Stories and Filmmaking in 2024
There is something we all need to do if we’re looking for stories to tell.
It’s been a long year but today, it seems like it was short since we leave it behind tomorrow. But wait, there’s something important to do first!
Everyone who submitted a film into our film festival should know how much we appreciate you. Everyone who has ever participated in some way, supported or attended our film festival in San Diego…we look forward to the new year!
January 13th is the final extended deadline to submit a short film to the Short Film Competition (3-10 minutes) and The Rookie contest (1-5 minutes) to be included in our 13th edition in San Diego April 26-28, 2024.
What we do now that 2024 is approaching begins at this very moment.
When we are looking for story ideas we often go out hunting for them. We use our imagination, locations we visit, our own experiences, or we look at the stories others have told and see if we can share them with a twist and a different angle.
Today, though, take time to reflect on the stories people shared with you in 2023. If you remember them, that means they connected with you. Just think of all the people you met or spoke to and the stories they shared with you.
The consequence our storytelling is human connection.
Storytellers work really hard to come up with stories that connect to their audience. But sometimes, we’re really overthinking it. Listening to the stories strangers share with you can give you an insight into the success of their stories, if you connect with them.
Try to separate the stories from the teller if you have no connection to the storyteller.
Many of us easily ignore those we don’t have a connection to and when we do that, we don’t listen to their stories. The magic storytelling is that connection that happens between us humans. And it’s very unique to humans and has been forever.
To ignore other people’s stories as your own movie story ideas is walking over opportunities.
You don’t want to steal stories. You want to retell them as films.
In the filmmaking industry, there are many stories retold with different characters, different settings and locations, different times…take, for example, Romeo and Juliet and Titanic by James Cameron. Both of these are one and the same story told by different storytellers.
Over the next couple days before 2023 ends, just take the time to reflect on all the stories someone told you, their experiences, and make a list.
In 2024, select one story to write a screenplay and tell it using your smartphone camera. We’d love to see it and hopefully get it into the 14th edition of IMFF in San Diego in April 2025!
Mark the dates to attend our film festival and meet the incredible filmmakers who’ll be participating. We’re working on selecting the films right now. You’ll soon be receiving emails from us and once all is confirmed with each one we intend to select, we’ll be notifying you in an email and on FilmFreeway.
Wishing you all peace and prosperity in 2024.