Anybody have any experience with the Zero Film Festival?

M

Mentalcase129

The Zero Film Festival is a festival devoted entirely to showcasing self financed movies.

I made a self financed animated feature so I thought my movie would fit right in there. I want to submit but the deadilne is looming and I have to act fast. Only problem is I have a few questions I need answered and so far I haven't heard back from their info email. I'm hoping somebody here has either submitted to the festival before or has at least encountered similar questions at other festivals that might help me figure this out.

First off...the entry form they have to download is marked as 2011...I'm assuming the information on it is basically the same but should I be concerned about that just in case? They have Withoutabox as an option but regardless I'll be sending a hard copy of the film so I figured if they have a printable entry form than that's what I should be using in my case.

Next question is regarding format. It says to provide 2 copies of the film, but this is how it's worded:

NTSC Region 0 or 1 DVDs only will be accepted for preview. Please
include two copies. NOTE: Prefer .Mov quicktime files in the following
codec: 422 HQ 1920 X 1080

I had already intended on sending two copies to be safe, a DVD for use in a DVD player and Data DVD to play back on a computer. Are they saying I need to provide 2 player ready DVD's specifically? Their note about .mov's implies they accept digital copies also. I'm having burner trouble right now, so making another player ready DVD could be the difference between getting it in the mail tomorrow, or getting in the mail a few days from now.

My last question is a little more obscure. They have a fee of $65 for features, and a $45 fee for animation. Like I said, my film is animated but it's also a feature. It seems kinda odd that they would have a separate fee specifically for animation, and I assume they probably get a lot more animated shorts submitted than animated features so I'm wondering if I'd actually fall in the features category. Obviously I'd prefer to pay less but I don't want to disqualify myself by not provided the right fee.
 
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I'm not surprised they haven't responded to you. I received no notification from them, when they rejected my submission. It would take them a matter of minutes to send out a mass-email to all of their rejections, people who paid good money for their consideration, people who are very passionate about their work. And they don't respect us enough to even send out a generic mass-rejection letter? That's pretty damn callous, if you ask me.

Have you looked at the films the Zero Film Fest has screened in the past? I wish I would have. The goofy movie I made would not fit in with their very "serious" lineup.

Check these guys out -- http://www.angaelica.com/festivals/submissions/2012cgiff/

They program a diverse range of films, from "serious" to goofy and anything in-between. The person who runs the fest is really cool, and very good about staying in communication with filmmakers. Better yet -- it's not too far of a drive from where you live! :)
 
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Mentalcase129 said:
The Zero Film Festival is a festival devoted entirely to showcasing self financed movies.

I made a self financed animated feature so I thought my movie would fit right in there. I want to submit but the deadilne is looming and I have to act fast. Only problem is I have a few questions I need answered and so far I haven't heard back from their info email. I'm hoping somebody here has either submitted to the festival before or has at least encountered similar questions at other festivals that might help me figure this out.

First off...the entry form they have to download is marked as 2011...I'm assuming the information on it is basically the same but should I be concerned about that just in case? They have Withoutabox as an option but regardless I'll be sending a hard copy of the film so I figured if they have a printable entry form than that's what I should be using in my case.

Next question is regarding format. It says to provide 2 copies of the film, but this is how it's worded:

NTSC Region 0 or 1 DVDs only will be accepted for preview. Please
include two copies. NOTE: Prefer .Mov quicktime files in the following
codec: 422 HQ 1920 X 1080

I had already intended on sending two copies to be safe, a DVD for use in a DVD player and Data DVD to play back on a computer. Are they saying I need to provide 2 player ready DVD's specifically? Their note about .mov's implies they accept digital copies also. I'm having burner trouble right now, so making another player ready DVD could be the difference between getting it in the mail tomorrow, or getting in the mail a few days from now.

My last question is a little more obscure. They have a fee of $65 for features, and a $45 fee for animation. Like I said, my film is animated but it's also a feature. It seems kinda odd that they would have a separate fee specifically for animation, and I assume they probably get a lot more animated shorts submitted than animated features so I'm wondering if I'd actually fall in the features category. Obviously I'd prefer to pay less but I don't want to disqualify myself by not provided the right fee.
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Hey Mental Case-

Apologies on the lack of response. A little to defend our festival- we are active in multiple cities and everyone involved is completely volunteer. Not to mention our info@zerofilmfest.com has long ago been inundated with spam and mailing lists- making it generally inoperable. It would almost be a full time job. There are social media outlets- and this forum- that help us identify customer service issues.

