June 12, 2021
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Author

Kelly Kitchens

Is an editor and feature writer, Kelly J. Kitchens found herself engrossed in the North Texas’ arts, entertainment, leisure/hospitality and fund raising events scene in the early and mid-'90s. Her love of film, music, art, theater, and worthy causes drove her to then pursue the publicity side of the media business in 1995. Kelly has been honored as a “master publicist” in the Fort Worth Business Press and a “media professional” in The Dallas Morning News. The year 2014 is a bang of a year! Not only is Kelly working on the Dallas VideoFest in October and Lone Star Film Festival in November, she is also the publicist for the Alamo Drafthouses DFW in Richardson. She will be opening the Alamo in Dallas in 2015 and Alamo in Las Colinas in 2016. Kelly was featured in a journalist's Master Thesis all about how she became a publicist and how she works. It is recommended reading if you plan to call on Kelly. Kelly J Kitchens Media Relations/Entertainment Publicity kellykitchenspr.com 214-684-1378 kelly@kellykitchenspr.com


Film
Dallas-Based TV Series #WASHED Season 2 Nominated for a Daytime Emmy
Kelly Kitchens Posted On June 1, 2021


Nominees for the broadcast portion of the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were unveiled on May 25, 2021, by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
https://theemmys.tv/daytime-48th-nominations-cbs/

#WASHED is a nominee for Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design for a Drama or Daytime Program. The #DaytimeEmmy telecast will air on June 25 on CBS and Paramount+.

Congratulations are in order to #WASHED’s set designer, Yvonne Williams, director of photography, Jamarrio Washington, producer/lead actor, Byron Hardy, assistant director/lead actress, Nadirah Shakir, show creator/director, Jerod Couch as well as the entire cast and crew.

Show creator/director Jerod Couch’s Statement:
“I’m so proud of the #WASHED cast and crew for being nominated for a Daytime Emmy. It’s so amazing to see our Dallas-based indie series alongside shows on Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV. It’s a testament to the talent and creativity in our wonderful city. We created something magical outside the traditional Hollywood studio system with nowhere near the resources but with the same level of creativity. Our set designer, Yvonne Williams; director of photography, Jamarrio Washington; assistant director, Nadirah Shakir; and producer, Byron Hardy—all deserve special kudos for this amazing accomplishment.”

According to the NATAS press release:
“This year’s awards honor content from more than 3,000 submissions that originally premiered in calendar-year 2020. The submissions were judged by a pool of more than 1,000 peer professionals from across the television industry whose confidential ballots were then tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Lutz & Carr, LLP. The June 25 telecast will mark the 15th time CBS has broadcast the Daytime Emmys®, more than any other network.”

Phase 2 of the 2021 Daytime Emmy Awards nominations, which #WASHED has submitted in 10 more categories, will be announced on June 28 and presented virtually on July 17 and 18.

ABOUT #WASHED Season 2

Two-time regional Emmy award winner Jerod Couch launched the second season of TV series #WASHED on Amazon Prime on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The series follows a group of aging millennials as they attain everything they never wanted in pursuit of their dreams.

#WASHED completed shooting in December 2019. The production utilized more than 150 Dallas cast and crew and 30 locations in the heart of Dallas. Couch, who grew up in southern Dallas, created the show and directed each episode. Previously, he won regional Emmys for writing and directing commercials for Texas Rangers.

CREATOR’S THOUGHTS
“#WASHED is a unique take on the urban coming-of-age story. The half-hour dramedy/satire features a group of 30-somethings wondering if their dreams come with expiration dates. They are too old to just be dreamers, yet they are young enough to make those dreams a reality.

“My adolescent years were spent hopping from ‘hood to hood’ in Dallas, ultimately settling in the Wilmer-Hutchins area,” Couch said. “After returning home from a five-year producing stint at ESPN, I set out to create an indie TV series to tell the story of an aging millennial struggling to balance that former life in the ‘hood’ and current ‘#WASHED-up’ 30s lifestyle that doesn’t include the fame and fortune you had planned as a kid.”

#WASHED Season 2 Teaser
Season 2 Trailer | #WASHED | Digital Series | Dallas

The first of nine episodes of the second season of “#WASHED” starts on Amazon on Sept. 2. The series features an all-Black cast. In the writers’ room, efforts were made to tell diverse Black stories.

“We quickly learned this ‘30-something life crisis’ is a shared experience across our society,” Couch said. “Therefore, in Season 2 of ‘#WASHED’ instead of focusing on one character, we explore a multitude of characters dealing with coming-of-adulthood from the male and female perspectives. Issues include chasing love, fame, fortune, career woman vs. corporate America, high-risk pregnancy and the search for self-actualization.”

“#WASHED” was created, directed, produced and written by Jerod Couch.

WORLD OF #WASHED
The #WASHED world morphs from a narrative centered around one main character in season 1 to an ensemble cast in season 2. Over the course of nine episodes, the viewer will oscillate between four different worlds: “The Office,” “The Game,” “Mya’s Life” and “The Club.” Through these unique perspectives, a multitude of personalities, motives and life experiences; and just how far they’ll go to reach their dreams.

