Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Hosts 35th Annual Film Festival

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — Driven, spirited and diverse voices make up the 2022 Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, an event that has elevated the stories of women and others often unheard or unseen through film for 35 years.

On November 11th-13th, 2022, the longest-running women’s film festival in North America will host the 35th annual Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, once again making us laugh, cry and question what we thought we knew. Forty-one films will be screened over the three-day festival. A sampling of selections include:

●       Battleground, directed by Colorado College graduate Cynthia Lowen, presents a timely window into the intersection of abortion and politics in America, following three women who lead formidable anti-abortion organizations to witness the influence they wield.

●       Being Michelle, a film that raises awareness around the disproportionate impact of incarceration and systemic discrimination on deaf/disabled people.

●        The Flagmakers, co-directed by Sharon Liese and Oscar-winner Cynthia Wade, is a behind-the-scenes look at the largest American flag factory in the United States where a tight-knit team of diverse refugees and immigrants from twelve nations cut, sew and ship 5 million American flags a year. This is Cynthia’s 7th screening at the Festival, the most of any one filmmaker.

Since inception, RMWFF has screened nearly 1000 films, hosted more than 250 filmmakers, and served an audience of tens of thousands. The Festival is the longest running women’s film festival in the Western Hemisphere.

“We’re so proud of this year’s lineup, the incredible filmmakers that will be represented, and stories that will be shared.” said Linda Broker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film.

“Listening to another perspective matters now more than ever. It’s an honor to do this work and we believe people will leave this festival a little different than they came in.”

The festival will be returning to Colorado College after a two-year hiatus. Screenings will take place in the Cornerstone Arts Center, Kathryn Morhman Theatre, and Packard Hall.  A variety of pass options are available to fit various schedules and budgets. 

●       Full Festival Pass (Friday-Sunday): $140

●       Double Day Pass (Saturday and Sunday before 6:00pm): $100

●       Flex Five: $70

●       Single Day Tickets $55

●       Single Block Tickets (only available 10 minutes in advance of screening, subject to availability): $15

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival will offer a Virtual Encore November 17-20th.

About RMWF

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film builds community around film, elevating the stories of women and others who are often unheard or unseen. The organization seeks to discover, support, connect and inspire filmmakers, while cultivating connection and conversation around their work.

Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media Showcases New Developments in the Film Industry

Kennedy Pugh opens the Mindful Awareness Festival Awards Ceremony at Watertower Place on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

On Saturday, June 11, 2002 Kennedy Pugh and the Rocky Mountain Creative Experience celebrated the conclusion of the Mindful Awareness Festival 2022 with a special presentation by the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) and the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

Acting Pueblo Regional Film Commissioner Gregory Howell welcomed the attendees with an introduction to Hasti Soltani who is the Program Manager of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM). Soltani’s complete slide presentation is included below along with a list of resources that were shared during the Q & A portion of the presentation.

Presentation by Hasti Soltani, Program Manager of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) Hasti Soltani - OEDIT <hasti.soltani@state.co.us>

COFTM Program Manager Soltani also provided the attendees with a list of networking opportunities and resources to help navigate the current landscape of the film industry in Colorado.

Professional groups and networking opportunities:

Colorado Film and Video Association (CFVA)

Women in Film and Media Colorado (WIFMCO)

Industry Facebook groups:

F.I.N.D Film Industry Networking Denver

C.R.E.W. Colorado Resources for Entertainment Workers.

Resources on the COFTM website:

How to Find a Film Job in Colorado

Colorado Film Partners

eSports:

Game On! eSports Colorado documentary

Panel discussion

Other OEDIT resources:

Colorado Creative Industries and all of their programs and funding opportunities

All of OEDIT's programs and funding opportunities- for folks with small businesses, there may be something applicable here

Leeds Business School Economic Outlook

Colorado Economic Business Outlook 2022- our section starts on page 60

If attendees have any additional questions or are looking for other resources, feel free to reach out to Hasti Soltani directly at hasti.soltani@state.colorado.us or the general film office email at film@state.co.us.

introduction to creative incubator cine fe

On behalf of Executive Director John Van Wyck, Commissioner Howell introduced Cine Fe which is the powerful creative incubator for Colorado filmmakers, committed to identifying and supporting underrepresented voices. Here is what they do:

John Van Wyck

Co-Founder and Executive Director

• Cine Fe is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Colorado filmmakers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

• They work one-on-one with filmmakers from across the state, providing mentorship and consultation to help filmmakers make their best work and build their careers.

