When you've just overcome the hurdles of making your first independent picture, the experience of finding festivals and distribution for your project could be incredibly daunting. The A-List festivals frequented by Hollywood's Who's Who are usually the first choices for an independent filmmaker. Regrettably, they are also the most difficult ones for small independent videos to be accepted into because of the high standards and national politics that they employ in their selection processes. Most of the films that will win awards and screen at the elite festivals are created either by so-called "specialty" divisions of the major companies, i. e. Warner Bros., Disney, 20th Century Sibel, etc . or are represented by high power sales company firms who specialize in getting their projects into stated events to facilitate sales on them. Moreover, the major broadcasters themselves are increasingly using film festival premieres to promote their very own projects in order to garner positive publicity and platform their own theatrical release.

So in the past thirty years, a system that was made to promote movies produced in opposition to the studios has been nearly entirely co-opted by them, leaving the beginners and even true independents out in the cold. Every year, 120 shows are selected for exhibition at one particular star-studded pageant. These films are chosen from more than 8000 spectacular, documentary and short film submissions. However , most indie company directors and producers starting out probably aren't going to have access to the Angelina Jolie or Johnny Depp right off the bat and seeing as exactly how nearly all high-profile festival projects are celebrity-driven, the chances to have an intriguing film with a no-name cast becomes even thinner. Many first time filmmakers are eager to get noticed with their large film that was often done on a small budget together with savings or mortgaging their house. They find it harder to draw star power and it becomes an impossible task in order to stand out against the films that have millions invested in them together with celebrity attachment.

Just ask director Dan Frank who else applied to all the major festivals with his films Little Adombrato and Devils Highway. Frank says, "After figuring out in which my independent low-budget films were being ignored because they experienced no major stars in them, I realized nobody in film festivals were even looking at them and I has been wasting my money sending out entry fees. So I joined my films into the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival ( NYIIFVF) and my life has changed for the best. I go to the Cannes Film Festival and Marche de la production every year with them and I'm actually making a living in the flick business. " Since the entering the NYIIFVF, Frank's pictures have sold to several international territories including: Russia, Thailand as well as Germany, through the festival's distribution company ITN Distribution. He is made a TV cooking series called "Bikini Kitchen" with Stormy Daniels that has buyers interested around the world and also produced and directed the documentary Medicinal which has tested in 16 cities and Medicinal 101 and is verification 43 times. "Since my screenings at the NYIIFVF inside New York, LA and at the Cannes/Marche du Film. I've discovered more about the film business that I ever did throughout film school " says Mr Frank. His organization URD ( Upward Rising Development) is theatrically lso are releasing Steve Soderbergh epic film "Che" starring Benicio De Toro in Los Angeles.

The NYIIFVF showcases indie films in real independent theaters in NYC along with LA and serves as a unique platform for emerging filmmakers to gain a voice and network amongst distributors. Absolutely no hotel ballrooms or bingo halls are used, unlike other celebrations. The festival is known as "the voice for independent film" and receives extensive coverage in media outlets. The cross-section of media outlets which have covered the competition are: Hollywood Reporter, Fox 5, CNN, New York Viewer, New York Times, Newsday, LA Times, LA Weekly, Break NY, E News, NY Daily News, Wall Street Journal, Nyc Post, Movie Maker, Star Magazine, Screentalk Magazine, and so on The Wall St. Journal has even called The New york city International Independent Film and Video Festival "The 3rd party filmmakers alternative to the grand New York Film Festival. inches Indie guru Abel Ferrara said in an interview using MovieMaker Magazine, "This festival is the real deal: Everybody else simply talks about doing it, these guys just do it! "

The folk festiva was founded in 1993 by entrepreneur Stuart Alson and it is noted for promoting independent films that you'd in no way get access to in multiplexes across the country, whether it be via the festival circuit or regular theatrical distribution. Alson himself ended up being formerly a stand-up comedian and produced successful concert events in New York before making his own feature length independent dvd. However , after the film's completion he began enter it into the event circuit and began to understand the politics that dominated this well as now. Alson noted, "I was a business person and didn't have time to attend events and schmooze festival directors. I created my own festival because I had been tired of entering a lottery that was rigged. When more than 2000 filmmakers were sending in their $50 submission charges and all that was happening was their checks were being cashed and they're paying for the 100 films that do have celebrities in them, I realized the only way to develop a true independent roll film festival is to give independent filmmakers a chance to actually display their work-not just give them a rejection letter. very well