All the awards and nominations #WASHED has received:

Winner Best Texas Film – Houston Comedy FF
Excellence in Web Series Promotion Winner – Minnesota WebFest
WINNER Boss Pitch – Hip Hop FF
Outstanding Dramatic Digital Series Nominee – Micheaux FF
Best Drama Series Nominee – Minnesota WebFest
Best Representation of Communities of Color Nominee – Minnesota WebFest
Winner of Dell’s “Small but Mighty” Award
Winner Best of Fest: Audience Choice Award – Hip Hop FF
Best Comedy Nominee – Indie Series Awards
Best Soundtrack & Best Web Series Nominee – Hip Hop FF
Best Episodic Series Nominee – Houston Comedy FF


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Film
Lumedia Musicworks Extends the Early Music Film Competition’s Submission Deadline | Now June 1st
Kelly Kitchens Posted On May 12, 2021


For a second year, Lumedia Musicworks will present the Early Music Film Competition, rewarding an artist who successfully brings one of two early music selections to life on screen. The deadline for submissions is extended to June 1st.

Film entries must feature the music as the primary voice in the film and must be submitted online by midnight. For more details and technical requirements, visit http://www.lumediamusicworks.com/filmcompetition.

Dallas-based Lumedia is a nonprofit committed to showcasing and performing early music, performing on historical reproductions of instruments from the baroque, renaissance and medieval periods at a historical pitch. Lumedia Musicworks’ core team is highly trained in historically informed performance practices.

The music film competition is open to all ages, occupations and geographic locations. Applicants can choose from one of two exclusive soundtracks made by Lumedia. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of $750, a film feature at Lumedia’s summer 2021 short film event and exposure on Lumedia’s media outlets and website.

More details and technical requirements are available on Lumedia’s website. The competition is sponsored by Patricia and Robert Brooks, longtime supporters of Lumedia and the Dallas arts.

Lumedia’s film competition underscores the organization’s push to expose more audiences to early music, said Julianna Emanski, Lumedia’s artistic director.

Last year’s event featured music films from around the country and the world showcasing early music.

About Lumedia Musicworks
Lumedia Musicworks brings early music to life through captivating live performance, short films and innovative educational


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Film
Thin Line Fest | A Virtual Pop-up Experience March 23-28
Kelly Kitchens Posted On March 18, 2021


The biggest documentary film festival in Texas returns — virtual pop-up style — March 23-28. Presented by streaming specialists, Falcon Events, Thin Line Fest 2021 is delivering six days of world-class cinema and music directly to viewers. 27 features. 44 shorts. 17 musical performers — all live-streaming directly into the audience’s homes for free.

Thin Line Fest 2021 is a unique live virtual experience — audience members will experience real-time screenings together. The fest’s virtual platform offers attendees the chance to mingle with filmmakers, musicians, and other attendees in virtual venues between screenings and performances.

“Over the previous year, most festivals have adopted an on-demand format similar to Netflix,” said Thin Line founder Joshua Butler. “Thin Line Fest has instead focused on creating an ‘in the moment’ and live experience across six days of watch-it-or-miss-it programming.”

The THIN LINE Difference

“The movie-going experience has changed, obviously, but filmmakers are still telling important stories,” said Butler. “We’re thrilled to offer viewers the opportunity to see films they ordinarily might not get a chance to see — all from the safety and comfort of their couches.”

Taking place March 23-28, Thin Line Fest 2021 showcases acclaimed documentary films from across the globe. This year’s line-up includes an Oscar-nominated short, ten international films celebrating US premieres, two world premieres, and work featured at film festivals like Slamdance, IDFA, Sundance, Visions De Reel, Big Sky, and SXSW. Additionally, attendees will enjoy live-streamed performances from some of the most respected musical artists Texas has to offer.

An Array of Subjects

With stories set in Russia, Iran, Brazil, and across the USA, Thin Line features award-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmakers. Among this year’s documentaries, topics covered are vast: environment, education, social injustice, music-movement-arts, space exploration, incarceration reform, advocacy for disabilities, political action, universal workforce, LGTBQ, major-city gentrification, military history, photography, and more.

See everything the fest has to offer at www.thinline.us. Register now to attend.

Find the full Thin Line Fest 2021 line-up below: 

FEATURE FILMS: Alice Street; Amazon Mirror (O Reflexo do Lago); Anatomy of Wings; Help Is On The Way; Kombinat; Missing in Brooks County; Mu and The Vanishing World; My Darling Supermarket; Operation Wolf Patrol; Proof; Punta Sacra; Queen Lear; Red Heaven; Rumba Rules, New Genealogies; SanDance!: A Journey to the Heart of San Culture; Since I Been Down; Spouses; The Condor & The Eagle; The Falconer; The Forbidden Strings; The Girl Who Wore Freedom; The Silhouettes, Time Was; Try Harder!; We Are As God; Witness Theater; Your Face.

SHORT FILMS: A Bold Experiment; A Concerto Is a Conversation; Al on Earth; Ale Libre; 

Blackfeet Boxing: Not Invisible; Broken Orchestra; Dafa Metti; DJAO – After the Road; Driven; First Move; 

For Humanity; Her New York; Huntsville Station; I’m with Harrison; Ignis; L.A. Roll; Material Bodies; Nomads’ Land; Oil & Water; Pam; Pandemic19; Pant Hoot; People Over Profit: A Small Business COVID-19 Documentary Short; Road to Roxham; Shoulders Deep; Skate in Tokyo; Snowy; Take a Vote; Take Me To Prom; Tangled Roots; Team Meryland; The Field Trip; The Gender Line; The Last Miner; 

The Leftovers; The Rifleman; The Seeker; The Undocumented Lawyer; The Water Walker; This Land;  We the Power; Welcome Strangers; Yves & Variation; A Rose By Any Other Name.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: Character; Isaac Hoskins and the Glass Mountain Orchestra;          Jackson Scribner; Juicy the Emissary; L25; Maple; Medicine Man Revival; Noogy; Pudge; 

Rosegarden Funeral Party; Simon Flory; Skip Schipper; STRAYS; Sunbuzzed; The 40 Acre Mule; Upsetting; Vandoliers.

