New Orleans Film Festival
Friday October 12 - Thursday October 18.
The New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF) continues its tradition as Louisiana’s preeminent film event, presenting an eclectic program of films each fall with legendary New Orleans as its backdrop. Offering filmmakers and film fans alike an ideal setting in a world-famous city, NOFF drew in over 13,000 attendees last year. Both established and emerging filmmakers gain media exposure, connect with the region’s diverse audiences, and participate in an acclaimed event attended by industry professionals as well as celebrated luminaries. Over the past two decades, NOFF has welcomed numerous indie icons into its family, including Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme (who showed his film I’m Carolyn Parker: The Good, The Mad, and The Beautiful), Todd Solondz (Happiness), David Gordon Green (Undertow), and Richard Linklater (Slacker). Many of the Festival’s alumni have gone on to be honored at Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, and at the Academy Awards.
What’s more, many filmmakers from NOFF’s recent editions have gone on to be nominated for Independent Spirit and Academy Awards, including Luke Matheny (God of Love), Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind), Kyle Patrick Alvarez (Easier With Practice), Jessica Oreck (Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo), and Bill & Turner Ross (45365).
New Orleans Film Society is looking for new and original films completed on or after July 1, 2011, and are accepting films in eight categories: narrative feature, narrative short, documentary feature, documentary short, animated short, experimental short, Louisiana feature, and Louisiana short. They accept films via Withoutbox and welcome DVDs secure online links. The final deadline for submitting a film is June 4 (though they offer discounted rates to filmmakers who submit early). They will be awarding prizes to the winning filmmaker in each category. One of NOFF’s earliest winners was a documentary by first-time director Todd Phillips who has gone on to direct The Hangover and Old School. They will also be handing out Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature.
“The New Orleans Film festival brings films to the city that you would never get to see here. It’s just another example that the city is fast becoming a player in the movie industry.” —Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme)