West Chester Film Festival

2013 Award Winning Films

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:10:03 +0000

The 9th West Chester Film Festival wrapped up Sunday night (April 28) with the famed Closing Night Party. The winners of the Best film awards were announced and screened for the appreciative audience. The party was a fantastic way to wrap up a beautiful weekend.

The Winners are:

Best Animation: Abiogenesis
Best Art/Experimental: Blindspot
Best Documentary: Brain Power
Best Drama: Record/Play
Best Comedy: Harry Grows Up
Best Female Filmmaker: Stalled
Best Student Filmmaker: Yana
Best PA Filmmaker: Give Me A Sign
H. Paul Fitzpatrick Audience Choice Award: Mothers of No Tomorrow

Many thanks to all of our participating filmmakers, all of our hard-working volunteers, all of our generous sponsors, and all of the appreciative and enthusiastic audience members. Keep an eye on this site for updates about our 2014 Festival – our 10th!

Welcome to the 2013 West Chester Film Festival

Brenden DiBlassio — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:13:37 +0000

The 2013 West Chester Film Festival invites you to experience an exciting series of films. Mark your calendar for the weekend of April 26-28 and be sure not to miss this year’s line-up of entertaining, enlightening and educational independent films. All of the films are shorts less than 30 minutes and include a wide range of educational Documentaries, plenty of Animated shorts, entertaining Dramas, enlightening Crowd Sourced films, a few Dark Dramas, lots of Comedy and an Experimental journey or two. The films will be shown at the West Chester Armory and the Knights of Columbus and tickets are available at the door or online.

In Genre and with Humor

Our selected Documentary Films tackle themes such as the disappearing family farm, as featured in the 21st Century Farmer by Canadian Filmmaker Rueben Tschetter. For anyone with a vested interest in cutting edge research examining the internet relative to the development of a child’s brain (read: parents) , Brain Power by Tiffany Shlain is not to miss.

Those with a penchant for the darker side of drama might be interested in 82, by London Filmmaker Calum MacDiarmid. In this film, it is the neighborhood postman who begins to unveil the dark side of suburbia. Perhaps you have a deep fear of escaping enclosed spaces? If so you might want to avoid the American premier of Apartment 15, by Italian Filmmaker Mattia Puleo.

Experimental film 30 Miles by American filmmaker Ronnie Cramer takes the viewer on a visual journey across time. Or follow American artist Ana Teresa Fernandez as she takes her viewers on a mythical underwater adventure in Arrastre.

The festival will also present two award-winning crowd sourced films by American director, Tiffany Shlain. A Declaration of Interdependence and Engage both demonstrate the potential for collaborative filmmaking based on user generated content.

Get ready for a dose of Drama as an Ohio native brings a bit of suspense to the typical American breakfast in Dog Bytes. Always the Son by John Frohlich is an Australian film that focuses on the men in the family. Other themes covered this year include finding something in a hotel room by someone famous in Dirty Weekend by Dustin Lane of Australia and many others not to be missed, including a Columbian Drama that explores the magic of photography and mysteries of women in El Invento (The Invention), by Giovanni Granada.

Animated Films include Abiogenesis by Richard Mans of New Zealand, a great film for science-fiction fans. For the kids try Australian student animation Apart, featuring a love story about toys.

There is no shortage of comedy at this year’s festival. Baggage by American Ivan Kander re-imagines the baggage counter as a place to leave emotional issues. Why undergo traditional techniques such as addiction therapy, when we can simply check our emotional baggage at the counter? On the other hand, Customer Service by a trio of Drexel University professors, takes a humorous look at what can go wrong when you try to do the right thing– in this case losing your job– although sometimes there is a happy ending. Dave Packer’s German comedy, The Strange World of Max X. – Office Paperwork includes 3 live action shorts featuring hero “max x” as he faces the sometimes hilarious path to rehabilitation.

With over 60 films on showcase in 2013, film buffs and newcomers alike will want to review the full description of films and presentation schedule available on our website.

Workshops to Bring your Films to Life

We are also pleased to be offering three free workshops this year. The first, presented by Joe Moser, explores the role of the music composer and participants are invited to collaborate in putting music to a short film. Filmmakers James Thompson and Pat Taggart will reveal the secrets to successful filmmaking, while later in the weekend Darragh Dandurand Friedman explores Women’s sexuality in and on Film. Workshop details are available here.