About THIN LINE FEST

Thin Line Film is the longest running documentary film festival in Texas. We love documentaries because real life is more interesting than fiction! Generally, we believe that documentaries should communicate the Truth. However, we love watching documentaries when we can’t tell if it’s real or not!

‍Thin Line Music is the soundtrack of the festival. It’s the perfect mix of styles from national and regional acts on small and intimate stages. An exciting and eclectic mix awaits our virtual festival participants.

‍Thin Line is a one-of-a-kind festival. Powered by Falcon Events, we’ve combined the best of modern media to create an engaging, multi-layered experience that appeals to all. Join us for an immersive festival experience.


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Film  / Pegasus Film Festival
Pegasus Film Festival Continues in All-Virtual Format
Kelly Kitchens Posted On March 18, 2021


Sixth Annual Event Kicks off Saturday, May 22, 2021

As the pandemic continues, Pegasus Film Festival has continued its focus on maintaining a creative outlet for high school students.

Now in its sixth year, the Pegasus Film Festival, as a part of the newly formed Pegasus Media Project by educators and professional filmmakers, Niloo Jalilvand and Glenys Quick, is open to students (from kindergarten through graduating high school seniors) around the globe. The festival will be held online via Falcon Events (FalconEvents.com) Sat., May 22. No matter where the students and their family and friends live, they will be able to view their work along with their peers.

An organization run by students, for students, Pegasus Film Festival has also continued its partnership with FilmFreeway, a platform for filmmakers to submit their creations to established and trusted festivals around the world.

“As someone who has participated in Pegasus since my sophomore year and is now about to graduate, I can honestly say that each year has taught me valuable lessons that I will never forget,” said Festival Director, Daviah Harrison. “It has been an honor to watch Pegasus grow, and I can’t wait to see what this year will bring.”

A Creative Outlet for Teens
The pandemic, says Harrison, has allowed students to dig deep into their art and learn new things about themselves. And casting a wider, international net – a change the team made last year – means the festival will be bigger than ever, with a wider range of submissions.

Also, as the planning team quickly pivoted to a virtual format in 2020 amid COVID-19 concerns, they are applying what they learned to their sixth-annual event. “Last year was a surprise to all of us, and switching to an online festival was not easy,” said Harrison. “But, this year we are prepared and excited to connect with people everywhere.”

Deadline Extension and Submission Categories
The Pegasus team hopes to foster a positive and enjoyable digital experience for all that will lift the spirits of home-bound creatives. The festival’s submission categories include:
Narrative
Documentary
Experimental
Animation
Music Video
Micro Movie

Support for Pegasus Film Festival
Funds raised by the Festival go beyond the costs of hosting the event and awarding prizes to festival winners. Contributions go to creating an exceptional experience that will strengthen Dallas’ youth film community. Sponsors provide the means to bridge the gap between student filmmakers’ inspirations and their finished productions. They serve to give education and confidence that inspires young filmmakers in need to to continue to pursue their fervor for this complex and rewarding art form.

“Even online events have their own individual costs, so any contribution made will be used well to support our cause,” said Harrison. “Sponsorship packages provide benefits like the ability to promote your company, free passes to the event and participating as part of the judges’ panel.”

Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. For more on the Pegasus Film Festival, visit PegasusFilmFestival.com/Donate.

About Pegasus Film Festival
Apart of the newly formed Pegasus Media Project (PegasusMediaProject.com) by educators and professional filmmakers, Niloo Jalilvand and Glenys Quick, the Pegasus Film Festival has been in action since 2015 when festival founder, Jalilvand ,realized a need for student exposure in the arts. Being a teacher at an art school, she wanted to shed more light on the creative artists she was around daily. Pegasus is giving young filmmakers the chance to present their art to a virtual audience and judges.

This year’s leadership team is composed of dedicated and creative students from across the DFW Metroplex. Daviah Harrison, who attends Booker T. Washington HSPVA, is the 2021 Festival Director; Joel Camot, attending Alcuin School, is the Festival Producer; Lucy Roberts, attending The Hockaday School; is the Assistant Director, and Ariel White, from Plano West Senior High School; is the Social Media Coordinator. The team consists of members from Desoto High School, Young Women’s Leadership Academy and St Mark’s School of Texas.

This student-led festival has created many opportunities and will guide students to become great leaders in their careers


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Dallas VideoFest  / Film
Love Talking About Film? Dallas VideoFest Asks You to Join in the Cinematic Conversations
Kelly Kitchens Posted On November 2, 2020


In the age of COVID-19, film lovers have taken to streaming video platforms to enjoy cinema safely from the comfort of their own homes.

With its new Cinematic Conversations, Dallas VideoFest is building community among home viewers and creating an accessible and stimulating conversation around film. Featuring guest hosts – from film directors and screenwriters to film critics and historians, academics and columnists – the live, weekly Zoom calls last about an hour and focus on a wide range of films available on common streaming platforms.

“People are watching a lot of material on Netflix and Amazon Prime because they are not going out in the world right now,” said Dallas VideoFest Founder and Artistic Director Bart Weiss. “This gives them a chance to engage their brain and feel more active. Maybe next time you watch something, you start to think about it in a different kind of way.”

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Step 1:

Watch the film that will be discussed at any time on your own. The films will generally be available on streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime. Occasionally, they will be on other platforms. DVF is making every effort to showcase films that are readily available for free or rent.

Step 2:

Request the Zoom information by emailing: Festival@VideoFest.org.

Step 3: 

Log on the Zoom call by 7:25 pm CT

Step 4: The conversation

The conversation format features a conversation between Weiss and the guest host for the first half. The second portion is often guided by questions from participants.

