UK

We’re still waiting on Moscow, Brisbane, (both similar I know) and a couple in Italy… We’re bound to get one! Aren’t we? TR

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 12:21 am and is filed under film festivals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.