Network, Mingle and be Sure to Vote for your Favorites

The West Chester Film Festival opens on Friday April 26 at 5pm with an Opening Party at the Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant. All are invited to attend and meet the filmmakers, directors, actors and sponsors. There are also two free opportunities to meet the filmmakers at 5:30pm on Saturday April 27 at Pietro’s Prime or throughout the weekend at Fennario’s Coffee & Tobacco. The festival will wrap up with a Closing Night Awards Party at The Note at 6pm on Sunday April 28 featuring an award ceremony with a $500 prize for the best female filmmaker and the West Chester Film Festival Award for the best Animation, Art/Experimental, Drama, Documentary, Comedy, Student and PA Filmmaker. Film Festival participants once again will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite films in the ever-popular H. Paul Fitzpatrick’s People’s Choice award.

2013 Festival Schedule is Available

admin — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 04:10:02 +0000

The 2013 West Chester Film Festival schedule is now online! Plan your weekend now so you don’t miss any of this year’s Official Selections. Then buy your tickets online to make sure you get a seat! We’re screening in two venues this year – The West Chester Armory and the Knights of Columbus, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to watch great short films from around the world!

2013 Official Selections Announced

admin — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:10:42 +0000

The 2013 West Chester Film Festival Official Selections have been announced! We received submissions from talented film makers from around the world. Read about the short films screening at this year’s festival!

2013 Submissions are Now Closed

admin — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:10:00 +0000

Thank you, thank you, to all the filmmakers who submitted. This year, we’ve received the largest number of submissions yet, from filmmakers all over the world. The review process has begun. Acceptance announcements will be made about March 15th, 2013. Good luck to you all!!

Oh, and Happy New Year!

Deadline Extension! – Jan 15

admin — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 05:10:45 +0000

Due to technical difficulties beyond our control, some of our submitters were unable to meet the submission deadlines. In order to accomodate every possible filmmaker for this year, the West Chester Film Festival is extending our final deadline. Our Withoutabox exclusive deadline is now January 15, 2013. Join Withoutabox.com to submit your short film today! Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of our 9th Annual Festival!

Late Deadline is December 31

admin — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 04:10:06 +0000

Last Chance! Even if you missed the Regular Deadline, there is still a little time to submit your film to the 2013 West Chester Film Festival. The Late Deadline is December 31. Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this exciting event!

Visit Withoutabox.com for online submission, or download the 2013 Submission Form and mail it to us.

Questions? Contact the West Chester Film Festival at info@WestChesterFilmFestival.com for more information.

Regular Deadline is November 3

admin — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:10:34 +0000

The Earlybird Deadline just closed and we’ve already received entries from filmmakers all over the world! But there is still time to submit your film to the 2013 West Chester Film Festival. The Regular Deadline is November 3, but don’t wait!

Visit Withoutabox.com for online submission, or download the 2013 entry form and mail it to us.

Questions? Contact the West Chester Film Festival at info@WestChesterFilmFestival.com for more information.

Earlybird Deadline is August 31

admin — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:10:16 +0000

Filmmakers! The Earlybird Deadline for film submissions to the 2013 West Chester Film Festival is August 31. Don’t miss this chance to save some money on entry fees!

Visit Withoutabox.com for online submission, or download the 2013 Submission Form and mail it to us.

Questions? Contact the West Chester Film Festival at info@WestChesterFilmFestival.com for more information.

2013 Call for Entries

admin — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 04:10:20 +0000

The acclaimed West Chester International Short Film Festival will celebrate its ninth year from April 26 – 28, 2013 with an exciting mix of independent short film from both professional and highly regarded amateur filmmakers from all over the United States and Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Australia and of course, from right here in Pennsylvania. The festival will once again span film genres to include animation, comedy, documentary, drama, and experimental/art selections to entertain, provoke and stimulate regional audiences.

Located in the historic town of West Chester in the heart of Chester County, Pennsylvania, the film festival is forty minutes from Philadelphia and thirty minutes from Wilmington, Delaware. Submissions will be juried by a panel of industry professionals and selected based on content, innovation and technical execution. The three day event will include film screenings throughout the downtown area, special film blocks for children and teens, interactive workshops, and social events. The West Chester Film Festival is a premier cultural arts event in the Philadelphia region. Come join us and help us celebrate our 9th year! Welcome to West Chester: Small Town, Big Film!!

Would you like to submit a film? Please use Withoutabox.com for online submission, or download the 2013 Submission Form and mail it to us.