• Cine Fe also conducts research and advocacy for Colorado filmmaking, and this year will be releasing the findings of a three-year study that was commissioned by Colorado Creative Industries and Denver Arts & Venues, with assistance from the Colorado Office of Film, Television, and Media and Colorado State University.

• Cine Fe is run by John Van Wyck (pron: WIKE) who has over a decade of experience in the film industry as a Creative Executive, and who was involved in such films such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Sorry to Bother You, and The Florida Project, prior to founding Cine Fe.

PUEBLO FILM CREW AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Commissioner Howell also announced the creation of the new Pueblo Film Crew and Support Services Directory which aims to help Pueblo County’s regional film industry workforce showcase their skills and services to producers who are considering filming here. There is no cost for cast, crew, and support services to register in the directory. We encourage all industry professionals including pre-production resources, production staff and technical crew, producers and production companies, equipment and stages, post production facilities, and support services to register.

The listing will take about 10 minutes to complete. You will not need to register to browse the directory. We plan to publish the online directory in August 2022. Below is a sampling of the crew and support services job titles that will be in the database.

CREW

You are likely crew if you are on the production’s payroll. Crew includes:

• art department

• camera

• casting

• construction

• costume

• directors

• editors

• make-up

• location managers

• sound

• special effects

SUPPORT SERVICES

Support services are mainly vendors including:

• accommodations

• catering services

• equipment

• rentals

• legal

• production companies

• prop rentals

• security

• talent management

• transportation

Kennedy Pugh and Colorado Arts & Artists Associates Showcase the Mindful Awareness Festival in Pueblo on June 10 and 11, 2022

This summer, the creative community of Pueblo, Colorado and beyond will present the Rocky Mountain Creative Experience featuring music, film, theater, culinary arts, visual/digital arts, & health and business, with the goal of empowering those who create!

Hoping to inspire and educate about the importance of mental health, the Mindful Awareness Short Film Festival on June 10 & 11 at Blo Back Gallery hopes to explore critical conversations through visual media. Whatever story you have to share deserves to be seen at this illuminating short film fest, which will culminate in an exciting awards ceremony on June 11 at Watertower Place.

Friday, June 10, 2022 - Saturday, June 11, 2022

---

Click Through the Daily Program

Are you ready for the close-up? Be sure you are listed in the Colorado Film Crew and Support Services Directory

“Reel-Scout brings best practices to the business of recruiting and attracting productions.”

— Pueblo Regional Film Commission

Colorado Film Crew and Support Services Directory

The Colorado Film Crew and Support Services Directory helps our state's film industry workforce showcase their skills and services to producers who are considering filming here. There is no cost for Colorado-based cast, crew, and support services to register in the directory. We encourage all industry professionals including pre-production resources, production staff and technical crew, producers and production companies, equipment and stages, post production facilities, and support services to register.

The listing typically takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete. The Colorado Film Location Directory is on the Reel Scout platform, which in-state and out-of-state filmmakers use to find locations, crew, and support services for their Colorado-based productions.

You do not need to register to browse the directory. Check out the two directories below featuring both Crew and Support Services listings. Once you have a better understanding of the listing categories we encourage you to register, if you have not already done so. If you are listed, be sure that all the information is accurate and up to date. The Pueblo Regional Film Commission will be monitoring the database to help share our robust human resources to those interested in film and content creation in Pueblo, Colorado.

Register Now

To register in the directory, you need to have:

• a Colorado address

• a least three paid, verifiable, professional media industry job credits in film, television, commercial, animation, or video games

We support two different listing types: CREW and SUPPORT SERVICES.

