Sponsored by 2300 Arena, Franklin Institute, and Film Freeway
Thinking about submitting your film to a festival? Hear from our own Philadelphia based festival curators about how to make your submission stand out, how to find your niche, and what resources can help you select the right festivals for your project.
Our expert panelists will answer all of the questions you have about submissions, networking at the festivals and making this next step in your film career a success!
GPFO NEXT members, RSVP to [email protected]. (GPFO NEXT members enjoy free admission to most GPFO events). Become a member: http://film.org/gpfonext.
Our panel of film festival experts include (photos below):
Trey Shields, Festival Programmer, The Philadelphia Film Festival
Trey Shields has worked with the Philadelphia Film Society and Festival for over six years. In addition to his current title as Programmer he has served as Festival Venue Manager and Programming Coordinator for the society. Over the years, he has helped launch a number of year-round curated programs, including the monthly Philly Film Showcase. He has worked with the Overlook Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival and regularly showcases Philly Premiere screenings of festival circuit films in the Fishtown and Kensington areas.
Eugene Haynes, Program Manager, BlackStar Film Festival
Eugene Haynes builds bridges that connect the gaps between craft, creative voice and commerce. He is currently a film and media arts Professor at Temple University, and works closely with undergraduate and graduate filmmakers to develop film analysis skills on issues of race, class and gender.
Prior to coming to Temple, Eugene was the Director of Production and Acquisitions at USA Films (now known as Focus Features) and has also served as the Festival Artistic Director of the International Jamerican Film and Music Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica WI with actress/activist Sheryl Lee Ralph. His most recent film project "The Adventures of Teddy P. Brains" is an award winning 3D animated feature film for children that has been featured on television and showcased at film festivals worldwide. He also currently serves as Program Manager of the BlackStar Film Festival held annually in Philadelphia, PA. The BlackStar Film Festival is a celebration of cinema focused on work by and about people of African descent in a global context.
Rob Buscher, Festival Director, The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Rob Buscher is a film and media specialist who has worked in many aspects of film including production, administration, and distribution. Due in part to his biracial Japanese American heritage, Robʼs expertise is Japanese and Asian American Cinema although he has worked as a professional film programmer and critic across a variety of genres.
Some of his career highlights include co-founding Zipangu Fest, the UKʼs premier Japanese Film Festival, and creating the Japanese Cinema and Asian American Studies curriculum at Arcadia University. Rob also lectures at University of Pennsylvania and Fleisher Art Memorial, and is a contributing writer at Pacific Citizen and Broad Street Review.
Phuong Nguyen, Co-Founder & Executive Director, The Women's Film Festival
In 2013, Phuong was the Festival Director for the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and is a former board member of the organization. Phuong is currently a board member of the Philadelphia Women in Film and Television (PWIFT).
Phuong is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Women's Film Festival in Philadelphia, PA that helps support women in film and television both behind and in front of the camera. She has also worked as a production consultant for a short film piece called "In My Little Corner of the World, Anyone Would Love You" that was presented in London in spring 2016. She was chosen to be a film juror for QFlix Film Festival 2016.
Phuong is currently producing three full length documentaries: The Hallyu Wave, Dog Feed Dog, and Invisible Dog.
Marángeli Mejía Rabell, Festival Director, Philadelphia Latino Film Festival
Throughout her years in the city of Brotherly Love, Marángeli has engaged in a wide range of community development efforts and arts/culture initiatives designed to support the empowerment process of Puerto Ricans/Latinos and collective impact. Her professional philosophy is centered on her commitment to the community's educational, professional and personal growth and utilizing arts & culture as a tool for social change.
She serves as the Director of Community Economic Development at the Village of Arts and Humanities. Her work focuses on exploring the intersection of arts and culture and economic development through efforts and collaborations in areas of commercial corridor revitalization, workforce development, entrepreneurship and the creative economy. Through her work with AfroTaino Productions, she has served as a resource to brands & corporations, co-developed and executed comprehensive campaigns/special events and produced arts/culture programming and special events/campaigns in the public and private arena targeting multicultural audiences.
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