All too often independent filmmakers live on a steady diet of “No” so when someone says “Yes” and especially if it’s putting money where your mouth is, it is a real treat.  At the Hamptons International Film Festival funding sources for filmmakers came from surprising directions and provided much needed light at the end of a dark financial tunnel.

Bloomingdales made a creative and bold marketing move by commissioning five up and coming filmmakers to make short films which it showcases not only on its website www.bloomingdales.com/bflix but in special screening rooms in stores as part of its Lights, Camera, Fashion campaign.  Working with Young Indies Films’ Rose Ganguzza and Deborah Schonfeld to identify new, innovative voices in film, Bloomingdales funded five short films which screened at the festival: My Adventures in Ladies Undergarments, 4^th Floor directed by Antonio Campos; The Love Game directed by Andrew Hunt; Recession Special directed by Emily Abt; Tall Enough directed by Barry Jenkins; and Tea For Three directed by Amy Redford.

In a panel following the filmmakers expressed gratitude for not only the funding but the creative freedom.  “It was incredibly brilliant of Bloomingdales to give us a blank canvas,” stated New Zealander Andrew Hunt.  While the filmmakers had access to Bloomingdales for their wardrobe needs, Antonio Campos chose to use the store itself for his utterly charming film about a young boy’s relationship with an Agent Provocateur mannequin.

After funding, the flip side of the gold coin in independent filmmaking is distribution and with their nationwide campaign both in stores and on their website, Bloomingdales has exposed these films to millions of viewers who also vote on their favorite.  For the store, its brand in turn gets exposure to a young audience in what panel moderator John Sloss calls, “A more ambient way to advertise,” and becomes a supporter of the creative arts.

 

A ten year supporter of the Hamptons International Film Festival is The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation which seeks out film projects which explore science and technology themes in fresh, innovative ways and depict scientists and engineers in realistic and compelling fashion.  Through Program Director Doron Weber they grant not only an annual $25,000 cash prize, this year to Agora by Director Alejandro Amenabar, but sponsor the Hamptons Screenplay Lab which invites writers to bring their scripts to be mentored by industry professionals. 

The festival also presented a screenplay reading of two of its scripts: Charm School For Primates by Karen Odyniec and The Transformation by Kirk Davis and Sam Sloves, directed by Jay Anania and cast by Amy Devra Gossels.  Doron Weber also presented a production award of $37,500 to two films in progress.  One is Face Value by Jose Rivera and Gretchen Somerfield with director Amy Redford and Rachel Weisz set to play Hedy Lamarr when she was developing what we now know as wireless technology.  The other is Zeroes and Ones from writer/director Avi Zev Weider with Anne Hubbell and Amy Hobby producing.  “In creating an intelligent machine out of discarded computer parts, a young woman uncovers her grandmother’s long-buried secret of survival from Auschwitz, and finds a release from her own obsessive behavior.”  For any writer considering a story which deals with science and technology this is an incredible source of support.

 

Receiving the RoC Gold Standard in Filmmaking Award for A Female Feature Director this year was Cheryl Hines for directing Serious Moonlight.  The award is given by RoC skincare line along with $5,000 for the director’s upcoming film projects so she can continue to enlighten audiences with her work.  The script was written by Adrienne Shelly and produced by her husband Andy Ostroy who has started a foundation in her name after her tragic death to support women actors, writers, and directors who are pursuing their filmmaking dreams as did Adrienne.  Cheryl Hines commented at the ceremony where she received the RoC Award how great it was to get women behind the camera, “It’s so exciting to see the ladies rise up.”  The Adrienne Shelley Foundation works in conjunction with different film schools and film entities to provide grants, scholarships, awards, and master classes to aid in the advancement of women filmmakers.

And of course, all the Golden Starfish Awards from the festival itself come with either prize money or goods and services which support all areas of filmmaking, making it one of the most coveted festivals for filmmakers.