what’s up, good people?! short films. big names. what more can you ask for?
The Miami short Film Festival (MsFF) is less than a month away and I know you’re wringing your hands in anticipation. This international fest lauds the short film as an essential work of art and adopts the mission of honoring filmmakers who create some of the best art in the world.
Itsashort.com reached out to the festival’s founding executive director, William Vela, to discuss his passion for short films and the direction of the MsFF.
Itsashort.com: How did the Miami short Film Festival come into existence?
William Vela: The Miami short Film Festival (MsFF) was founded in 2002 with a short film and a big dream. As a veteran television actor and producer, I produced a short film called “360˚” using thirty of my closest friends from the acting community. After six rigorous months of production, I finished my short and organized a “friends and family” screening to premier the film.
I rented a space, a projector, and 50 chairs for what I thought would be an intimate event, but as the word spread around Miami other directors and producers began to show interest in participating with their own shorts. Soon enough a total of 11 movies were collected for the showcase that would ultimately become the first night of the Miami short Film Festival.
Incredibly, 310 guests arrived in celebration of local short cinema, and they were eager for more. Thus MsFF was born, and those 50 chairs have been replaced by multiple theaters all over Miami.
Itsashort.com: How do you see the short film genre evolving and what role do you foresee your festival playing in its evolution?
William Vela: Short films have always played an important role in the film industry–from the beginning with the first ever produced film in the world, an 18-minute short called “A Trip to the Moon” in 1902–and this genre continues to be vital, especially now, with the advancements in technology. Where people are looking for specific content, short films will keep evolving and our festival is here to serve as a platform to those films that we would like to expose to the world.
MsFF Family Matters Shorts Program
Itsashort.com: What is the long-term goal for the Miami Film Festival?
William Vela: The festival’s goal is to become a gateway for those short films that come from Latin America, Europe, and Asia to the United States. Also, the festival will develop into a convention that will unite filmmakers and people from the film industry.
Itsashort: What should patrons expect for the 2016 festival?
William Vela: As every year, MsFF will offer our audience the best quality and selection of the best short films from all over the world. Our curation process is very thoughtful and we’ve involved the best local professionals from the industry to select the roster.
We truly appreciate William’s participation in providing some insight into the humble beginnings of the festival.
Click here to explore last year’s award-winning filmmakers including Best Narrative Short Film: “Recuiem” by Valentina Carnelutti (Italy).
This Week’s Short
Halloween is days away which means the cold is a’coming. This week’s short is all about trying not to be consumed by the cold. Ian Voglesong‘s short film, “Winter’s Hold,” is gripping in its solitude.
Click here to watch the chilling short.
Around the Web…
WK/STAR MAX/IPx
Kevin Hart, recently crowned the highest paid comedian (surpassing Jerry Seinfeld) is in the movies. Yes, he’s just released his new concert film, What Now?, but he is also in short films. If you’ve seen the previews, Hart appears as a 007-type character with the lovely Halle Berry in the spoof short film. Once he takes the stage, the little man becomes larger than life.
What makes Kevin Hart such an international sensation? He’s everywhere. Not only does Hart appear in a major release but also “The Road Trip,” a short film presented by H&M that stars the short man pretending to be David Beckham…sort of.
Maybe Hart’s company, Hartbeat Productions, will start having contests and festivals for short film comedies. We’ll have our people call his people.
Our Mission
Itsashort.com is a platform for filmmakers and creators the world over. We love the short film genre. Plus, we at itsashort.com want to introduce audiences to award-winning and award-nominated artists who create movies, web series and videos. Check out itsashort.com and subscribe for $2 a month to see the wonderful work of these creatives.