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Friday, March 13, 2009 at 11:58AM The Sarasota Fringe Film Festival
April 2-5 The Rustic Grill Facilities, 400 North Lemon, Sarasota, Florida 34236
Sarasota Fringe Film Festival...How It All Happened
On Monday March 2, 350 filmmakers were notified that their film entry to the Sarasota Film Festival, March 27-April 5, 2009 was rejected. Now for most “independent” filmmakers, rejection is part of the game…rejection from executive producers who finance films, rejection from distributors, rejection from broadcasters, and rejection from film festivals.
But what made this particular rejection “interesting” was the fact that it was sent en masse to all of the filmmakers copied on the same e-mail notice, so that each and every rejectee was privy to each other’s e-mail address.
An instant bond was formed. An instant community of rejectees came to life, and the filmmakers started contacting each other. By Tuesday, all of the 350 started hearing from each other. The mutual frustration of losing out was shared by all. Then the fun began. One of the filmmakers created an “official rejection T shirt” and they started selling on the internet. Like hotcakes.
On that same day I had scheduled a lunch with a friend who had been close to the official Festival in Sarasota, and I gained interesting information about the changing complexion of the Festival…managers, personnel, and board members that had resigned or been sacked over the past year. That evening I contacted the Sarasota Herald Tribune, they found the story intriguing, and on Thursday March 5, the “Sarasota 350” were front page news. A groundswell began to create an alternative festival for the rejected films, and volunteers came forward to put it together.
On Tuesday March 10, another front page article announced the formation of “The Sarasota Fringe Film Festival’….where rejection was the only admission requirement.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090310/ARTICLE/903101068
The Sarasota Fringe Film Festival is happening April 2-5. Over 100 rejected filmmakers have offered viewings of their films over this three day period. The main location for screenings is the fabulous Rustic Grill with three round-the-clock screening salons. Additional screening locations will be announced.
There will be no awards. Everybody wins! The City of Sarasota gets some fringe.
-Patrick Nagle
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Reader Comments (4)
RadioSrq looks forward to Festival.
Refreshing news for Sarasota and Independent Filmmakers.
We'll see you there.
This is a comment on the documentary "Behind the Addiction" by Indiana Erhardt that appeared Thursday at the festival. Tamara Gilman is documented on the Channel 7 site and in the Herald Tribune as saying this is her film. She was interviewed that was the extent of her collaberation. As serious journalists, my daughter Indiana and I take strong offense at being used in this way. Not only is Ms. Tamara spreading a falsehood, she is taking the credit from Indiana Erhardt, who is a serious film student.
I am asking for corrections from both news agencies, and I must demand an apology from Ms. Tamara to Indiana immediately!
I truly enjoyed "Behind the Addiction" and felt Indiana Erhardt did a most fabulous job! It was a truly emotional and touching documentary. I wish I only could have met her at the Sarasota Fringe Film Festival.
Ms. Martin,
Since this is up for all the world to see, I have to add that you must have missed Troy Andrew's three video clips included in "Behind the Addiction"; I filmed them back in 2000 during what we call, "the Bonnie & Clyde" days (you can do your research & look up the article in the Bradenton Herald, September 2003, front page). Due to the nature of the documentary and the interviews given by myself as well as Troy, I thought they'd make a great addition to Indy's work with respect to the fact there's discussion about doing drugs with your friends, Troy's speech about why he did drugs (then), and the ultimate substance abuse scene. Please understand, your daughter has been recognized for her documentary. Should you have any further issues to discuss, you can email me directly @ Ladywithafan321@aol.com.