On Saturday, January 12th 2019, New York’s newest film festival had their inaugural celebration in Queens, NY. From 2 – 8 PM, filmmakers, music producers, actors, directors, and all manner of cinephiles gathered at The Footlight Bar in Ridgewood to watch 7 award-winning films and 1 award-winning music video. The screenings culminated with an awards ceremony and networking with creatives from all walks of life.
Founded by Freia M. Titland, The Midnight Film Festival is “…an event founded by filmmakers for filmmakers”. Freia M. Titland wanted to highlight the work of indie and student filmmakers from all around the globe. As a filmmaker, actress, and arts educator, Freia M. Titland believes in the power of cinema and the arts as a means of creating community.
Titland was accompanied by Tamara Ilizarova and Rocko Rathon. Ilizarova’s proficiency in social media and content creation along with Rathon’s expertise in music and digital marketing for performers rounded out the panel of judges responsible for selecting the award-winning projects. The Midnight Film Festival was Co-Produced by Damian Evans and hosted by Ebbony Pinillos.
Although only in its first year, Freia M. Titland secured sponsorship from screenwriting giant, Final Draft, for the festival. Final Draft is the industry standard in screenwriting software. Award winners went home with a free copy of their latest software, Final Draft 11. Award winners were also given the opportunity to upload their work to the digital distribution platform, Cinistream. “We accept short and feature films of any genre and cultivate a diverse library of films from different levels of filmmakers from different communities and cultures.” – Trenton Hoshiko, Founder of Cinistream.
Although this year’s festival may be over, individuals can become involved with Midnight Films by joining their next event in February. The “Love & Horror” 48 Hour Film Challenge is perfect for anyone looking to create something fun and maybe a little spooky for the Valentine’s Day season. To learn more about the challenge and to submit your team, visit www.filmfreeway.com/TheMidnightFilmFestival
All photos courtesy of Yekaterina Gyadu.