Crew

You are likely crew if you are on the production’s payroll. Crew includes:

• art department

• camera

• casting

• construction

• costume

• directors

• editors

• make-up

• location managers

• sound

• special effects

Support Services

Support services are mainly vendors including:

• accommodations

• catering services

• equipment

• rentals

• legal

• production companies

• prop rentals

• security

• talent management

• transportation

How to Submit a New Listing

You will need to visit the directory to start your listing.

When you start your registration, you need to choose your listing type as either CREW or SUPPORT SERVICES. This choice may not be changed at a later date. If you choose the wrong category, an admin will have to delete your account so you can start over and create another account. If you aren’t sure whether to list your service as crew or support services, browse existing listings to see which category reflects what you do.

Seven days business days after you click submit, you will find your listing under CREW or SUPPORT SERVICES. You can log in to your account to update your credits and contact information.

Support Services Listing

The support services listing asks for your:

• contact information

• business name

• service positions

• verifiable credits

• links to portfolio or IMDB page

Crew Listing

The crew listing asks for your:

• contact information

• business name

• crew positions

• list of skills and relevant experience

• verifiable credits

• links to either portfolio, IMDB page, and/or business website

• industry affiliations (union affiliations, license numbers)

Under categories and credits, you can include a limited number of your past productions and the roles you played on each of them. You also have the option to upload files, including a resume, bio, headshot, company logo, or other relevant documents.

Got Questions?

In Our Next News Post We Will Focus on How to List Your Location

GET NOTICED BY FILM INDUSTRY

As the largest and deepest location gallery on the market, LocationsHub is the first place filmmakers go to for scouting locations. List with LocationsHub gets your property in front of the entertainment industry easily and quickly.

PROFITABLE RENTAL INCOME

Set your own rate and keep 100% of the income. There's no commission fee for LocationsHub. The daily rate for renting your property for filming is approximately the property's monthly mortgage. Location, production schedule and size may also affect how much your property can earn.

Students take virtual center stage at The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High with their new original musical ‘Disaster Monthly’

Students take virtual center stage at The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High with their new original musical 'Disaster Monthly'.

Pueblo, CO, October 12, 2020 – As part of The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High’s (TAAPCH) commitment to keeping the Arts alive, even during the time of a global pandemic, Disaster Monthly was written and performed by the students under the direction of Kennedy Pugh. To celebrate the completion of this masterful  production from the eyes of the students, The Arts Academy hosted a Virtual Premiere online for students, faculty, staff, and the general public on Friday, October 16, 2020 at 7:00 pm (Mountain Time). The Premiere Event included a live welcome at the beginning of the broadcast and the evening  concluded with a brief Q&A session. To view the Zoom Q & A use passcode: OG%J7XM9

According to Kennedy Pugh, Artist in Residence and Teaching Artist Coordinator, “this opportunity with these students reminded me of the importance of the Arts in our formation of a human race! The Arts are an integral need!” Disaster Monthly offers an unflinching, intimate glimpse into the world of a high school student during the time of a global pandemic. When the students learned that their beloved spring musical was cancelled due to Covid-19,  they decided that the ‘show must go on’. What transpired over a very short period of time with many deadlines along the way is short of an entertainment miracle. The cast ensemble includes Joy Lopez, Alexandria Shrum, Chloe Vanevera, Bryana Lark, Gavin Grant, and Mark Gomez. The cast was assisted  by three entertainment industry professionals, Ed Chapman, Kate Chapman, and Mary Ann Ivan, who have decades of experience working with some of the very best on many of the most famous theater productions ever to hit audiences. 

 “Just when we thought there was no opportunity to produce or perform when COVID-19 shut down our beautiful spring musical in March, Disaster Monthly made its way and The Show Must Go On! ,” says Roxanne Pignanelli, the Founding Director of The Academy. “Theater is the most collaborative of all art forms and the ancestor to entertainment. The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High is dedicated to keeping the work alive and this amazing project written and performed by students under the direction of Kennedy Pugh is a living testament to our commitment to Arts in education!,” says Roxanne, the director of this production.