Enter your animation as a feature- it is a feature! We like animation- which is why we have a special category for them!

We screen our program from FCP creating seamless timelines and adding value to to the presentation. To streamline this and to have the highest possible quality- we ask, but don't require!- filmmakers to send in a ProRes .Mov file to the specifications we use. Some filmmakers do this no problem- others have no idea what a codec is! No worries! It really only becomes relevant when a filmmaker enters via WAB on-line screener- is accepted- and then they never send along an actual film. Believe it or not this happens every time.

Anyway- thanks for your persistence!
 
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Cracker Funk said:
I'm not surprised they haven't responded to you. I received no notification from them, when they rejected my submission. It would take them a matter of minutes to send out a mass-email to all of their rejections, people who paid good money for their consideration, people who are very passionate about their work. And they don't respect us enough to even send out a generic mass-rejection letter? That's pretty damn callous, if you ask me.

Have you looked at the films the Zero Film Fest has screened in the past? I wish I would have. The goofy movie I made would not fit in with their very "serious" lineup.

Check these guys out -- http://www.angaelica.com/festivals/submissions/2012cgiff/

They program a diverse range of films, from "serious" to goofy and anything in-between. The person who runs the fest is really cool, and very good about staying in communication with filmmakers. Better yet -- it's not too far of a drive from where you live! :)
Click to expand...
Hi Cracker!

To address your issues- first of all- its always an honor to watch an entered film into the festival. We are all filmmakers and we understand what it takes to make a film from idea to finished project- nothing short of a miracle!

In the past we did not send out a form rejection letter. In our opinion- we thought it was insulting to the filmmakers- like the use of most festivals of the term "submit". We realized though, that ultimately filmmakers do want a dear filmmaker letter- so we try to customize it as best we can but still keep our sanity! We also offer a written review option so filmmakers can receive proper and in-depth feedback.


and Yes! We do tend to program more "serious" films. We take filmmaking very seriously and we are looking for films that are on the edge of what is happening in cinema- or films where a filmmaker took a risk in a new and exciting way. however- humor is important- and after a serious or heavy film- its great to laugh and have catharsis. We take our programming VERY seriously. The same as any respectable festival- Berlinale- Rotterdam- New York Film Festival- and even with the new programmer Sundance-
 
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(BEFORE READING, KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES WITH ZFF HAPPENED BEFORE HURRICANE SANDY - NO DISRESPECT IS MEANT - HUGE AMOUNTS OF GRACE AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THOSE EFFECTED)

I'm sure this festival means well. I was so excited to enter our independent feature to the ZFF. I mean, it's a festival that caters to us self-financed guys? What more could a filmmaker ask for!?

With that said, however I was sincerely disappointed with their organization and inability to communicate to filmmakers. Today is November 1st, 2012... Their New York Festival (the festival to which we submitted) is still listed on withoutabox as beginning November 6th, 2012... That's in five days! We still have received no notification of whether or not we were accepted, and their website only has New York information from 2011 (with the exception of a few trailers for some shorts that are apparently playing in NY this year). Five days out from the festival, and not a single word from the festival! You'd think a festival would at least want to promote their festival for ticket sales... I''m not sure I want to be a part of a festival that can't even advertise on their website a week before the festival is supposed to run (their Facebook page is also rarely updated... we have a facebook page for our film, and even I, with a full-time job have time to make a post now and then).

I have emailed the ZFF three times asking for answers... Each letter was kind and "over the top" gracious. I just wanted to know if I should continue to keep my fingers crossed, make travel arrangements, or count my losses and move on. The only response I received form them was an "out of office" reply when they were all off at Burning Man... If their email is so shoddy and unusable, why do they bother with an out of office response which concluded with the following statement: "We will respond asap upon our return to New York!"

So ZFF's email isn't the greatest - that's fine... Just update the Facebook page, or send out a form rejection letter through withoutabox to your filmmakers who paid what is considered by most festival standards to be a fairly high entrance fee. The ONLY reason I paid the fee was because it "seemed" like such a great festival for us low-budget filmmakers. I was willing to take the risk. I wish I hadn't wasted such a huge chunk of my meager $500 festival application budget with these guys.

For the money I paid to enter this less-than-stellar festival, I expected just the TINIEST bit of communication... but, not a single word.

