THE PITTSBURGH FILM FESTIVALS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Before I ride off into the Hollywood sunset later this year, I wanted to give a tip-of-my-hat to the best, distinctly Pittsburgh-ian film festivals that I’ve enjoyed being a patron or a part of for the last 7 years of my PA filmmaking journey.
Why should filmmakers submit their films to festivals? Film festivals are often the first step to starting an actual filmmaker career. And, receiving awards and laurels for clout is not the only benefit to getting into a film festival: you are able to present your talent, skill and message to both the viewing public and your professional peers. Your first festival becomes your initial chance to take compliment and criticism on your films from actual, working members of your local industry. You get to network and possibly receive further opportunities if one of your colleagues connects with you and your art. After all, if a film stays in the can, did it really ever exist?
Without further ado, let me present to you some of the best Pittsburgh festivals that you should strive to take part in this coming year. (In alphabetical order)
CARNEGIE SCREENWRITERS SCRIPT AND SCREEN FESTIVAL
facebook.com/cswfestival/
Carnegie Screenwriters is a Pittsburgh based non-profit group comprised of writers, filmmakers, actors, teachers and students who often host their event at the Tull Family Theater in Sewickley, Pa.
CSW’s mission is to provide an active, supportive community for scriptwriters of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience. They work together in an environment of mutual respect and fellowship to share resources, provide encouragement, motivation and constructive feedback on members’ scripts, concepts and works-in-progress. CSW networks and partners with filmmakers and film organizations to produce quality scripts, films, videos and television.
FILM PITTSBURGH
filmpittsburgh.org
Film Pittsburgh throws multiple unique celebrations of Pittsburgh filmmakers all year round. Honoring minorities and the freshest filmmakers in town, these fests are worth the few minutes it takes to submit your film.
ReelAbilities Pittsburgh Film Festival
The ReelAbilities Film Festival presents award-winning films that promote awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of individuals with disabilities. Through impactful films and engaging programs, this festival brings together the community to explore and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.
Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival
The first film festival of its kind in the region, Pittsburgh Shorts presents the best contemporary short films from around the globe, with an emphasis on films that promote the intersections of art, tech, cultural tolerance and diversity. The inaugural 2018 festival presented 90 short films from 20 countries and hosted more than 25 filmmakers in Pittsburgh. Selected filmmakers are eligible to win $1,000 each for Best Narrative, Documentary and Animated Short. All selected filmmakers are invited to attend the festival (limited travel stipends may be available to visiting filmmakers on a first come, first served basis).
JFilm Festival
Twenty-five years strong, the annual JFilm Festival presents international Jewish-themed films that deepen audiences’ understanding of Jewish culture, tolerance, and our common humanity. The eleven-day festival is complemented by a variety of supplemental programming, including visiting filmmakers, guest speakers and collaborative events with other local organizations.
THE 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT: PITTSBURGH
48hourfilm.com/en/pittsburgh-pa
This one is a little different. The 48 Hour Film Project is an international, semi-annual competition which pushes filmmakers to finish a short film (conception to completion) over a 2-day timespan with quirky challenges and rewards included. The winning film will go up against films from around the world at Filmapalooza 2020 for a chance at the grand prize and an opportunity to screen at the Cannes Film Festival 2020 Short Film Corner. It’s a great challenge for filmmakers, amateur to experienced, to measure their ability to prioritize decisions and organize their time to make the best movie possible in such a short, sleepless amount of time.
INDIE OAKS & HAUNTED OAKS
facebook.com/IndieOaks and facebook.com/HauntedOaks
Indie Oaks and its predecessor Haunted Oaks are 2 fun-filled nights taking place at the beautiful Oaks Theater in Oakmont, PA. An evening filled with skits, shorts and exciting awards, the indie-honoring fests cobble together the most unique films to visit Pittsburgh. While Indie Oaks focuses on a range of narrative topics, Haunted Oaks is a selective horror film festival featuring the best short horror films produced in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Lance and Ruthy of Locust Street Entertainment produce an energetic and quirky show while audience members get to sip on delicious drinks and munch on great food all night.
THE PITTSBURGH CUT & UNCUT
facebook.com/PGHUNCUTFEST
Talk about being surrounded by friends and colleagues. This quickly growing fest is often held out of trendy spot, the Parkway Theater in McKees Rocks, providing an entertaining night for all hosted by celebrated Pittsburgh actor, David Ogrodowski.
The Pittsburgh Uncut and The Pittsburgh Cut film festivals have always been and will continue to be an attempt to create a venue for local, mostly Pittsburgh-based filmmakers to showcase their films. It is an opportunity to prove that you can make a great short film on very low and sometimes no budget at all, especially if you happen to be a filmmaker in Pittsburgh. It is a true Pittsburgh-based festival where you can win laurels and trophies and bragging rights, and not be competing with high budgeted films from other parts of the world. There are plenty of festivals where you can do that too. It’s my way of saying, “create your art, make it short, and if it has any kind of merit, I’ll do everything I can to get it up on a movie screen for you.”
THE PITTSBURGH INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
filmfreeway.com/PittsburghIndependentFilmFestival
The Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival is Pittsburgh's own film festival for truly independent films, and a headline event for micro-budget and no-budget films from around the world. PIIF offers a fantastic opportunity for undiscovered filmmakers to showcase their achievements, filmmakers who posses an independent vision and operate to create innovative work outside the studio system. They screen more films than all comparable festivals, screening 12 hours a day on both Saturday and Sunday, while still having relevant industry discussions between filmmakers in our filmmakers’ lounge. The 2016 and 2018 Best Feature Film secured a distribution deal as a result of our recommendation, upon winning our festival. PIFF uses the strength of the independent film making community to put on a fantastic festival. PIFF is an indie film festival by and for indie filmmakers.
REELQ & PUFF
ReelQ.org
The Pittsburgh Lesbian and Gay Film Society serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer communities in Pittsburgh and the surrounding tri-state region. In addition, PLGFS provides a crucial service to the cultural vitality of Pittsburgh, designed to support LGBTQ+ artists, and to provide a much-needed cultural outlet for the LGBTQ+ communities in Pittsburgh.
With a focus on quality year-round events and positioning themselves for the future PLGFS wants to broaden their audience range. They have held activities and screenings that are fun to attend, attract a diverse audience and provide a safe space in the community. PLGFS also works with other organizations in order to bring organizations together and hold joint activities. It is important for the Society to continue to broaden their contacts with filmmakers, producers, directors, distributors and other festival personal outside of the local surrounding area. There is plenty of time to get involved with the annual Reel Q Pittsburgh LGBT Film Festival. You can add your name to our Volunteer list or visit the Sponsorship sections to find out how you can be part of this great cultural event in Pittsburgh.
SILK SCREEN FESTIVAL
silkscreenfestival.org
Silk Screen brings together the region’s diverse ethnic communities. Through the media of film, music, dance, and theater, these communities are able to learn and experience each other’s cultures and come to recognize our shared human experience. Their mission is to celebrate diversity and multi-cultural appreciation of the Asian and Asian American experience through cultural events.
Which festival sounds great to you? Which one did we leave out?? These unique showcases of filmmaking talent are just a few places to debut your art and begin to make connections that last a career-span. Time to start submitting…