The Arts Academy’ now has a  ‘Growing the Arts’ tab on the TAAPCH website which is exclusively dedicated to Disaster Monthly. This page includes the official film trailer, conversations with the cast, and full biographies of the industry professionals who served as Teaching Artists (https://www.taapch.org/disaster-monthly).

CONTACT: Kennedy Pugh, Artist in Residence / Teaching Artist Coordinator

The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High (TAAPCH)

(303) 489-1982 • kpugh@district70.org

Website https://www.taapch.org/disaster-monthly

Premiere Link on YouTube https://youtu.be/FShnYyRss0Y

Download the Press Release

---

About The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High (TAAPCH)

The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High is a first for the region. It is an innovation 14 years in the making, an educational institution dedicated solely to all aspects of the performing arts. The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High "TAAPCH",  offers the first of its kind career track arts instruction in the performing arts (Dance, Music, Band, Theater Arts and Technical Stagecraft). All disciplines will include college prep and industry training. This professional arrangement allows the students of The Arts Academy a greater range of high school experiences and elective course choices while maintaining the educational philosophy, rigorous curriculum, and small school field training experience. Housed at Pueblo County High School, courses will be in the newly constructed ‘Arts Corridor’, a bond initiative of 2015, with state-of-the-art facilities. College credit is available for many of the courses and the certificate of completion for higher education and vocational pursuits will be awarded to full Academy students. All faculty members will be required to have spent significant time in the professional entertainment industry as well as being licensed as a certified teacher in the State of Colorado. This will provide students with a learning opportunity from instructors that can impart the "real world" application of the techniques and studies that they are receiving at the Academy. The considerably unique addition to the Academy is the inclusion of the "teaching artist and clinicians". Professionals from all disciplines offered at the Academy will be scheduled to teach workshops, on a monthly basis, to enhance the instructions with extraordinary presentations from dance, music, theater, technical theater, digital music, instrumental music and performance presentation. Certain workshops will be open to the public (for a small fee) and filmed for a library of digital instruction.

#

48 Hour Film Festival Themes to be Announced on October 23, 2020

48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL IS RESCHEDULED AND THE THEMES WILL BE ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC ON OCTOBER 23, 2020

The Pueblo 48 Hour Film Festival invites filmmakers and creative teams to shoot, edit and submit a film within 48 hours. Our judging panel, consisting of industry professionals, will evaluate the submitted films the week before the festival. The short films that receive the highest scores will be screened during the LIVE stream Awards Ceremony. Audience members will also vote on their favorite film during the main event and the People's Choice winner will be announced with all other category winners at the end of the evening.

You may register HERE.

RULES

1. Thematic elements such as a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue will be announced on Oct. 23.  All elements must be incorporated for the film to be judged.

2. All submissions must be an original film created in the allotted 48-hour time frame between Oct 23-25.  Any creative work in advance of the competition is prohibited.  No films or film segments created for other projects may be submitted.  Animation and special effects are allowed, but must be created during the official 48-hour time frame.

3. The only work to begin prior to the Official Time Period is: organizing crew, organizing cast, securing equipment and scouting/securing locations.

4. All films must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and submitted by sending the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org.  No hard copies, jump drives or discs will be accepted.

5. Any type of filming equipment and/or cameras may be used.  Multiple cameras are permitted.

6. Any stock photos or music used in the film must be original or the team must acquire rights for use.

7. Films must be no longer than 6 minutes and 30 seconds (including credits).

EVENTS

Thematic Elements Reveal Party: October 23. LIVEstream from PCCLD's YouTube or Facebook pages.

Come find out what the required thematic elements will be for the 2020 Pueblo 48-Hour Film Festival! 

Film Submission Deadline: October 25

All films must be submitted by October 25. Please upload your film to YouTube or Vimeo and share the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org

Red Carpet Screening and Awards: October 30, LIVE stream.

Join us for the screening of this year’s 48-Hour Film Festival submissions and submit your vote for the 2020 People’s Choice Award!  The film screening will be followed by an awards ceremony to recognize the work of filmmakers of all ages and skill levels.  Co-sponsored by the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

WORKSHOPS

October 21, 2020 LIVE 6:00 pm

Editing 101: Setting yourself up for success 

A seasoned editor explains how to set up your file system and editing software in advance, and coordinate with your cinematographer and composer. When footage and sound arrive, you won’t have to waste time, and you’ll be ready to dig in and start editing!

