On September 9th we performed at a film and music festival in Fort Collins called Horsetooth Fest. Our film screened the night before in the comedy block, and the next day during the music block.
This was the first film festival we were included in and the second music festival we've ever played so we were all excited to participate. I had low expectations for my film at the festival. The Session was a very low-budget film produced by a 2 person crew, I didn't think it had any shots of winning any awards, I was just happy that it was included.
The day after the festival Andrea got a text from our friend Isadore Eden congratulating us on winning best comedy. We were obviously very surprised, but apparently they announced it at the awards ceremony. I was pretty upset that no one gave me a hint to go to the awards ceremony. After 2 days of driving back and forth to Fort Collins I didn't think it would be worth it to go again for the awards ceremony.
After finding out that we won Best Comedy I awaited some communication from festival organizers Jesse Nyander and John Hunt. After hearing nothing from them I asked them about the award, if there were any prizes, if there was a trophy, and if they had laurels. Winning Best Comedy for my first ever film is a huge accolade, I rightfully wanted to boast about it and use it to apply to more film fests and music fests.
After several days of no response I followed up, this time also asking about payment for our musical performance. We had 50% of ticket sales, and a minimum guarantee of $50/bandmember. I would not have performed at this festival without that guarantee.
Weeks later, I finally received an email from the official Horsetooth Fest explaining payment delays. Essentially, they didn't have the money and claimed that they didn't know about the $50/minimum. They stated that they would need time to "raise funds".
Still didn't hear back about my award. I had accepted that we would probably never get paid for this festival, but I did at least want my award. I paid $27 to submit my film, I wanted that d*** award.
I sent them another email, to the official HF5 email which they asked all communication be directed to, and still no response.
As I've thought more about this and talked to other people who got roped up in this festival the more angry I've become. This festival should have never happened. They failed to promote it, failed to sell tickets, and knew well before the event started that they wouldn't be able to pay any of the bands that they booked. Just a week before the festival the ticket link they were promoting was directing people to the home-page of ChatGPT. After the festival and they knew that they still couldn't pay anyone they waited weeks to explain that they didn't have the money. And through all of this they haven't returned a single one of my emails asking about my d*** award.
F*** Horsetooth Fest. I hope it never happens again, and I hope Jesse and John are exposed and never run an event again. There are other people involved that are owed a lot more money than I am.