THE EXPERIENCE

“It’s very similar to what you experience in a film festival when you have a Q&A with the filmmaker,” said Weiss. “But those are sometimes only 15 minutes long. You can’t get into very much detail or into the meat of what’s going on in the film.”

The quality of these discussions recently captured the attention of a Sundance filmmaker, Sam Feder, who told Weiss the Cinematic Conversation focusing on his film was the best Q&A he has viewed, addressing topics others had not discussed in depth.

*********

Watch Sam Feder’s Cinematic Conversation of his film DISCLOSURE here.

*********

Weiss said Cinematic Conversations also fill a gap in film critique that has existed for more than a decade.

“People want to know about films, and they want to know what people think about films,” said Weiss. “This is an opportunity to help fans understand what’s in the films, the themes that are involved and what the film is saying.”

To participate in Cinematic Conversations, follow the Dallas VideoFest Facebook page, and watch the film listed for the upcoming week’s conversation. Visit the Facebook page before 7:30 p.m. CST Wednesdays for the Zoom login, and join the discussion.

Upcoming Cinematic Conversations:

Wednesday, November 4
Feels Good Man with Danny Gallagher

Wednesday, November 11
The Trial of the Chicago 7 with Gordon Quinn

Wednesday, November 18
RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World

Wednesday, November 25
David Byrne & Spike Lee American Utopia with Manny Mendoza and Thor Christensen

Wednesday, December 2
Robocop with Dallas cast and crew

Wednesday, December 9

Spelling the Dream

And more are being scheduled.


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Film
Dallas VideoFest Presents Hybrid In Person & Online Formats | 33rd Anniversary Festival October 1-4
Kelly Kitchens Posted On September 8, 2020


As our arts and culture community seeks ways to feel more connected in a time of social distancing, Dallas VideoFest continues to innovate and broaden its reach

On the heels of its successful real-time, virtual Alternative Fiction festival in the spring, Dallas VideoFest will continue to reshape the film festival landscape with its fall DocuFest. VideoFest.org/Festivals/DocuFest/

Highlighting dozens of documentary features and shorts over four days, Oct. 1-4, DocuFest, offering drive-in style and virtual viewing followed by real-time Q&A with featured filmmakers.

DRIVE-IN FESTIVAL
The drive-in portion of DocuFest will take place at The Tin Star Theater (2712 Beeville, Dallas, TX, in Trinity Groves). The Tin Star drive-in theater is hosting the performing arts and a variety of shows in a socially distanced atmosphere.

Please make sure you are following CDC guidelines in your car and on the premises. Masks are a must.

With immersive topics centered on current events – including the 2020 presidential election – the festival is especially timely both in theme and content, said Dallas VideoFest Founder and Artistic Director Bart Weiss.

“Documentaries give us greater insight into the world,” said Weiss. “When we see these headlines or view an ad on Facebook, we’re seeing one moment. Documentaries give us a canvas to put things into perspective, to understand these topics in a different kind of way.”

Meanwhile, the hybrid drive-in/virtual format offers viewers a way to interact and enjoy quality and thought-provoking films safely at a time when many are longing for the theater experience.

That sense of connecting together in one space is one reason developing a drive-in experience for DocuFest felt important in 2020, said Weiss. “You can see people in their cars, and go up and say hello,” he said. “And, when people like something, they all honk their horns. There’s something very powerful in that.”

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
For the virtual viewing component of DocuFest, Dallas VideoFest will again partner with Falcon Events (falconevents.com) Dallas-based event producers, which specialized in producing live online and virtual events, to deploy the latest live online technology via a secure and robust platform to create a virtual film festival experience.

Connect with VideoFest:
#DVF33
#DVF33DocuFest
#TXArtsAreEssential

For membership in Dallas VideoFest year-’round:
https://www.prekindle.com/events/VAD

Sign up for the Dallas VideoFest Newsletter:
http://tinyurl.com/DVFNewsletter

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Videofest

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/videofest

Instagram:
http://instagram.com/videofest


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Production
“#WASHED” 2nd Season Premieres Sept. 2 on Amazon | Dallas-Based TV series Features Black Cast
Kelly Kitchens Posted On August 12, 2020


Two-time regional Emmy award winner Jerod Couch launches the second season of TV series “#WASHED” on Amazon, starting Wednesday, Sept. 2. The series follows a group of aging millennials as they attain everything they never wanted in pursuit of their dreams.

“#WASHED” completed shooting in December 2019. The production utilized more than 150 Dallas cast and crew and 30 locations in the heart of Dallas.  Couch, who grew up in southern Dallas, created the show and directed each episode. Previously, he won regional Emmys for writing and directing commercials for Texas Rangers.

CREATOR’S THOUGHTS
“#WASHED” is a unique take on the urban coming-of-age story. The half-hour dramedy/satire features a group of 30-somethings wondering if their dreams come with expiration dates. They are too old to just be dreamers, yet they are young enough to make those dreams a reality.

“My adolescent years were spent hopping from ‘hood to hood’ in Dallas, ultimately settling in the Wilmer-Hutchins area,” Couch said. “After returning home from a five-year producing stint at ESPN, I set out to create an indie TV series to tell the story of an aging millennial struggling to balance that former life in the ‘hood’ and current ‘#WASHED-up’ 30s lifestyle that doesn’t include the fame and fortune you had planned as a kid.”

#WASHED Season 2 Teaser
 Season 2 Trailer | #WASHED | Digital Series | Dallas

The first of nine episodes of the second season of “#WASHED” starts on Amazon on Sept. 2. The series features an all-Black cast. In the writers’ room, efforts were made to tell diverse Black stories.

