Smartphone Filmmakers Shine in San Diego
San Diego, California Rolls Out The Red Carpet for Mobile Filmmakers
Filmmakers from all over the world join a global filmmaking community in person and online with the first in-person international film festival for only movies shot with mobile phones.
The International Mobile Film Festival in San Diego, branded as International Mobil Film Festival™, takes place during the last weekend in April each year. This year, it celebrates its 13th Edition with new members from the community and past members. Filmmakers who shoot films using smartphone cameras are independent filmmakers.
Since the festival launched in the Spring 2009, it’s been advocating for all humans to make movies using the phone camera in their pocket.
Founder Susy Botello has been an ardent and persistent advocate for the advance of storytelling through film. Of course, not every storyteller can invest in a camera, something a lot of independent filmmakers have access to.
“We are not excluding indie filmmakers who use other cameras. That’s because everyone has access to a mobile phone camera. What we advocate for is for recognizing and respecting the people behind good films just as any other filmmaker. Said festival founder and director, Susy Botello.
Back in 2009, the festival aimed to prove the vision of a future where the smartphone cameras are today, and where they will be in the future. Today, it’s a lot easier to convince people using a smartphone camera is a viable option for independent filmmakers.
The end result for independent filmmakers is the same no matter what camera they use.
“Now that distributors are acquiring films shot with smartphones, it’s easy to see how the mobile filmmaking industry has reached a plateau within this niche.” Susy said.
There are films on Amazon, TUBI and other major streaming services. Mobile films are listed along with Hollywood studio films.
Perhaps the most ardent proof of how far the mobile filmmaking industry has come, comes from Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max with log capture. Blackmagic Design’s Blackmagic Camera App, which launched its free app in direct competition with the pioneer camera app Filmic Pro.
But in the end, it’s about films. It’s about the people behind the camera, whether it’s a smartphone or a traditional filmmaking camera.
Simplifying the learning curve to operate a camera enables storytellers to gain experience that improves their filmmaking skills above and beyond what many filmmakers in the broader industry believe.
“If you are making a movie with any camera, you want to move someone with a story. You want to create something that people will talk about. Something memorable and then, you want to do it again—better.”
This year is the 13th edition of this annual film festival. It’s one of the toughest film festivals of this kind to get accepted. The criteria to be selected is detailed on the website. The only mobile “device” it accepts is mobile phones. There are time limits and format standards, and no vertical videos. Audio quality and resolution limits as well.
If you are a serious filmmaker, and you are making movies with your phone, you will most likely be selected if you meet all the criteria. That’s because the films that are selected screen in its live in-person film festival. IMFF has a limit on the number of films it can select because it takes into consideration the festival program and schedule. The festival presents an intimate experience for attendees to inspire each other.
The festival Kick Off Meet and Greet begins at 4PM with food and drinks at the Aquarius Bar and Grille on the marina by the bay, steps from the festival venue at Marina Village. Participants meet and network, and they are encouraged to support each other during the following Saturday and Sunday, April 27 & 28.
IMFF ends with a Red Carpet Extravaganza with the Science Fiction Coalition cosplay group and Dude Vader followed by the Awards Ceremony.
The full program schedule will be released to the public March 22. You can get a Sneak Peek today.
IMFF 2024 brings the fantastic team Art School Dropouts’ Joey Min and Stephanie Pham to present a “Smartphone Action Filmmaking Workshop.” They are flying in from New Jersey and plan to attend the entire three days.
You can peruse through all the films that will screen at the festival now.
Tickets will be available soon. Space is limited. Get more details on the website.
The red carpet is in your pocket™
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© 2024 S. Botello Productions™. All rights reserved.