2009
Backlot

FILM
Festival
April 1st.-4th.
Veterans Memorial Building
4117 Overland Avenue
Culver City


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and/or product
on the Big Screen
at The Backlot Film Festival!

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WE'VE MOVED!
Our new address is:
The Backlot Film Festival,
4244 Revere Place
Culver City, CA 90232
Tel: 310.204.6920
Email:


SUBMIT NOW
TO ENTER
The Fourth 2009
Backlot FILM Festival


Accepting Submission
from October 15 through
February 1, 2009


Submit Your Entry NOW

Features, Shorts, Fiction, Documentary, Student Film and Midnight Madness....



4th BACKLOT FILM FESTIVAL OPENS APRIL 1, 2009
NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS



The Fourth Backlot Film Festival returns to the historic Veterans Memorial Building in Culver City, California beginning on Wednesday, April 1, and concluding on Saturday, April 4, 2009, with the presentation of the prestigious “Thomas H. Ince Award.”

The Backlot Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2009 festival. All festival submissions that are accepted for consideration as finalists will be screened at a local theatre in the Culver City/West Los Angeles area one week prior to the festival opening. Finalists in all categories will have their films screened in the Veterans Memorial 900-seat theatre/auditorium located at 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA.


SUBMISSION CATEGORIES & FEES
- Fiction Feature Films (55 to 180 minutes): $50.00
- Fiction Short Films (40 minutes or less): $30.00
- Documentary Feature Films (65 to 180 minutes): $40.00
- Documentary Short Films (40 minutes or less): $25.00
- Student Film (30 minutes or less): $20.00

We are reviving a popular film category that was first introduced in 2007: “The Next ‘Midnight Madness’ Movie Classic.” Films that follow in the tradition of The Rocky Horror Show, Pink Flamingos and Eraserhead will be screened at midnight at a local Culver City/West Los Angeles Theatre. Entrance Fee: $35.00.

Submission forms must be filled out completely to have a film officially entered into competition. Films submitted for competition must be independent films without current distribution. It is the goal of The Backlot Film Festival to actively seek out films that have not been shown at other festivals. There will be no refunds on films submitted.

The winners of the Best Fiction Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature Film will be screened for one week in New York and Los Angeles in order to qualify for Academy Awards consideration.

Over 40 films were screened at the 2008 Backlot Film Festival. The BFF has been a launching pad for several of these entries, garnering attention throughout the film world from critics and distributors alike. Here are a few examples:

- Chekov & Maria, a John Stark Production, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and picked up for foreign distribution.

- The 2007 Best Fiction Feature Film, The Adventures of Johnny Tao, was picked up for DVD distribution by Lionsgate Films.

- Chianti Pictures' La Cucina is currently being reviewed by two major distribution companies.

- Dan Frank's production of Medicinal is being submitted for Academy Award consideration in the Best Documentary category.


The 2008 Backlot Film Festival was a wonderful success. The prestigious “Thomas H. Ince Award” for outstanding work in the film industry was presented to acclaimed actor/director/producer Carl Reiner at the Gala Awards Ceremony on closing night. Many stars and celebrities attended as did the entertainment press corps.

The first “Arthur Freed Award for Best Student Film” was presented as a tribute to the filmmaker whose legacy helps define “movies” as we know them: producer/writer Arthur Freed – the genius behind countless MGM musicals, including the Academy Award-winning Gigi which screened, celebrating its 50th Anniversary. The award will again be presented this year to the Best Student Film by Steven Saltzman, Arthur Freed's grandson and President of Arthur Freed Productions.

The fourth Ince Award honoree will be announced on January 5, 2009. Check back at our website for regular updates.

It is with sincere gratitude and appreciation that the Backlot Film Festival thanks all of our sponsors and vendors, along with the many filmmakers, all of whom helped to make the 2008 Backlot Film Festival a great event! With their continued support and encouragement, the 2009 Backlot Film Festival will be the best yet!

Ross Hawkins
President
The Backlot Film Festival



 

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THOMAS INCE
AWARD HONOREE
2008

CARL REINER



Read more >>>


TRIBUTE TO
ARTHUR FREED

OPENED THE 2008
BACKLOT FILM FESTIVAL



Read more >>>




6 Classic Movies
8 New Independent
Feature Films
4 New Documentaries
21 New short Films
6 student films

Discover our Program



The 2008 Backlot Film Festival Awards Winners



Best Feature




"La Cucina"
Click to View the trailer

Executive produced by Starolette
Smith. Produced by Zack Kahn,
Jackie Olsen. Directed by Allison
Hebble, Zed Starkovich.
Written by A.W. Gryphon




"Yesterday Was a Lie"

Click to View the trailer
Executive produced, written and
directed by James Kerwin.
Produced by Chase Masterson.
Starring Chase Masterson.


Best Documentary




"OJ is Guilty
– But Not of Murder
(The Overlooked Suspect)

Click to View the trailer
A film by William C. Dear.
Directed by Phil Smith.
Assistant Directors: Chad Smith,
Phil Thompson.
Produced by John McCready


Best Short Film

“Pencil Fighting”
Executive produced by Andrew Negrin,
Franco Interian and Paula Jimenez
Directed by Fro Rojas


Best Student Short Film



"Dandelion
"
By Jackie Liao,
School of Visual Arts, New York



2008 HONOREES

Thomas Ince Award



Carl Reiner
Read more

--------------------------

Founders Award


Zev Yaroslavsky,
LA County Supervisor
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THE BACKLOT FILM FESTIVAL
4244 Revere Place - Culver City, CA, 90232
Phone (310) 204-6920 - Email:

 

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