By Christina Kotlar (doddleNews)
January 12, Thursday night across from the sentinel stone lions of the NY Public Library Bryant Park access on Fifth Avenue, a Sundance/Slamdance Kickoff Party in New York City sponsored by IFP, HSBC and Indiewire was packed from the start with IFP members, film industry players and New York filmmakers whose films were chosen to be in either Sundance or Slamdance.
A lot of buzz coming from this collective hive as shots of the films in the festival schedule line up flashed in quick measure throughout the reception timeframe while contacts and connections are swiftly made in advance for next week’s filmmaker/film industry convention in the Rockies. Names and film titles are stored in memory mode ready to compare with descriptions and hype the sometimes belie the actual film screening and audience reaction.
The players that hold the pieces together in this ever changing business show up at these kickoff events while usually coming from or going to screenings that are abundantly offered in time for Awards season (IFP Spirit Award film screenings that commenced on January 12 will end at the voter deadline in February). And while the coinciding Awards season culminates with what began cautiously and turned into an exceptional year of indie films, the ten days in Park City starts again as the catalyst for the new crop of indies augmenting their opportunity to make their splash.
Katherine Pierce commented on the work being done by members of Pat Kaufman’s team at the NY Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development and the invitations going out for the New York Lounge in Park City. Usually a sell out with filmmakers and industry players swarming to access film production and incentives info. The success of the NY Loves Film Tax Incentive program has seen a swell of filmmaking and television projects coming to New York State for just that reason –their filmmaker friendly film production and incentives. This strategy was not without its naysayers among economists; however, it has become a $10 billion revenue baby for the state’s economy.
New York Women in Film & Television (NYWiFT) Executive Director, Terry Lawler remarked on the mood of the filmmaking industry noting that the MUSE Awards in December was one of their most well attended and successful financially. One of Women in Film & Television International’s (WiFTI) largest professional chapters will have a presence on Main Street – New York Lounge, Filmmaker Lounge as well as the vivaciously active, Women in Film LA (WIF) whose brunch and panel discussion event will be awarding over $35,000 in cash and in kind donations to women filmmakers at Sundance. Looking into the times and places and will be getting more info. Let the games begin.
About Christina Kotlar