8mm Forum: The Term Film Festival

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Topic: The Term Film Festival

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted August 01, 2014 01:45 PM

Is it just me, but at the moment I am getting into a heated argument over a Press release of a up and coming City "Film Festival".....I think the term "movie or video" festival seems to me about right, but folk are getting angry at me for saying it ain't a film festival.

If the movies are made on video, then projected on a cinema digital video projector can they still say its a Film Festival?

What do you think?

Graham [Roll Eyes]

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Clay Smith
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 144
From: El Cerrito, CA, USA
Registered: Jan 2014

posted August 01, 2014 03:44 PM

I think in many ways you are correct Graham. I went to a meeting a few weeks ago regarding a local film festival and it seems my entry, to be shot on Super 8 film, was one of the few (if not only one) to be shot in that medium. They were all talking digital. In order for my film to be considered, I'm having it digitally transfered because that is how all the entries will be projected.
As for calling it a Film festival I think it's more of a marketing thing from their prospective. Film festival sounds better than movie or video festival. Because that is the term everyone is used to. And unfortunately I think that the majority of the average moviegoer still don't know the difference or at least don't realize it. I'm embarrased to say I was putting "a film by...." on the credits of some of my claymation entries a few years back, even though I shot them on digital video.

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 01, 2014 08:30 PM

Graham,
I personally agree with you 100%. The term "film" is used too frequently these days when someone is actually trying to make their video production (or screening in this case) sound more impressive and/or important. It would be more accurate to call it a movie festival [Roll Eyes]

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Joe Taffis

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted August 02, 2014 01:02 AM

There is no doubt in my mind that if it is digital projections, it cannot be called film festival. If they were so proud of their digital, wouldn't they use it to promote their projections (both at festivals and at what they keep on calling "cinemas") ?

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Dominique

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David M. Ballew
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 113
From: Burbank, CA USA
Registered: Nov 2009

posted August 02, 2014 03:21 AM

Respectfully, I take a different view.

The word "film" has come to mean the process, art, or business of making movies. If we accept that as one valid definition, it seems reasonable to refer to a series of related motion picture screenings as a film festival, whether or not they are projected using motion picture film.

I perceive a similar shift in meaning with regards to the word "paint." Many of our Windows-based home computers offer a program called Paint, which allows us to "paint" pictures. But of course we are using electrons, not oils and pigments. Similarly, I have seen more than one master photographer or cinematographer referred to as a "painter of light." We all know and accept what is meant, despite the fact that no one is literally painting at all.

To reiterate, I say all this with utmost respect. Everyone here loves honest-to-goodness motion picture film, and it surely still has its place as both a production and archival medium. But count me as one who believes strongly that digital projection has its place as well.

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Vidar Olavesen
Film God

Posts: 2232
From: Sarpsborg, Norway
Registered: Nov 2012

posted August 02, 2014 04:03 AM

Film need to be on the media called celluloid (film) for me to be called a film. I agree with you, movie or most correctly, video festival is what they should use. I would be disappointed to go to a film festival and only see videos

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Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 723
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Registered: Jul 2006

posted August 02, 2014 05:35 AM

the Reading cinema chain here uses an image of film in their logo and advertising and they don't have a single film projector in use in any of their cinemas!

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"Raise The Titanic!", It would of been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!

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David Ollerearnshaw
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1373
From: Penistone Sheffield UK
Registered: Oct 2012

posted August 02, 2014 05:14 PM

Film is Film video is video digital is still video NOT film.

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I love the smell of film in the morning.

http://www.thereelimage.co.uk/

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