Keep in mind too, that on withoutabox, they listed their notification date as October 10th... Again, it's November 1st, and I can't get anyone to give me an answer. I'm sure withoutabox gives festivals an option of sending out a mass rejection letter... In fact, I don't even need a rejection letter. Many festivals just simply change the status of your film on withoutabox to NOT ACCEPTED. That would have been enough. But, my submission is still sitting there, waiting for a response from a festival that... for all I know may or may not be happening.

If these guys really think rejection letters are demeaning, then I have to question just how much they really know about low-budget, independent filmmakers - feedback (good or bad) is our bloodline! Not receiving a response is the insult!

Keep in mind, it's quite common for festivals to be late in making their line-up announcements... I've now just come to expect that, but at least most festivals will go into withoutabox and change their notification date... but not ZFF.

Had I received even the smallest response from this festival (even a rejection), I would have immediately logged on to withoutabox and submitted to their Los Angeles fest and just tried again. But not after my experience with NY. We are filmmakers with NO MONEY! My very VERY limited submission budget would have been much better spent on festivals that are more organized and treat submitting filmmakers with more respect.

This festival feels like it's run by a bunch of (very) well meaning kids that just don't know how to run a business. (And, I truly believe the ZFF folks have a passion for under appreciated films made by struggling filmmakers)

There's a part of me that WANTS SO BADLY to like this festival... we need more festivals like ZFF out there!! COME ON ZFF, I WANT TO BE YOUR BIGGEST FAN!!! I WANT TO FORGIVE, FORGET, AND TRY AGAIN!! But, when I don't receive a response, I feel like I've wasted my money. It makes me feel like I've been scammed - like you guys just took my money and ran (we filmmakers are very aware of the fact that our entrance fees help defray costs - so, in some way, we've invested in YOU... respect that.)

Sadly, I have to say (until they get their act together) avoid this festival at all cost... And sadly, this forum seems to be the only way to get a hold of them...
 
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Mentalcase129 said:
NTSC Region 0 or 1 DVDs only will be accepted for preview. Please
include two copies. NOTE: Prefer .Mov quicktime files in the following
codec: 422 HQ 1920 X 1080
Click to expand...

Sounds like they would have up to two people reviewing your submission.

They prefer the export to be in that wrapper, codec and the 1080p definition.

Other than that, I'm not quite sure what you're asking.
 
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WCENfilmaker said:
The only response I received form them was an "out of office" reply when they were all off at Burning Man
Click to expand...

I do believe that explains everything.
smiley_mysterysolved.gif



:lol:
 
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Mental, when it comes to film festivals, it's best to SUBMIT and FORGET!

If you're in, festivals will let you know (usually).

----------

Use the time you're spending ranting about this festival on researching the next festival you want to submit to. Make the best decision you can based on the info from the results of your research and the $$$ the festival is asking you to give them. But once it's in the mail, it's SUBMIT and FORGET. The festival game is a crap shoot, you simply are going to lose some no matter what you do.

Good luck.
 
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GuerrillaAngel said:
Mental, when it comes to film festivals, it's best to SUBMIT and FORGET!
Click to expand...

I hate to say it, but I agree with this advice. There are some nice guys out there, but in my initial experience, I'm finding most festivals to be cold and heartless. I wish this weren't the case. I understand that festivals are incredibly difficult to run, but I wish that those running them would more often understand that they wouldn't exist without our submission fees (or our films), and that they should treat us with just a little bit of respect.

Zero Fest, I appreciate your response, and I'm glad that you recognize that mass-emails are just a touch rude. If you're not able to send out personal emails, however, I'll take a mass-email over nothing.

Sometimes I'm tempted to start a film festival, just so that I can send out friendly, hand-written rejection-letters.
 
