Dances With Films founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent join us to discuss the festival’s 25-year anniversary, its history and selection process, and how they keep it a festival for filmmakers, by filmmakers…
In this episode, we talk about…
- What led Michael and Leslee to found the Dances With Films Festival
- Orion’s cease and desist letter and “Festival of the Unknowns”
- Creating a sustainable model by prioritizing film and championing new talent
- Why DWF is held in Los Angeles and respect for the film selection process
- Acknowledging that not all films are good, and why filmmakers need to keep practicing
- Engaging with new filmmakers and preparing them for the industry
- Watching the whole film and looking for the heart when selecting films for DWF
- How all films not chosen receive “pass” letters that include positive comments
- The challenge of DWF’s programming and how it’s evolved over the years
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Author: George Edelman
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