“We quickly learned this ‘30-something life crisis’ is a shared experience across our society,” Couch said. “Therefore, in Season 2 of ‘#WASHED’ instead of focusing on one character, we explore a multitude of characters dealing with coming-of-adulthood from the male and female perspective. Issues include chasing love, fame, fortune, career woman vs. corporate America, high-risk pregnancy and the search for self-actualization.”

ABOUT #WASHED
“#WASHED” is an award-winning indie television series created and directed by two-time regional Emmy winner Jerod Couch. Season 2 is set to debut in 2020 with nine, half-hour episodes featuring an ensemble cast of #WASHED (up) millennials. At a crossroads, these multidimensional, and often conflicted characters face a harsh reality: too old to just be dreamers, yet young enough to make those dreams a reality. A unique take on the urban coming-of-age story, #WASHED packs a punch as the content hits close-to-home in a relatable, hilarious and dramatic fashion.

Season 2
“#WASHED” stars:

  • Dallas native Byron Hardy (rapper, B.Hardy),
  • San Antonio’s Nadirah Shakir (“Vampire Diaries,” “BARBERSHOP 3”), and
  • Houston’s Ashlee Lee (“ATX Most Wanted” – a college version of “BET’s 106 & Park”)

“#WASHED” was created, directed, produced and written by Jerod Couch.

WORLD OF #WASHED
The #WASHED world morphs from a narrative centered around one main character in season 1 to an ensemble cast in season 2. Over the course of nine episodes, the viewer will oscillate between four different worlds: “The Office,” “The Game,” “Mya’s Life” and “The Club.” Through these unique perspectives, a multitude of personalities, motives and life experiences; and just how far they’ll go to reach their dreams.

Thanks to #WASHED Sponsors:

  • Reebok
  • DFW Vapor
  • Dallas Weekly

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Film
Fifth Annual Pegasus Film Festival: 2020 Virtual Festival Experience Announced for May 29 | Combines with 24-Hour VideoRace
Kelly Kitchens Posted On May 11, 2020


Going Global in the Digital World

As the population grows exponentially in North Texas, Dallas has quickly become one of the centers for creativity in the United States. With all this creativity, comes a new generation of filmmakers—high school students. The Pegasus Film Festival, an organization run by students, for students, alleviates and honors the youth who create by giving them a platform to exhibit their original film works to a virtual audience on May 29, 2020. 

For the first time, Pegasus is going international and will be open to students (from kindergarten through graduating high school seniors) under 19 years old. Students from all over the globe will be given the opportunity to participate in an accredited film festival that works alongside FilmFreeway, a 100% free platform for filmmakers to submit their latest and greatest creations to established and trusted festivals around the world.

Response to COVID-19

This year, we are excited to announce that we are partnering with Imagine Dallas, Inc. on their project, “We Are The World,” working to feed our heroes of D10, our local federal office. With your support, a portion of the funds raised during this festival will be donated directly to Imagine Dallas, Inc. in an effort to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19), allowing us to support our local first responders, healthcare workers and restaurants, who are bravely serving our community during this unforeseeable time. 

The Pegasus Film Festival works to be accessible to all, especially during trying times such as these. The COVID-19 outbreak may have separated us all physically, but time and time again, we show how we can continue to work together. Due to the COVID-19 and the Shelter in Place order, the Pegasus Film Festival will now be a virtual event taking place on May 29, 2020. 

Deadline Extension and Submission Categories

The Pegasus team hopes to foster a positive and enjoyable digital experience for all that will lift the spirits of homebound creatives.  To reflect these uncertain shifts in our daily lives, the Pegasus Film Festival submission deadline has been extended to May 22. Our submission category mainstays are:

  • Narrative
  • Documentary
  • Experimental
  • Animation
  • Music Video
  • Micro Movie

To reflect these times,  we at Pegasus have decided to put forth an additional category:  Micro Movie (social media creation less than 60 seconds). Despite the current lack of in-person contact, the innovation of social media has brought many closer together. Time at home has introduced many to various social media platforms that Gen Z have taken to directions never seen before, introducing the world to unconventional humor, fun DIY crafts and life hacks, and some groovy new moves and tunes to get society through the boredom they may experience in self-isolation. Also, to help the fight against COVID-19, Pegasus will be donating a portion of the proceeds for this category to the aforementioned Imagine Dallas, Inc.

Pegasus and Dallas VideoFest Will Host 24-Hour VideoRace

Alongside the one-day film festival hosted by Pegasus, the Dallas VideoFest presents the 19th Annual 24-Hour VideoRace, beginning Friday night, May 29 and ending exactly 24 hours later on Saturday, May 30.

Anyone with a camera and the willingness to race can participate. Past teams have included elementary school students to professional filmmakers.  Student teams compete against other student teams, and adult teams are categorized by team size rather than skill level. This festival will be divided into 2 categories: participants under 18 and participants over 18.

24-Hour VideoRace Breakdown

REGISTRATION:

Please register between May 6 and May 29 at  https://videofest.org/24-hour-video-race-virtual/ 

ELEMENTS REVEAL:

Shortly after the Pegasus Film Festival Q&A, Bart Weiss, founder of Dallas VideoFest, will reveal the elements for this year’s films live, based on a topic and guidelines chosen by the 24-Hour VideoRace Committee. 

The revealed elements must be a part of each contestant’s video, which must be used in every video created and the COVID-19 Regulations – MUST be followed: https://www.dallasfilmcommission.com/covid-19-regulations-apply-to-film-crews 

Teams that fail to do so will be disqualified – no exceptions; no refunds. 

