EDIT: So the programmer seems to want to continue lying about not getting materials, despite having acknowledged receipt, changing their story (Now claiming that there was no "suitable" copy, yet how a film that has EIGHT options available, including DCP, MOV, MP4, Pro-Res, etc.) and then being deceitful about it in general. Any festival that cannot own up to its own mistakes should not be trusted. This is now a matter of principle. I will continue to make sure that my statement (Below) is seen and not countered as long as I have to. I've got all day, Alberth,. All. Day.
Original review:
Well, this is awkward. After having been one of only twelve films accepted, one would presume that all twelve of those films would be shown as planned. Unfortunately, that apparently is not what happened. While I was unable to trek halfway around the world to see my film screened in a bistro, (As oppose to... I don't know...A movie theater?) I followed the public posts made by the festival on social media to see how things were progressing. They allegedly (Again, I was not present, so I cannot confirm.) screened on two different days, 9/20 and 9/27 and posted on Facebook as each film was about to screen. Week one, they announced five films, but I was not concerned, as they very easily could have broken them down by time. (My film is only 8 minutes long.) Late on 9/29, I checked their Facebook page to find that they screened five films on day two as well, meaning that two films did not screen. Mine being one, and a delightful Belgian comedy that my film has screened alongside at least five times before. I double checked to make sure that I had sent all of the materials, and I did so on August 10, for which they confirmed receipt. When I finally got a response from them, I was lied to and told that I never sent materials. I sent them on August 10, and in fact, they could not have had the poster if I had not sent them. The fact that they are blaming me for their mistake is completely ridiculous and inappropriate. The same day I sent the materials, I got this response: “Hi Kevin, Many thanks for the Dropbox link we will download all the information. Congratulations once again we are very happy that your film has been selected!
Kind Regards Ayr International Short Film Festival”
So not only are they incompetent, they are liars as well.
I immediately emailed the programmer (And that email was marked as having been read a few hours later, and again three more times over the following day - Thanks, Google Streak!) asking what had happened and why we were not listed as having been screened, but I got no response. I waited more than 24 hours, hoping they would provide a response, but they have still neglected to do so.
Unfortunately, this left me in the position to do the only appropriate thing I could: Let all of you know that this happened. How a tiny festival with so few films to screen could have dropped the ball so obviously; and not just once, but twice, confuses me. That they would read the email asking for answers, yet ignore it, tells me that they knew they screwed up and did not want to own up to it.
I recommend that you DO NOT submit your short film to the Ayr International Short Film Festival, because they clearly cannot manage twelve short films over a two-day span. While it may be cheap, it is not worth your entry fee.