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WCENfilmmaker,
I'm with you 100%. You described my story to the letter.
I have had my eye on Zero since our picture was in production, believing that it was the best venue for our little project. I wanted Zero above all others.
I never expected a rejection letter (though one would have been nice) or a hug of condolence (which would have been nicer) but I did expect some sort of communication.
Weeks after submission and my WithoutaBox page showed that the money had not been received nor the screeners. It stayed this way for a month maybe. I emailed a few times (in an obnoxiously gracious manner as well) just to simply ask what was happening. Just sort of a "hey guys, looks like you haven't gotten our money or movie. What can I do to help?" type stuff. Of course I got nothing back, save for the Burning Man Out of Office reply.
The website of course still has 2011 plastered all over it, has no dates, locations of screenings, links to tickets or list of selection so that is of no help whatsoever.
I tried to tweet them to see if I'd get a response. Nothing.
They have a MySpace that hasn't been logged into since 1972.
Finally a couple of weeks ago I noticed on WithoutABox that the fee and screeners had been received...But I assumed it was too late.
I still have no idea what the hell is happening and it's just deflating.
I get that they weren't into my flick. To be fair, it looks like it was shot through a dirty ashtray and sounds like it was recorded on the wing of a free falling C130, so I get it. But believe me when I say that my feelings really aren't about the rejection. I'm angry because I busted my junk for the better part of 2 years making our film, a film that we made for $400 USD total (a 109 minute feature) and fought like lunatics just to get completed.
I had zero problem forking over 20% of our total budget to submit to this festival because I bought into their message.
What I do have a problem with though is how my labor of love, our labors of love, were handled.
Go ahead and reject them. Some of them (perhaps mine) are god awful piles of refuse and have no place on a screen anytime at anyplace...but just be classy about it.
Update your website. Shoot out a tweet or a facebook post. Let us know that there is a heartbeat over there and that the festival is still alive and well.
As it stands now I feel like I've been ripped off of $65. That's not okay.
I have been a fan of ZFF since I found out about it. I want to think that they believe in their own mission statement.
Very well meaning kids? Perhaps, but that does not wash this taste out of my mouth.
Next time perhaps I'll submit my film to a fest run by a Nigerian prince. Might get more a response from them.
ZFF, you've got a GREAT idea. You could be everything that us no budget mud league filmmakers have been looking for. You can make a huge difference in the lives of artists who choose to persist in their self expression in the face of insurmountable odds. It's not too late. Fix it. Make it right.
Just update the website. Just for us, the guys who maybe skipped paying a bill so they could cover the submission fee to your festival.
 
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Trenchmouth said:
WCENfilmmaker,
I'm with you 100%. You described my story to the letter.
I have had my eye on Zero since our picture was in production, believing that it was the best venue for our little project. I wanted Zero above all others.
I never expected a rejection letter (though one would have been nice) or a hug of condolence (which would have been nicer) but I did expect some sort of communication.
Weeks after submission and my WithoutaBox page showed that the money had not been received nor the screeners. It stayed this way for a month maybe. I emailed a few times (in an obnoxiously gracious manner as well) just to simply ask what was happening. Just sort of a "hey guys, looks like you haven't gotten our money or movie. What can I do to help?" type stuff. Of course I got nothing back, save for the Burning Man Out of Office reply.
The website of course still has 2011 plastered all over it, has no dates, locations of screenings, links to tickets or list of selection so that is of no help whatsoever.
I tried to tweet them to see if I'd get a response. Nothing.
They have a MySpace that hasn't been logged into since 1972.
Finally a couple of weeks ago I noticed on WithoutABox that the fee and screeners had been received...But I assumed it was too late.
I still have no idea what the hell is happening and it's just deflating.
I get that they weren't into my flick. To be fair, it looks like it was shot through a dirty ashtray and sounds like it was recorded on the wing of a free falling C130, so I get it. But believe me when I say that my feelings really aren't about the rejection. I'm angry because I busted my junk for the better part of 2 years making our film, a film that we made for $400 USD total (a 109 minute feature) and fought like lunatics just to get completed.
I had zero problem forking over 20% of our total budget to submit to this festival because I bought into their message.
What I do have a problem with though is how my labor of love, our labors of love, were handled.
Go ahead and reject them. Some of them (perhaps mine) are god awful piles of refuse and have no place on a screen anytime at anyplace...but just be classy about it.
Update your website. Shoot out a tweet or a facebook post. Let us know that there is a heartbeat over there and that the festival is still alive and well.
As it stands now I feel like I've been ripped off of $65. That's not okay.
I have been a fan of ZFF since I found out about it. I want to think that they believe in their own mission statement.
Very well meaning kids? Perhaps, but that does not wash this taste out of my mouth.
Next time perhaps I'll submit my film to a fest run by a Nigerian prince. Might get more a response from them.
ZFF, you've got a GREAT idea. You could be everything that us no budget mud league filmmakers have been looking for. You can make a huge difference in the lives of artists who choose to persist in their self expression in the face of insurmountable odds. It's not too late. Fix it. Make it right.
Just update the website. Just for us, the guys who maybe skipped paying a bill so they could cover the submission fee to your festival.
Click to expand...

Just think, if you had put all the time and energy spent in writing this post into your next festival or project, you'd be on your way to bigger and better things. Maybe you just had to vent, but filmmakers going nowhere fast tend to be the ones doing this.
 
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