Elements in the past have included:

  • One theme
  • One prop
  • One location
  • One line of dialogue
  • And a new element 

SCREENINGS:

The online screenings of the 24-Hour VideoRace completed work will be announced after May 20, 2020.

WINNERS:

The winning videos will be featured on the website. 

Final Thoughts

“The outbreak of the Coronavirus has been quite an ordeal for many. Unemployment, shortages, and isolation weigh heavy on the hearts of millions, in a time unlike any other we have ever seen. Now, social interaction is more important than ever, and the Pegasus team hopes to use an online platform to bring people together through imagination and innovation. For five years, Pegasus has worked to become the largest student-run film festival in the country, and we are not stopping there. Join us for the virtual Pegasus Film Festival and experience an event like no other.

“And please, don’t forget to tell all your friends and family to see your amazing work!”

Logan Mook
Festival Director
Pegasus Film Festival

About the Pegasus Team
The Pegasus Film Festival has been in action since 2015 when festival director Niloo Jalilvand recognized a need for student exposure in the arts. This nonprofit organization seeks to close this gap by giving young filmmakers the chance to present their art to both an audience and a panel of judges in a competitive environment that allows them to grow exponentially. Through this, they will learn invaluable lessons, make meaningful connections with industry professionals, and become familiarized with the film festival experience. Our festival does this in four ways: hosting an annual film festival exclusively for student filmmakers, awarding festival winners with opportunities to intern with industry professionals such as ATK PLN, offering students various paid internship positions for the Pegasus Film Festival Leadership team, and holding an annual Pegasus Summer Intensive course taught by industry filmmakers for college credit. The Pegasus Film Festival works to ensure that our up and coming generations are well prepared and excited for their future in filmmaking.

This year’s unique leadership team is composed of creative minds from across the DFW Metroplex. Leaders were vetted through the application process. From Booker T. Washington HSPVA, Logan Mook is the 2020 Festival Director, Mirra Capper is the Art Director, Grayson Millburn is our Social Media Coordinator, and Soleil Singh is our Development Director. From Plano West,  Nisha Nanda is the new Festival Producer. Our team consists of members from Skyline HS, Trinidad Garza ECHS, Hebron HS, Flower Mound HS, and The Colony HS.

For five years, Pegasus has worked to become the largest student-run film festival in the country. Because the Pegasus Film Festival is run by students and for students, we believe those young creatives will help shape our futures. With our devoted and hard-working team, the 2020 Pegasus Film Festival is looking to be our most successful one yet!


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Dallas VideoFest
Dallas VideoFest Charts an Alternative Viewing Path for Upcoming April 2-5 Festival
Kelly Kitchens Posted On March 30, 2020


Dallas VideoFest Alternative Fiction partners with Falcon Events, Dallas-based event producers, which specializes in producing live online and virtual events, to deploy the latest live online technology via a secure and robust platform to create a virtual film festival experience in your living room.

“We are recreating the festival experience, showing films, and connecting filmmakers with their audiences, with technology that is just right for the moment,” said Bart Weiss, founder and artistic director of Dallas VideoFest.

Alternative Innovation
Falcon Events has the technology and capability to include film introductions from the Festivals’ film hosts as well as Q&As following films. Viewers will be able to hear and potentially see the filmmakers as they answer the viewers’ questions. Falcon Events has very strict protocols in place to ensure each film’s content is not copied, and each film will only be available live.

Dallas VideoFest has been innovating with technology since 1987, such as showcasing HDTV and VR in 1988, exhibiting interactive media, and pioneering using files instead of videotapes. We are constantly looking for new easy to connect with audiences, and this is the technology perfect for this moment in time.

“In this time when we are literally homebound, we are looking to be inspired. AltFiction’s narrative films will prove entertainment, inspiration and will be the cure for cabin fever,” said Bart Weiss

Movie lovers can go online and watch great films at specific times. Like traditional film festivals, there will be questions and answers and intros to the films from hosts and from the filmmakers, but these will be done on video (and unlike the films themselves will be viewable later online). Audiences can ask questions of the filmmakers and have them answered in real-time. (How-to-Fest instructions below.)

Filmmakers On Board

For Dallas VideoFest’s AltFiction
Chris Hansen, director of SEVEN SHORT FILMS ABOUT (OUR) MARRIAGE opening DVF’s #AltFiction Fest at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2, added, “At this time when everyone in the business of film is doing a reset, from filmmakers to film festivals to the people who watch and love films, I’m looking forward to experiencing a virtual opening night screening. It will be a new experience, sharing the story of the relationship in my film with film fans seated comfortably in their living rooms and getting their thoughts on it as if I was there with them as their guest.”

WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE FICTION or #AltFiction?
AltFiction Fest highlights ways of telling stories on film, TV and web — mixing media and mediums.
“The line between fact and fiction in cinema and in life continues to blur,” Bart Weiss, founder and artistic director of Dallas VideoFest.
The narratives that make up AltFiction Fest explore this moment in time at the intersection between media and how cinema artists can create original work in this new world.

“As many great cultural events and institutions are doing the responsible thing by closing their doors, now more than ever there is a need for music, theater, art and culture to inspire and challenge us.”

“Over the three days, AltFiction Fest features new works from local filmmakers and reflections on classic filmmakers each telling unique stories, working the edges and sometimes the centers of this world,” said Weiss.

Sign-up here.