Led by cinematographer and editor Adrian Montgomery, who just finished editing a feature-length documentary that he recorded all the video and sound for, in 9 interviews around the country. Adrian participated in a 48HFP in Denver a couple of years ago, so will offer his top tips on what to make sure to do, as well as what to watch out for.  

Pueblo Filmmakers Premiere New Productions to the Local Community in October

Voyage of the Chimera

His family on the brink of ruin, young aristocrat Marcus DeVol takes command of the destroyer/escort starship Chimera in a last attempt to restore his status by running down pirates and blacklisted vessels for prize money. It's a "safe" job by military standards, but a change of orders just before cast-off will send Marcus and his crew far from home and into very real danger.

Marcus has few illusions about his purchased commission. An academic, he is untested as a leader of men, and his curious mix of officers and crew regard him with a wary eye. Like Chimera herself, they've been pieced together based more on Marcus' tight budget than their experience and reliability. Many of them are foreigners with pasts who have joined the service for a clean slate. Some are more competent than others; few of them have seen real combat.

In the course of their mission, they will encounter both friend and foe, and venture into uncharted territories whose occupants each come with their own strange agendas. Marcus and his crew will soon be tested by combat, by uncertainty, and by fear, as every leg of their journey and every encounter brings a new set of unknowns and challenges. Nothing in the Void is certain.

The Show

The year is 2641. Humanity has spread out and colonized the galaxy. Some colonies remain loyal to their masters, others rebel or request independence. Instead of monolithic United Federations ruling the galaxy, individual worlds play host to many nations, each with their own culture, traditions, and territorial claims in space.

​Voyage Of The Chimera is, first and foremost, a story of characters, of military men far from home and cut off from family and loved ones -- imagine a submarine movie, set in space. There will be action, but it will always be in service to the story. We've even made a deliberate effort to strip down the tech and avoid the usual gimmicks. No aliens, no laser guns, no holographic interfaces, no fusion reactors... and NO SHIELDS -- these guys are going to have to rely on heavy armor, countermeasures, and strategy to survive. Chimera is not a wealthy vessel; her crew is making do with both limited provisions and materials during their perilous mission.

Shot entirely using green screen technology at Watertower Place in Pueblo, Colorado!

Watch the Official Trailer Now

Live Premiere Screening on October 10, 2020 at 8:00pm (MT)

Tonight’s the night! Get your popcorn ready and questions prepared for the filmmakers and cast, as they will be doing a LIVE Q&A after the season 1 movie airs tonight at 8pm MT. Register now and you will receive an email before we start the live stream of Voyage of the Chimera: access.live/Voyage If you’re not registering, make sure to go to the URL above tonight at 8pm MT to watch. See you there!

---

“Pat McCarthy’s second film, Red Writing Hood, continues his tradition of casting Pueblo, Colorado as a central character in his storytelling. The film moves at an extraordinarily unpredictable pace and heightened editing and unexpected animation prepare audiences for a number of genuinely frightening moments spread throughout the film’s short running time. McCarthy - along with his team of creatives - has infused the film with an unmistakably (and irresistibly) raw sensibility, which does ensure that the characters and storyline remain endlessly fascinating in terms of their visceral qualities and emblematic of Pueblo’s fascinating history and culture. ”

— Gregory Howell • Storyteller & Founder of Pueblo Regional Film Commission

Sunset Revolutions Productions & Rocky Mountain Blockbusters

Sunset Revolutions Productions (SRP) was founded by Pat McCarthy and home grown in the city of Pueblo Colorado. SRP is a leader in conceptual development, production design, capture execution and post production services for video projects of every caliber and nature. The SRP Team captures special events, commercials, music videos and full feature length films of all genres.

Red Writing Hood is a short and fun Halloween season film shot entirely on location in Pueblo, CO. Headphones or speakers make it even better!

