A few years ago when I was still at the Atlanta Film Festival, one of our board members sent me an email asking me what was up with this local film night she ran across. What local film night I thought? A few clicks later I became acquainted with WonderRoot's Generally Local, Mostly Independent Film Series.
The reason for the question was that WonderRoot's commitement to Atlanta's art scene and filmmakers was ATLFF's raison d'être. IMAGE, the organization that became ATLFF, was founded in 1976 specifically with the goal of supporting independent filmmakers. Many don't know, but we played the early films of RuPaul and Julie Dash, and partnered with dozens of organizations over the years including the Ann Arbor Film Festival. At the time I got that email, we hadn't had a consistent screening series for a number of years. Here was this young organization, WonderRoot, doing the work old school IMAGE wasn't.
On one hand, as I was working at ATLFF, it was kinda disappointing to not get our screenings back up to speed before someone else beat us, I also thought it was amazing what WonderRoot was doing. We'd get our programming back up and running. Filmmakers couldn't wait for ATLFF to get our sh*t together. And my personal philosophy is that you can judge a city not by how big its organizations are, but by how many organizations a city can support. If we can't support WonderRoot and the Atlanta Film Festival, maybe Atlanta needs to do some soul searching. Hell, maybe we at ATLFF would need to do some soul searching of our own if we found ourselves being left behind.
Several years later, WonderRoot's local film night is still going strong. AND, as of the 2012 festival, it now has a place in the Atlanta Film Festival. Not as something ATLFF runs mind you. WonderRoot retains its own autonomy, its own flavor, so it's a partnership of organizations to build community, not a competition. More importantly, they are screening the work of filmmakers like Anna Spence, Nathan Honnold, Tamarind King, Shir Wen Sun, Marisa Tontaveetong & Yu Ueda, who are the future Julie Dash's of the world (world, not Atlanta).
The deadline to submit a film for the September 2014 screening at The Plaza was this past Monday. That has been extended to this Friday, August 29th. You have a few extra days AND submission is FREE. That's right son, free.
Below is the information you'll need. You can submit in person, or you can submit online
WonderRoot’s Generally Local, Mostly Independent Film Series is now accepting submissions for our Local Filmmakers Night screening at the Plaza Theatre on Thursday September 25th.
THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 25, 2014 at 11:59PM.
We are looking for high quality film submissions including experimental shorts, documentaries, narratives, animation, music videos, and video art. We are also accepting proposals for live video performances to open or close the screening.
Your entry will be considered for screening at this event. Proceeds from the box office will go into a fund that supports participating filmmakers in submitting their films to festivals.
Things to keep in mind:
- There is no submission fee.
- Entries are accepted in digital format only.
- DVD data file is HIGHLY preferred (.mov). You may also email a downloadable link.
- Entries should be 20 minutes or less.
- Please do not submit your originals as they cannot be returned to you.
- During the submission period, please make sure that your video is not available to the general public for online viewing.
Selected films will be announced at the end of August.
If you have any questions please email film@wonderroot.org
DROP OFF OR SEND SUBMISSIONS TO (for those not submitting online):
WonderRoot
Attn: Local Filmmakers Night
982 Memorial Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30316