Fairy Tales: Why The Advance Notice?

So why did we announce the Theme early?

There are 6 reasons, but we will share 3 4 right now. (See Below)*

We encourage teams to right now (this minute!) start thinking of COSTUMES. We realize many of you may not have a seamstress, designer or wardrobe in your team. You may want to find one. Use our Facebook page if you need to.
The Launch Party is a COSTUME PARTY to celebrate our 5th Year. Come out. Dress up. Bring friends, family, loved ones, strangers you meet on the street. It’s gonna be fun. It’s open to anyone and everyone. And it’s free. We are going to have a Best Costume for individual or couple at the Launch Party. Be original. Remember the theme.
It looks cool on the poster. More people in the seats means more people to watch your awesome movies and that’s what this thing is all about right?
“Reimagining Fairy Tales: An Evening with Alice Hoffman”. In conjunction with 72 Film Fest, the C. Burr Artz Trust and Frederick Reads will host bestselling author Alice Hoffman at the Weinberg on Thursday, October 7. Many of Hoffman’s novels are critically acclaimed as reinventions of the fairy-tale genre, and several have been adapted for the big screen. Following her presentation and question & answer session, Hoffman will reveal her pick from the 72 Film Fest finalists to receive “Best Use of the Fairy Tale Theme,” the first award to be presented.

Costumes?! Are you F-ing kidding me?

Uh, Let’s not get hostile here. Costumes will be the optional CHALLENGE. It’s the biggest reason we announced it early but don’t let it be a deal breaker. Many filmmakers have moved on to the finals without partaking in the annual Challenge. Last year’s Optional Challenge was incorporating Edgar Allan Poe. Previous Years have been “Make a Difference” or shoot a scene during “In the Street”. How do the judges take the Challenges into consideration? We could give you a long winded Excel spreadsheet formula answer but essentially if there’s a tie in any of the top categories, then the one that nails the Challenge will most likely get the award.

If you are totally without the means for costumes- Use our Facebook Page to meet people!

So what does the theme “Fairy Tales and Fables Reinvented” mean exactly?

Each team will still pick their individual criteria that will in some way incorporate said theme. How? Come on now, you don’t think we’re gonna give ya everything now do ya? If you really want SOMEthing to whet your appetite: There will be more than one piece of criteria this year

Does that mean I have a month to adapt my favorite Fairy Tale and pretend to pass it off by retroactively sneaking in whatever criteria I get?

No. For one that’s unethical you sly bastard. It takes away the fun of it all. Two, it probably won’t work. This year more than any other. We can’t won’t tell you why but word of advice: Spend your time assembling your team and figuring out how to handle the added logistics a fairy tale may bring. If you have a pixie in your movie when your criteria didn’t ask for it, or say little red riding hood makes a pointless cameo, the judges are gonna kinda know.

*This is below. We have a very special announcement this year regarding one (or two) of our JUDGES. We’ll send out an email soon.

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