8mm Forum: The Term Film Festival

This is topic The Term Film Festival in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on 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]

Posted by Clay Smith (Member # 4122) on 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.

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on 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]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on 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") ?

Posted by David M. Ballew (Member # 1818) on 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.

Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on 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

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on 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!

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on August 02, 2014, 05:14 PM:

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

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