Community Leaders and Investors in the Arts Tour Historic Colorado Theater in Downtown Pueblo

At the corner of 4th & Main in Downtown Pueblo and adjacent to the Historic Federal Building is the Colorado Theater. The theater sits atop the footprint of the former Pueblo Opera House which was designed by Adler & Sullivan and opened in 1890. It was their first project out of their home city of Chicago. Frank Lloyd Wright was also a junior draftsman for Louis Sullivan and is credited with the engineering and design of the single span mezzanines of the famed Opera House. Unfortunately after the Annual Grocers' Ball in March 1922 which had taken place in the upper event spaces, a fire started and destroyed the landmark building on a frigid winter day.

Pop Kite, who was the beloved barber in the basement in the Opera House, pledged that the building would be rebuilt and he would return with his business as a symbol of resilience and solidarity. The city was devastated the year prior in June 1921 by the Great Flood, so Pop became the cheerleader for the rebuilding effort which was completed in 1926. Pueblo has an extraordinary legacy of theater and entertainment establishments and in the early 1900s had over 80 theaters dotting the city and its neighborhoods which presented everything from vaudeville to "talkies". As the second largest city in Colorado, Denver and Pueblo were the stops for Hollywood actors as they did their rounds to promote their films (most stayed in the Vail Hotel in Pueblo).

The Colorado Building & Theater have been closed for over 15 years, but there is renewed interest in restoring the historic theater for film and visual & performing arts. There is also an opportunity to convert the upper floors (2, 3 and 4) of the commercial building into housing and mix use. The recently established Pueblo Regional Film Commission has made the restoration and renovation of one of Pueblo's historic movie houses part of its mission. Pueblo is also fortunate to have Eric Gubelman as the new director of Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD) and he brings some of the best experience in the the operations and management of historic movie houses. His background includes owning and operating small market first run movie theaters, and stacking capital to get difficult deals done. For much of the last decade, he lived in Knoxville, a city slightly larger than Pueblo. Their downtown includes a vibrant entertainment district that has a historic theater that does a mix of live performance and film, a repurposed movie theater catering to music acts, an eight-screen first run theater, and a single screen retro movie house that creatively programs film series and avant garde fare. He has an interest in helping the film commission and promoting downtown development. We had a wonderful group of citizens yesterday who are interested in helping Pueblo bring back one of its historic gems. I have also included images of the Opera House including some of the original drawings that Puebloan Margi Grund discovered while she was in Minnesota conducting research on the Nuckolls Packing Company and the architect Hans Peter Henschien. #thefutureofthepast

Pueblo Regional Film Commission Takes Over Instagram Account of Office of Film, TV & Media

Follow us from May 4 to 8, 2020 as we take over the Instagram account of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM). Look for @filmincolorado and you will find images and stories of the best kept secret in the film industry - PUEBLO • COLORADO • USA.

The 48 Hour Film Festival Launches a Month of Film in Pueblo

The 48 Hour Film Festival Launches a Month of Film in Pueblo

The Pueblo 48 Hour Film Festival invites filmmakers to shoot, edit and submit a film within 48 hours. The judging panel, consisting of industry professionals, will evaluate the submitted films the week before the festival. The short films that receive the highest scores will be screened during the Red Carpet Screening in the InfoZone Theater (4th FL). Audience members will also vote on their favorite film during the main event and the People's Choice winner will be announced with all other category winners at the end of the evening.  

Films are judged and viewed at a public screening. Winners will be awarded with free admission to the 2020 StoryMode Independent Short Film Awards (SISFA) and winning films will be screened during the SISFA Festival in Pueblo, Colorado on April 17-18.

AWARDS

• Judge’s Choice

• Best Cinematography

• Best Script

• Best Performance

• Best Musical Score

• Best Youth Production (16 yrs and under)

• Best Film Shot With Smart Phone

• People’s Choice

RULES

1. Films must not exceed 6 minutes and 30 seconds (including credits).

2. Thematic elements such as a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue will be announced on Friday, Mar. 27th at 5 p.m.  All elements must be incorporated for the film to be judged.

