Convergence, New York, an editorial company with interactive and production divisions as well as a clearance, licensing and research arm, has created the New York Minute Film Festival. The competition where entrants can submit a one-minute film, is playing out online at www.NewYorkMinuteFilmFestival.com or www.nymff.com. Visitors to the site can vote on their favorites.
The festival is accepting submissions until December 2 and more than 100 films have been entered thus far. Online voting will end on December 19. Then the top 10 films in each of five categories–comedy, drama, music video, experimental and animation–will go before a noteworthy panel of judges who will decide upon the winners. On February 2, there will be a screening of the festival winners and announcement of prizes at a gala celebration.
The panel of judges includes actress Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Alexander), director Joel Schumacher (The Phantom of the Opera, A Time to Kill), director Leon Gast (When We Were Kings), producer Eric Watson (Requiem for a Dream, Pi), director Julian West (Trigger Happy), founding editor Stephen Price of Stash DVD Magazine and Kelly DeVine with Independent Film Channel Acquisitions.
The managing partners/editors at Convergence, Chip Smith, Jeff Cahn and Oren Sarch, had pre-existing relationships with these professionals from working with them on various projects. For example, Cahn had worked as an editor on When We Were Kings, Sarch cut Pi, and Smith has worked with Schumacher and is set to embark on a feature with West and Dawson.
TIMING
Sarch explained that there are several reasons the members of Convergence decided to create this festival. The primary reason was that they wanted to give filmmakers, both amateurs and professionals, a forum where they could show their work. Giving the filmmakers a one-minute time constraint was appropriate because it limits the financial means necessary to participate and the amount of time one would need to dedicate to the project. As he explained, it levels the playing field for all participants. “We call it the everyman’s film festival,” Sarch noted.
The one-minute running time also requires the entrants to exercise discipline. In addition, the time restriction is fitting since Convergence, as the founding sponsor, is a player in the spotworld and frequently works with stories that last only 30 or 60 seconds.
“Essentially we sort of see a revolution happening here with not only the broadband technologies on the Internet, but also with digital video and software that’s available. We see that it is becoming now so that almost anybody with a camera can be a filmmaker, especially when you are dealing with a one-minute format,” Sarch related.
Technological advancements online are an important factor in the launch of this festival. With the increasing availability of broadband technology, people can easily watch these films online. Another advantage to the one-minute format is that films of this length are relatively easy to download and watch on the Internet.
To add another layer to the shorts, music company Pink Noise, New York, is also contributing to the project. They have donated a library of stock music that participants can use in their films.
GIVING BACK
The intention behind the festival is to offer filmmakers the opportunity to create a film and have people see it because, as Sarch explained, he wants to create opportunities like those he was given on his way up. His work as the editor on Pi opened doors for him, which even led him to join Convergence. Now, he and the other partners would like to help people who are trying to get into the business. “Not that it replaces doing a feature film, but we wanted to give people those same opportunities that we were given,” Sarch said.
In an effort to extend the generous nature of the festival, Convergence will donate a portion of the proceeds to MOUSE, a nonprofit that helps underprivileged students. Through the organization, Convergence will also invite interns from grades 7-12 to come to the shop and learn from staff professionals.
Thus far, the revenue sources are somewhat unclear. There is a $20 entrance fee and the possibility of providing the content to other outlets in the future. Cahn and Sarch said they have been talking with cell phone companies and television outlets about the possibility of using the content of the films after the festival is over. “Part of the rules of the festival give us the right to publish this in other markets sort of with the filmmakers’ permission. It’s non-exclusive, but we’re hoping that we are going to be able to make the festival become a content source for other providers,” Cahn said.
He explained that there is clearly an aftermarket for the films but noted, “We are learning as we go, we definitely want to keep the filmmakers in mind so we are not looking to go into partnerships with people who are going to hurt the filmmakers because we all know how hard it is to make a film and all of the angst and anxieties, pressure and tension that go into making something, so we want to preserve that for the filmmakers, we don’t want them to feel like we’ve sold them down the river.”
Other sponsors include Avid Technologies, Final Draft, Tamborelli Digital, Stash DVD Magazine, the aforementioned Pink Noise, Met Photo Digital Imaging, Universal Music Publishing Group, New York Women in Film and Television, and The Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers.
