I’ve never submitted a film of mine to the New Hampshire Film Expo. Most filmmakers whom I’ve worked with are well aware of my long-standing view regarding this festival and others similar to it. I do support film festivals which concentrate on screening short films as, without a film festival, it is often difficult to find an outlet or venue who will screen a short film. Likewise, I support film festivals which have a particular niche or focus (silent films, international films, comedy films, etc.).

However, in my opinion, a film festival such as the New Hampshire Film Expo which attempts to be all things to all people, does a major disservice to both area filmgoers and filmmakers and should immediately be cancelled. In a recent article in the Portsmouth Herald, the Expo’s director Nicole Gregg states that the goal of the festival is “to become another Sundance or Cannes” while somehow simultaneously working towards “developing professional filmmakers in the state”. Unfortunately, Gregg’s politically-charged soundbite holds no weight. While she and other festival’s organizers were quoted as being ecstatic that 3,500 filmgoers attended the four-day festival in Portsmouth, the truth is that in 2005 the Sundance Film Festival drew more than 46,000 filmgoers (not to mention the astounding world press/attention it consistently receives). And Cannes routinely draws more than 10,000 industry professionals to its Market/Festival along with close to a 100,000 filmgoers. So it’s safe to say that any long-term aspirations to becoming another Sundance or Cannes are ludicrous, not to mention greatly deceiving to the public. As for the second part of Gregg’s quote regarding “developing professional filmmakers in the state” I honestly have no idea as to how this festival could be of any assistance to me or any other in-state filmmaker. I’ve seen what they have to offer and I’ll pass. Gregg’s quote should never had made it into print had the reporter done his research and interviewed state filmmakers not affiliated with the festival.

Until New Hampshire has an active feature-length film scene with in-state filmmakers producing, screening and selling their own features on a regular basis staging a film festival (especially one like the Expo which constantly boasts that it’s a valuable resource for in-state filmmakers) is deceitful to both the public and filmmakers (ala having a birthday party before baking the cake). The Expo does an effective job of seducing the inexperienced filmmaker who believes that he or she can’t rent their own theatre or sell their own DVD. The Expo promises filmmakers that, by either submitting their works or attending the four-day networking event, that their rolodex’s will soon be overflowing with valuable industry contacts who’ll greatly aid their career. Perhaps the Portsmouth Herald should conduct interviews with filmmakers from past festivals to see how much their careers have advanced because of the New Hampshire Film Expo – I’d be curious to read that article.

Throw in for good measure a festival with a bloated budget ($75,000), one ethically-challenged and incompetent media sponsor (The Wire) and a board/selection committee infested with conflicts of interest and you get the picture. Several names and sponsors overlap – in fact, last year’s festival incredibly screened a film in competition produced by none other than a board member/state official while this year’s festival had a juror member, a board member and an in-competition documentary all affiliated with the same film. Mmm…

Feature-length filmmaking is comparable to any other field in that the craft takes long hours and hard work to achieve results. True independent filmmaking demands that the producers place their own necks on the chopping block. That is, drive your work directly to the public and challenge them to either accept or refuse your work based completely on merit. An approach we’ve completed twice – in 1997 with Old Man Dogs and in 2005 with Dangerous Crosswinds. I urge other New Hampshire filmmakers who have produced features to resist the temptation of being associated with this dubious film festival and instead schedule your film for numerous screenings in the area. In self-financing your own screening you will be as independent as you were when you were creating your work. In doing so, you’ll achieve far more gratification and your integrity will be kept intact. Only when this practice becomes commonplace will there be a healthy and honest film environment in New Hampshire.