3. All submissions must be an original film created in the allotted 48-hour timeframe between March 27 at 5 p.m. and March 29th at 5 p.m.  Any creative work in advance of the competition is prohibited.  No films or film segments created for other projects may be submitted.  Animation and special effects are allowed, but must be created during the official 48-hour timeframe. 

4. The only work to begin prior to the Official Time Period is: organizing crew, organizing cast, securing equipment and scouting/securing locations.

5. All films must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and submitted by sending the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org.  No hard copies, jump drives or discs will be accepted.

6. Any type of filming equipment and/or cameras may be used.  Multiple cameras are permitted.

7. Any stock photos or music used in the film must be original or the team must acquire rights for use.

EVENTS

Producing 101: How to make the most of every hour by planning ahead  

Saturday, Mar. 21, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m., RA, Ryals Room (4th FL)

Film production has three phases: pre-production, production, and post-production. A 48 hour filmmaking competition gives you a chance to experience all three in record time! This workshop will take you on a brief tour of what to focus on in each of the three phases, so you can maximize the quality of your film. Topics will include: what makes a good script; how to plan your shoot with a shot list and storyboards; crew roles (who’s who on set); and best ways to organize your footage for editing. Led by Polly Washburn, an award-winning film producer and director who organized the first Toronto 48 Hour Film Project.

Lights, Camera, Action: An introduction to film equipment  

Saturday, Mar. 21, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., RA, Ryals Room (4th FL)

A look at different types of cameras, lights and sound gear that you can use to make a film, from using your cell phone and available light, to using a DSLR to renting higher-end equipment.

Led by cinematographer and editor Adrian Montgomery of Distant Peak Productions, who is currently editing a feature-length documentary that he recorded all the video and sound for, in 9 interviews around the country. Adrian participated in a 48HFP in Denver a couple of years ago, so will also offer his top tips on what to make sure to do, as well as what to watch out for.

Thematic Elements Reveal Party

Friday, Mar. 27, 5 p.m., Solar Roast Coffee (3206 W. Northern Ave.) 

Come find out what the required thematic elements will be for the 2020 Pueblo 48-Hour Film Festival!  The announcement will also be shared via Facebook Live.  Tune in to PCCLD’s Facebook page for the livecast. Co-sponsored by Solar Roast and the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

Film Submission Deadline

Sunday, Mar. 29, 5 p.m.

All films must be submitted by 5pm on Sunday, March 29th. Please upload your film to YouTube or Vimeo and share the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org

Screening of Previous Winning Films

Friday, Apr. 3, 6:30 p.m., RA, InfoZone Theater (4th FL)

Join us for a celebration of short film on the big screen as we honor past winners of the 48-Hour Film Festival! The screening in the InfoZone Theater (4th FL) will feature some of our favorites from the archives!

Red Carpet Screening and Awards

Saturday, Apr. 4, 6:30 p.m., RA InfoZone Theater (4th FL)

Join us for the screening of this year’s 48-Hour Film Festival submissions and submit your vote for the 2020 People’s Choice Award!  The film screening will be followed by an awards ceremony to recognize the work of filmmakers of all ages and skill levels.  Popcorn provided. Co-sponsored by the Pueblo Regional Film Commission. 

New Legislation to Create Transferable Tax Credits for the Film Industry in Colorado

Representative Bri Buentello, 47th District

Dustin Hodge, Bri Buentello, Donald Zuckerman, Gregory Howell

Daneya Esgar, District 46

Dustin Hodge, Daneya Esgar and Gregory Howell visit Representative Esgar at her office at the Capitol.

NEW LEGISLATION TO CREATE TRANSFERABLE TAX CREDITS FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY IN COLORADO

On February 12, 2020,. Dustin Hodge and Gregory Howell represented the new Pueblo Regional Film Commission during a visit to the Colorado State Capitol in Denver to meet with our legislators to discuss a new bill coming to the floor of the legislature. Donald Zuckerman, Film Commissioner, and Mariel Rodriguez-McGill, Deputy Film Commissioner of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM), joined the Pueblo delegation as we met with Senate President Leroy M. Garcia, Representative Daneya Esgar, HD 46 and Representative Bri Buentello HD 47. We discussed the existing film tax incentives, workforce and economic development, and ways to recruit and keep creative industries in Colorado through a transferable tax credit for film which would be a tremendous boost for our industry.

