Congratulations! I think that's very exciting news!

I'm not in the imediate area (on the west end of the state) but who knows- maybe i can show up. :)

it would be cool!

Dave,

Are you actually in Syracuse? If so, do you have a camera work reel I can look at?

KH

That's great!

What is the subject of your documentary?

Well now...if you all got a bit excited, imagine me. A week ago I hear from them saying they needed some info on the screening format because my film was accepted and I would be getting a snail mail letter with more info. Yesterday I get a more detailed email about what I needed to get ready - press release, photos, and so on. I post here, I send out press, I start making arangements, and so on. 2 hours later I get another email saying, in a nutshell, "There are 3 films with the same name and we made a mistake in saying your film was accepted. it isn't, sorry" So this is in no way acceptable so I email back explaning that you do not tell someone their film is accepted and than a week later tell them it isn't. I also questioned how 3 films could all have the same name and even if that did happen how could they be confused unless they all had the same topic. (And I furthersaid that if they all did have the same topic and the same name I would get a lawyer involved because something wouldn't be right) I get back an email saying all they did was have everything in a database. The judges handed down their choices and the festival co-ordinator simply entered data in. When they were making the schedule they saw they had a 65 minute documentary scheduled in the "Short animations" category....and they relized what they had done.

So, this is still not acceptable to me. If all 3 filmmakers were told a week ago they were accepted than they should accept all 3 and screen them. This is my feeling and I feel very strong about it. I have not heard from them on how they are going to resolve this but if they simply blow it off as "Well we messed up sorry" there will be hell to pay. So lets hope they do the right thing. I plan on keeping everyone updated.

Argggg. Not good. I sure hope it works out.

However, even if it doesn't, pick a date anyway and we'll get some of us upstate New Yorkers together over dinner and talk over all our war stories.

http://www.vegasusers.com/whereareyou/
If you're not on the map yet, well, why aren't you? ;)

I'm with Kelly. There seems to be enough of us in this area that a get together would be fun. Syracuse would probably be a pretty close "middle ground," but Ithaca would be a far better choice ; ) We should really try to do this sometime.

Dave, that really sucks. And there's no way they got 3 films with the same title. If so, they should go out and buy a lottery ticket. Am still interested in knowing if you have a reel to look at...

Sorry Filmy- any chance we can see your short?

>>> Sorry Filmy- any chance we can see your short?<<<

Not a short, a feature. There is always a chance to see it - just needs a place to screen. :)

Ther festivals silence in resolving the issue speaks volumes. I have not heard any word and yesterday they announced the line up, of course my film is listed - except it isn't my film. It is the "other" film with the same name. So I have started a little undercover work and have already found out they have done this to other people as well - one of the film maker tells me they got the two "you are accepted" letters only to get another one 5 hours after the second one saying their film was not a part of the festival - not because of the 'same name' mistake, but because of a 'clerical mistake'. Another Film Maker had the same thing happen, but ther rejection came in the form of "We made a mistake in telling you you were accepted." with no other reason.

So...here is an idea:
Any of you upstate NY people want to try and have an alt-Syracuse International Film & Vdeo Fest the same time? All we need is a location and the ability to get the word out. I am clueless about the venues around. Any ideas? How about the First NLE Syracuse International Film & Vdeo Fest?

I like Jessariah's idea of ithica. It's only 3.5 hours away from me in good weather (ie clean roads!), and syracuse, is, well, farther. (i just south of buffalo) :)

Ironicly, if something was to be held around me, I could get the gym (or aud) of the local school. But, buffalo is too far on the edge of the state. :(

Maybe we could convince ithica college to let us do something there? Or a syracuse college? Anyone happen to goto those schools (or of graduated from them?) It could be good PR and if we promise to be good boys and girls they won't get mad. :)

I guess i should change the oil in my car before the trip, huh?

You could still call it the Syracuse Film & Video Festival.. same name but different festival. Then send them an e-mail stating they're not invited.. hehe

I had no idea how many seem to have gone through this. Ok - so check this out. Every person I have heard from got the same emails saying they were accepted. But the reasons have been different. The festival is being put on by Syracuse University, one film maker tells me they are a graduate of Syracuse University and were taught by festival director Owen Shapiro. They too got an acceptance email but the next day got another email saying their film had been cut because of "programming issues."

Another Film Maker from Canada was actually asked to submit after someone from the festival saw their film at a Candian festival. They too recieved an acceptance email from the Fesitval Coordinator only to recieve another one saying...guess what? Thier film was not really part of the festival because "Unfortunately, due to a clerical error, your name was never removed from the list of accepted films."

Another film maker - same thing. Got the acceptance email, ordered BetaCam dubs and promotional materials for the screening and than went out and celebrated with the cast and crew only to return home and find another email from the Festival saying they had made a mistake due to a "clerical error".

And it goes on. I am expecting to hear from more people as word of this gets around. Something seems extremely fishy about this all, with the "Clerical Error" excuse being the most 'popular' at the moment.

It could work...but how to make it get more attention than the Syracuse International Film & Vdeo Fest? Could we get steal the hype of being Sundance East? LOL, maybe we can do it in conjuction with a VASST stop - now that would be fun. Have a special live concert from Spot and Rudy Sarzo - native american heavy metal new age flute? Or maybe not.

I think we should for sure do something however. My dander is up, and we all know how painful that can be.

Seems like a tightly run operation...

M

For some reason, I just saw this thread. I was all primed to send you a "congrats!" When I got to the post about the rejection e-mail, my heart sunk. That would make me furious! How inept can they get?!

Would it be possible for those of you caught up in this mess to approach the university as a group? Maybe the local newspaper would be interested in hearing about this? I'll bet this is not the first time this has happened.

J--

P.S. What was the title in question?
P.P.S. Those of you who were treated so badly might consider contacted a few of the sponsors (listed on their web site).

I have an associate in the Syracuse area who has some ties with Syracuse University so she might have some ideas of what's possible in that area. She also runs a business development company that specializes in PR and promotions. Sounds like someone to have on our side. ;) I'll give her a call today and see what she thinks about this.

Seems like this would be a pretty good topic for a documentary -- "Incompetance at the Syracuse Film Festival". Seems to be plenty of people you could interview, or even have them film their own interviews.

Submit it next year and submit to a bunch of other festivals too.

Excellent idea Rex! Wish I lived in upstate New York.

J--

Filmy,
Would This be an option?

http://www.lakeplacidfilmfestival.com/home.php


Carl

Try again

http://www.lakeplacidfilmfestival.com/home.php


Sorry
Carl

Ithaca has a number of venues, both on Cornell Campus, Ithaca College and in the community itself. Some of these places have brand new systems, but would probably cost $$. The ScienceCenter here has a new viewing room with a projector that we could probably get for pretty cheap on a weekend, but I think the capacity is less than 150.

The benefit to doing it in Ithaca would be that it's such an "artsy" community to begin with that we'd probably get some local support to put it on.