You know that disheveled, brooding guy who lurks around your favorite caffeine watering hole? Remember how you were slightly impressed when he told you he’d be “showing” at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Did he mention international? Well, stop flirting because New York now has eighteen film festivals to its name, many of which are about as discerning as a sorority girl on Tequila Tuesday. Who wants more salt! Some festivals are vanity projects, an attempt at satiating some director’s ego. Some are drummed up by the local neighborhood organization to add a little cache and legitimacy to overly self-satisfied residents (Brooklyn, I’m looking at you).
Every season submissions pour in from hungry young film students with only a few meriting much notice. The latest one is coming up next week. and, no, I can’t believe you didn’t buy your tickets yet. You’ll be missing out categories like TragiComedy Existential Thriller, Dark Intellectual Film Fatal, Historical Drama Documentary, and Experimental. Really? Because this is basically a rundown of my dating experiences since New Year’s. When do I get my Oscar?