Just hours before the first meeting, the Denver Business Journal published a lengthy story aptly titled The End? which discusses the near collapse of our film industry in Colorado which is on the brink of extinction. The current state of the film industry requires bold and thoughtful measures to ensure a strong and sustainable future for creatives and the industry.

The new bill would pass into law a $5 million/year transferable tax credit (TTC) for film, television, and media, helping our state's film industry get back to opening new businesses, building infrastructure, and providing career opportunities for Coloradans. '“TTCs, which are used in other states, are credits based on a percentage of a qualified spend that a producer can use to offset tax liability or can take to a bank or private-equity firm to sell on the open market to a company with significant tax liability. In states like Georgia and California, such credits can fetch about 90 cents on the dollar and are attractive because of their portability and flexibility” according to the Denver Business Journal article. This tax credit program would work alongside the current cash rebate program, which, although much smaller, continues to be helpful to smaller local productions. Last year, 100% of the $750,000 in the rebate program was spent on productions by Colorado-based production companies.

Legislators indicated they're open to a new tax credit program, but they need to hear from constituents to understand its importance to the state. The Pueblo Regional Film Commission felt the urgency to personally meet with local legislators in an effort to get the bill passed. We as a community need to tell our state legislators why this new tax credit is so important. We encourage all interested parties to sign up here and when it's time to act, we'll email everyone a prepared letter for them to send to their legislators (along with the names and emails of each person's legislators). Once you have signed, please share the link with friends and colleagues within the industry – and with anyone outside the industry whose business or career has been helped as a result of film production.


We welcome the help of any organizations whose members stand to benefit from the increased economic opportunity that would come from this bill. Please encourage all to share the link with their members and partners, it will greatly help our chances of getting this bill passed.

Anyone interested in other ways of helping this cause should email John VanWyck at jvanwyck@gmail.com or his colleague Samantha Sigler at ssigler3@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Documenting America - Organizing Impactful Film Festivals - A project for Russia

On Friday, February 7, 2020, the Pueblo Regional Film Commission was honored to host a group of Russian film industry professionals in conjunction with the US State Department and the World Affairs Council Colorado Springs. For over 80 years, the highly competitive International Visitor Leadership Program at the State Department has been ranked as the elite professional program for visitors coming to the USA from around the world. Our guests included film festival organizers, professors of film, public relations and marketing experts from Moscow to Vladivostok (see bios below).

Our two hour morning program began with a lot of snow and smiles from our Russian guests who felt very much at home. We offered self-introductions around the room which was followed by the origin story of the Pueblo Regional Film Commission including the goals and objectives from film recruitment to workforce development. We also Illustrated how to organize and promote film festivals in a variety of venues, particularly documentary and independent film festivals. Pueblo is home to the 48 Hour Film Festival, SISFA Film Festival and MountainFilm. We also discussed the task of managing staff and volunteers for these special events.

We also touched upon a series of topics in the world of film including :

• Understanding co-production during festivals

• Management of community engagement at festivals, such as workshops and speaking events

• Publicity, media coverage, media relations

• Fundraising, advertising

• Communication

• Branding

• American cinema history and theory at U.S. universities

• Latest trends in documentary

Special thanks to Dustin Hodge and Tyler Shown for sharing their experiences as filmmakers here in Pueblo and beyond. The Pueblo Regional Film Commission thanks Jamie Bequette, International Visitor Program Manager, for developing the itinerary and for including Pueblo in its storytelling effort. At the conclusion of the event, all guests visited the 4th floor of the former meat packing plant for a group photo to commemorate the program.

For more information, click the links below.

International Visitor Leadership Program

Russian Visitor Biographies

View fullsize

View fullsize

Special thanks to Regan Foster of the Colorado Springs Independent for attending our event and submitting a story to The Wire. (Left: Cover art • Above: Tyler Shown of Jolly Mule Productions share his experience as a filmmaker with our guests.

---

View fullsize

View fullsize