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DocuFest
Dallas VideoFest brings Documentary Festival to its 32nd-Anniversary Festival : DocuFest @ Angelika Oct 3-6
Kelly Kitchens Posted On September 23, 2019


Dallas VideoFest 32 presents DocuFest, featuring dozens of documentary features and also shorts, over four days, Oct. 3-6, 2019, at Angelika Film Center – Dallas (5321 E Mockingbird Ln Suite 230, Dallas).
videofest.org

Documentaries explore nonfiction investigations of topics or events deemed worthy of further insight. Its specific storytelling techniques are flourishing like never before – encompassing reportage, memoir, history, and humor. Documentaries have always been an integral part of the Dallas VideoFest experience.

“Sophisticated technology that lives in the palm of our hand has made shooting high-quality documentaries easier so filmmakers can follow people, movements and injustices in a dynamic, powerful and poetic manner,” said Bart Weiss, founder and artistic director of Dallas VideoFest.

“It is important to me to find films that will shake us out of our comfort zones and will push our boundaries in topics that people may be posting on social media about but are too uneasy to actually talk about face-to-face. Let’s get that conversation started right here at DocuFest.”

The annual Dallas VideoFest 32 DocuFest brings you the best in independent documentary film and video from across the globe and showcases meaningful life stories, which educate and entertain audiences of every demographic.

Tickets and Schedule:
Admission:
All-Festival Pass: $50
Saturday Festival Pass: $25
Sunday Festival Pass: $25
Individual/Film-Block Tickets: $10

DocuFest Film List:

AFTER MUNICH – Canada, 78 min.
by Francine Zuckerman
Filmmaker in Attendance
In partnership with 3 Stars Jewish Cinema

September 5th, 1972, the tenth day of the Munich Olympics, the Palestinian terrorist group Black September stormed the Israeli athletes’ quarters. The world watched live on television as eleven hostages were taken and later killed. For the first time, this story will be told through the eyes of four women. They were directly impacted by that day: An athlete, a widow, and two undercover agents. Their fates redirected. Their well-being and views impacted by the trauma. It’s a story of intrigue; secret identities; it’s about love and death; conflict and reconciliation; war and peace. These four women’s lives have been changed forever. But they weren’t the only ones.

TRAILER:
https://vimeo.com/346948251

WEB PRESENCE:
http://www.7thart.com/films/After-Munich

AMERICAN DHARMA – USA, 2018, 95 min.
by Errol Morris

No stranger to sitting down with some of the most controversial figures of our time, Errol Morris trains his lens on Stephen K. Bannon. In their wide-ranging conversation spanning over 16 hours, Morris questions Bannon on his background, belief system, his worldview, his current feelings on President Trump, and how films such as Henry King’s TWELVE O’CLOCK HIGH, John Ford’s THE SEARCHERS, and Orson Welles’ CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT became part of Bannon’s understanding of the world. Frank and unflinching, Morris grapples with his own contention of Bannon’s ideology and methodology. With AMERICAN DHARMA, Morris proposes that even for those who disagree with Bannon, ignoring him is a dangerous course of action.

TRAILER:
https://youtu.be/m1krQukAv9Y

WEB PRESENCE:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8804284/

BEYOND THE BOLEX – USA, 94 min.
By Alyssa Bolsey

In the 1920s immigrant inventor, Jacques Bolsey aimed to disrupt the early film industry with a motion picture camera for the masses: the iconic Bolex. Over 90 years later, filmmaker Alyssa Bolsey pieces together the fragments of a forgotten family archive to reveal the epic story of her great-grandfather in BEYOND THE BOLEX. Interviewing family members and renowned filmmakers, Alyssa travels to Switzerland and delves into Jacques’ personal diary, film reels and collected images in order to understand the man and his impact on generations of filmmakers.

TRAILER:
https://vimeo.com/65630230

WEB PRESENCE:
https://beyondthebolex.com/

CUNNINGHAM in 3D – USA, 93 min
by Alla Kovgan

Even for those who know little about dance, Merce Cunningham is a recognizable name – an iconic figure in his field. The film concentrates on the three decades from 1942 to 1972 when Cunningham was making his reputation. Gorgeously shot in 3D, CUNNINGHAM brings us closer to these works than any audience has ever been before. Taking an inventive approach with locations, the film places dancers in evocative backdrops such as a tunnel, a high-rise rooftop, and a forest. These current-day performances are interlaced with archival footage of Cunningham speaking and moving.

WEB PRESENCE:
http://www.magpictures.com/cunningham/

ERNIE & JOE: A DIFFERENT KIND OF 911 CALL – USA, 96 min.
by Jenifer McShane

ERNIE & JOE follows two officers with the San Antonio Texas Police Department who are diverting people away from jail and into mental health treatment — one 911 call at a time. In the process, they are redefining policing and its mandate to keep people safe, while transforming the ways in which law enforcement across the U.S. can approach and help those who suffer from mental illness.

WEB PRESENCE:
https://www.facebook.com/ernieandjoethefilm/

FLANNERY (Preview) – USA, 96 min.
by Elizabeth Coffman & Mark Bosco
Filmmaker, Elizabeth Coffman, in Attendance

With animations, never-before-seen archival footage and soul-raising music, FLANNERY illustrates the biography of the brilliant, young writer from Georgia, U.S.A. Flannery O’Connor’s story is brought to life with Mary Steenburgen’s voice and through the eyes of Alice Walker, Tommy Lee Jones, Mary Karr, Tobias Wolff, Alice McDermott, Conan O’Brien, Mary Gordon and many more. These artists share their insights about O’Connor’s violent, redemptive work, while musicians—Lucinda Williams and Bruce Springsteen—share their Flannery-inspired music in this feature-length, NEH-funded film.

