A Panel Discussion
Sunday March 7 2010, 2:00-3:00 PM
Hosted by Connie Mangilin
Mitten Movie Project Curator
Panelists include: Mike Madigan, Robert Joseph Butler, Chuck Grady & Suzanne Janik

Connie Mangilin hosts a panel on the strategies, pitfalls and politics of film festivals. This film festival panel will take place at the Burton Theatre (3420 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201) on Sunday, March 7, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the Detroit Independent Film Festival.

This is a free panel with purchase of ticket ($5) for “Official Rejection,” a documentary feature following the exploits of a group of filmmakers as they take their independent feature, “Ten “til Noon” along the film festival circuit. “Official Rejection” will screen at 12:15 p.m. on March 7th at the Burton Theatre with the panel discussion to follow immediately afterwards.

Panel topics include:

 How to avoid being rejected by film festivals (what to do in preproduction) – 
By Connie Mangilin
 Which festivals to submit to – By Mike Madigan
 Getting into festivals – By Mike Madigan & Robert Joseph Butler
 What to do when there (how to make the most of the experience) – By Mike Madigan & Chuck Grady
 How to run a film festival – By Connie Mangilin & Suzanne Janik

Local film fest veterans Mike Madigan, Robert Joseph Butler, and Chuck Grady give helpful insights into how to wisely choose which film festivals to submit to, how to make the most of your time and money when submitting to film fests, having realistic expectations going in, and what to bring, who to talk to, and where to find these people when at film festivals.

Film festival organizers, Connie Mangilin (Mitten Movie Project) and Suzanne Janik (Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival, Ferndale Film Festival), lay out the do’s and don’ts of running film festivals, including how to get submissions, how to market your festival, and how to set up festival rules and procedures.

For more information:

Detroit Independent Film Festival • www.detroitindiefest.com
Mitten Movie Project • www.facebook.com/mittenmovieproject
Official Rejection • www.officialrejectiondocumentary.com
Burton Theatre • www.burtontheatre.com