posted 7/27/21:
see the ON DEMAND festival this coming August 7 2021. Pre-sale now. Nearly 8 hours of indie content in three programmes: regular festival, mini-docs, and the genre/horror program Forty After Dark. Rent one two or all!! Price break for the package of three.

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/offf2

LIVE and ON DEMAND

[final special OFFF10 for 10% all categories until final deadline]

This festival welcomes short films and NOW short screenplays of any genre, any language, almost any THING, so long as either the writer, director, cinematographer, editor, or creative producer who will have reached the age of 40 by the event date,

Foreign language films must be subtitled in English, all scripts must be in English.

Webisodes or other episodic content are OK as well as long as something fits in the time restraints. Several episodes strung together to be feature length are acceptable.

And above all show us your heart, your soul, your sweat, your dark shadow-self in your work. No limits (well there are, be we are a tolerant lot with strong stomachs)

By submitting filmmakers are conveying you hold the rights to the film.

NO REFUNDS for any circumstances.

Why are we doing this festival?
I went to film school at the age of 33, even then I felt like the "Old Guy" in class. And time marches on. Many factors dictate success, not the least of which is a competitive and probably well over saturated market, but no doubt age can be a factor. There are programs, internships, festivals, and grants geared toward young filmmakers, but what if you find your passion for film at the age of 33? 38? 45? 72?

We are creating a humble place for you.

DIFFERENCES FROM LAST YEAR
We have relocated our operations to Pittsburgh, Pa. Assuming Covid-19 is under control this is where the live screenings will take place. We will also have the On Demand option as this was a great substitute for the cancelled screenings in 2020 and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Also we have just added short screenplays to the festival.

Be aware that the live fest may not happen due to either an abundance of caution on the Festival's part, or the venue cancelling all live events.

We will ONLY be having short films, as very few features were submitted for 2020. Until further notice this fest will only encompass shorts.

The programmers for the festival LOVE horror and halloween themes, and our Halloween festival was also a victim of Covid-19, thus we will have special category and screening block called Forty After Dark for your crazy, sick, gross, macabre, and grotesque offerings.

We will not be able to offer free tickets to the screening as the venue will be smaller than our planned 2020 venue.

VENUE:
The STUDIO at the Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
300 Beechwood Ave, Carnegie, PA 15106
.
FAQ:

Why are you calling it the OVER Forty Film Fest when you only need to be forty?

-Because when you reach forty, or any other age, you are actually completing your fortieth year. One second after your birthday you are over that age.

Why is the icon for the festival a man's face? Don't you support women in film?

-Of course! Women, Men, trans...whatever you describe yourself in terms of gender or sexuality you are welcome to submit, and no doubt those folks not described in the traditional binary way have some of the most interesting stories. So why a man's face? It was the easiest to design without using an actual face, and was inspired buy the death mask of Agamemnon. Pop that into google to take a look.

Where does the money go?

-Funds garnered through submissions and ticket sales at the event go to pay for the venue, promotional materials, filmmaker awards, and hopefully to seed the next festival we are producing, the Hallows Eve Lower Level Film Festival (check back for details).

Why wasn't I accepted into the festival?

-That is unanswerable. It could be your film really sucked. It could be the judges have poor taste. Most likely it will be because there are so many great films being submitted we have to make hard calls. If you are not selected don't despair; it doesn't (necessarily) mean you aren't a great filmmaker. After all look at all the crap that career producers in Hollywood make.

I see you are a filmmaker. Are any of your works being entered into the festival?

-Absolutely not. Not only is that unethical, but word (especially a bad one) spreads fast. It would be too apparent if I did that and my reputation would be smeared, and rightly so.

Best Narrative Short under 6 minutes: $100
Second: $50
Third: Bragging rights.

Best Narrative Short 6 to 15 minutes: $125
Second: $ 75
Third: Bragging rights.

Best in Forty After Dark: 100
Second: 50
Third: Bragging rights.

Best screenplay in each of the two categories: $50
Second: $25

SATURDAY JUNE 12 A ONE DAY event.
The Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall Studio
300 Beechwood Ave, Carnegie, PA 15106

One of the following members of the filmmaking team must be forty years old by festival date: Cinematographer, Writer, Producer, or Director. Everyone else in the cast or crew can be any age. EXCEPT for our trailers category, no restrictions.

Foreign language films must have English subtitles.

No distribution requirements, if you have a deal in place you are still welcome to submit.

SUBMISSION FORMAT: upload to your project page or provide a link.

EXHIBITION FORMAT: .mov file on a USB drive preferred. Festival director will ask for a USB drive to be physically mailed in preparation for the event. It will be returned if you'd like it back, in person at festival or USPS. If you attend in person, please bring a backup just in case.

Festival reserves the right to hold online ON DEMAND screenings only.

NO REFUNDS.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Excellent online film festival-great communication and quality films. I was happy to be selected!

    February 2022
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    They you Sarah! We did our best in these trying times when we initially envisioned live events. Your film was amazing!

  • Stephen Coltrane

    It's important to encourage young people, but many of us came to filmmaking later in life and it's so good that this festival is around for people like us. Communication was constantly excellent and enthusiastic. Despite there not being a physical festival because of Covid we felt welcomed and very much part of the party. We were thrilled to get the second prize in the 'Forty After Dark' category. One small observation: it was a bit difficult to follow the full programme online, with all the films in each section in one long video; but maybe this was the only way to do it at short notice. We will definitely submit again! Thank you.

    August 2021
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you! Yes, when we set up the on demand we wanted to keep prices as low as possible while giving all filmmakers exposure. While some online fests had individual videos to rent we decided to keep a proper curation as if it were a live fest. In retrospect a guide of time points where each film began would have been helpful for audiences. Definitely will integrate that next time. Thank you!!

  • Fanis Topsachalidis

    Great communication and quick response in every request that we had. Keep the good work and be sure that all the filmmakers will appreciate it! Our greetings from Greece!

    July 2021
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    thank you! We try our best. please spread the word for the On Demand fest on 8/7/2021 pre-sale now!
    https://vimeo.com/ondemand/offf2

  • Extraordinary communication. We were informed of everything happening along the way.
    Delighted that our short Lola Does Manhattan was selected to be screened. Love that this festival honors filmmakers over 40. Much needed. Will be submitting new material next year.

    June 2021
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Eve. LOLA deserves a wide audience. Fantastic idea for a comedy series, HBO anyone!!!!???

  • Can't thank Mike enough. We LOVE this festival! I'm looking forward to submitting again next year.

    June 2020