TRAILER:
https://vimeo.com/354796275

WEB PRESENCE:
https://www.flanneryfilm.com/#new-page-section

LETTER TO THE EDITOR – USA, 88 min.
by Alan Berliner

Independent filmmaker Alan Berliner considers the power of photography and what may be lost as daily newspapers face extinction, in this documentary exploring his near-lifelong obsession with clipping and indexing photos. For 40 years, filmmaker Alan Berliner has clipped out from the pages of The New York Times photos that caught his eye, keeping them meticulously filed and cross-indexed as a self-appointed archivist and librarian. Driven by his obsession, Berliner has completed the work of nearly a lifetime, transforming and reinterpreting his collection of images into a statement about the nature of humankind. LETTER TO THE EDITOR is a filmic essay with multiple themes and a stunning array of thousands of photographs from Berliner’s collection.

WEB PRESENCE:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10720268/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1

NOW OR NEVER: A TONY ROMO STORY – USA, 95 min., English, Spanish
by Chris Hanna

Through the eyes of people close to Tony Romo, as well as Tony Romo himself, NOW OR NEVER follows his life through his high school, college and NFL career to tell the story of how Tony Romo became the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Tony’s community describes the impact Tony has on them by returning each year. His father gives insight into the origins of Tony’s passion for sports. Tony’s grandparents describe their own journey from Mexico, and how their dreams of success transferred to Tony. His coaches and former teammates detail how Tony found his passion for football in high school and went on to receive a scholarship from Eastern Illinois to play as their quarterback. They explain the ups and downs of his career as a Dallas Cowboy, how the wins, losses, injuries and ultimate retirement affected them and the community. Leaving on a good note, we learn how despite the fact that Tony never won a Superbowl, Tony has still made a wonderful impact on Burlington by proving that if you dream big, you can accomplish anything.

WEB PRESENCE:
https://www.facebook.com/NoworNeverOfficialMovie/

SUPERSTAR: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANDY WARHOL – USA, 1990, 87 min.
by Chuck Workman
Filmmaker in Attendance

A look at the life, work, and impact of Andy Warhol (1928-1987), pop icon and artist, from his childhood in Pittsburgh to his death after a botched surgery. Warhol coined the word “superstar,” became one, and changed the way the culture looks at and understands celebrity. After studying at Carnegie Tech, he goes to New York to be a commercial artist. By 1960, Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Rosenquist are inventing pop art. Warhol starts “The Factory,” his workshop where he paints and makes movies. His is a cafe society of late nights and parties. His family, friends, an agent, a curator, gallery owners, actors, the co-founder of “Interview,” and others tell stories and assess his art.

Screened as apart of an Evening with Chuck Workman

Chuck Workman’s 100 YEARS AT THE MOVIES (1994)
https://youtu.be/E_fCRE5Xtnc

WEB PRESENCE for SUPERSTAR: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANDY WARHOL:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103008/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

TATTOO UPRISING – Dallas, 75 min.
by Alan Governar
Filmmaker in Attendance

TATTOO UPRISING, more than forty years in the making, is a sweeping overview of tattooing, from Biblical references and early Christian practices to the voyages of Captain James Cook and the ever-evolving image of the tattoo in the Western world. Alan Govenar began work on this film in 1980 while finishing his documentary Stoney Knows How. TATTOO UPRISING features some of the most extraordinary people of the tattoo world: including Ed Hardy, Stoney St. Clair, Cynthia Witkin, Calamity Jane, and more, as well as an unforgettable appearance by filmmaker Werner Herzog, allowing a rare glimpse at his Ed Hardy tattoo. The film was shot in part by the late legendary filmmaker Les Blank, who also appears on camera. From antiquity to the present, TATTOO UPRISING reveals the artistic and historical roots of today’s tattoo explosion.

TRAILER:
https://vimeo.com/321599578

WEB PRESENCE:
http://www.tattoouprising.com/

WHITE RIGHT: MEETING THE ENEMY – USA/UK/Norway, 55 min.
by Deeyah Khan
In partnership with WMM: Women Make Movies

In this Emmy-winning documentary, acclaimed Muslim filmmaker Deeyah Khan meets U.S. neo-Nazis and white nationalists face to face and attends the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville as she seeks to understand the resurgence of far-right extremism in the U.S. and attempts to discover new possibilities for solutions. With a U.S. president propagating anti-Muslim propaganda, with hate crimes on the rise, and divisive populist rhetoric infecting political and public discourse across western democracies, WHITE RIGHT: MEETING THE ENEMY asks why. The film is an urgent, resonant and personal look at race wars in America.

TRAILER:
https://youtu.be/_vZOHaj7l78

WEB PRESENCE:
https://www.wmm.com

A WOMAN’S WORK – USA, 80 min.
by Yu Gu
In partnership with WMM: Women Make Movies

A WOMAN’S WORK is a feature documentary directed by Yu Gu, produced by Elizabeth Ai. Football and feminism collide in this feature documentary that follows class-action lawsuits filed by three former professional cheerleaders brought against their teams.

WEB PRESENCE:
https://www.awomansworkdoc.com/

ZEINAB ON THE SCOOTER – Lebanon, 81 min., Arabic (with English subtitles)
by Dima El-Horr

For a year, filmmaker, Dima El-Horr followed Zeinab, 26, on her scooter, in her professional, family and love life, with a main question in mind: How to be a young Muslim Shia veiled Lebanese woman today, living in the popular neighborhoods of Beirut who wants to assert her individuality in a patriarchal and communitarian society? By displaying her desire for emancipation and freedom, Zeinab manifests not only her singularity but also her contradictions.

=========

And more! Shorts blocks and short documentaries in front of some of the features will be presented.
For a full DocuFest Guide, visit:
https://www.prekindle.com/festival/id/530585115371193241


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