interview answers

Interview Answers

Robbie D Fisher,

Co-Director of the Crossroads Film Festival, Jackson MS

1.     In addition to the mission statement of the Crossroads Film Society, I would ad that the Crossroads Film Festival (CFF) aims to promote independent film for Mississippi and also from a regional standpoint. We provide a place for regional filmmakers to reach an audience and for the filmmakers and audience to engage in dialogue. We also seek to provide quality independent films for the local population, who might not have that otherwise.

2.     I grew up in Mississippi, and I’ve been a filmmaker, director and now producer, for a long time. My first experience with CFF was in submitting films and being screened there. I liked the feel of the festival and enjoyed it a lot, then some friends suggested I get involved volunteering and it’s gone on from there.

¾. The most rewarding aspect of the festival is getting to see the audience react to the films and interact with the filmmakers. The most challenging part is marketing. It can be very hard to promote widely enough.

6. cumulatively, we received several thousand entries this past year. I couldn’t say without researching in the files how many were features and how many were shorts, but many of that number were music videos.

8-12. we accept entries through Withoutabox and Filmfreeway with our requirements posted on those sites, that’s our first filter for pre-screeners. Then we have a screening committee of many volunteers who screen the films over several months either in small groups in people’s homes or online by password. They fill out an online questionnaire for each film after viewing, and the data collected from that informs the selection process. We call for these volunteers over social media, our email list, and many local institutions like the colleges are excited to take part.

13. Our festival is the first weekend of April, so we usually put out our call in early august, with several deadline coming throughout the year.

15. CFF only employs one part time staffer, Michele Baker. Everyone else is a volunteer. We do hope to raise the money to hire on more full time folks in the future.

16. we like to use Quickbooks for our budgeting, and Constant Contact to manage our email list and send out email blasts.

17. We actually just met about this to discuss how to stay visible to the public year round. We’re trying to maintain a strong social media presence. Volunteers prepare press releases about what we’re doing, we’re looking for more print coverage throughout the year. In the past we have used billboards, fliers all over town, print and even TV.

19+23. Most of our funding comes from individuals through membership dues to the Crossroads Film Society. We do offer various packages to festival sponsors which basically amount to different level of visibility on our materials. Usually those are businesses we have a personal connection to and can approach. We also receive a few small grants every now and then from things such as the Mississippi Arts Commission and private companies’ philanthropic foundations.

18+20-22: once selected, the filmmaker receives an email from Michele Baker informing them of their acceptance and of what we need from them now. We invite them all to attend, some do and some don’t. we try to assist in their travel and lodging expenses when budget allows. Once they’re here, we provide vans for local transportation. They have access to everything, events, receptions, screenings, workshops. Folks have a good time, the experience really is what you make of it.

23. Be sure to focus on PR. Marketing and dedicated staff are the two most important things to running a film festival.