When the FirstGlance Film Festival launched in Philadelphia this month, the long-running event reached its “Jordan year.” It officially entered year 23, the same jersey number worn by iconic basketball player Michael Jordan. Like that singular athlete, the FirstGlance Film Festival has achieved unparalleled longevity.
Where other events of its kind fold after a few years, the film fest continues to flourish.
How? Led by its founder Bill Ostroff, the FirstGlance Film Festival has positioned itself as the leading mid-size film festival of its kind. It showcases independent filmmakers and aims to give voice to an array of artists and storytellers.
The FirstGlance festival has come a long way since its inception in 1996 when it began in the basement of a small theater in Philadelphia. Back when FirstGlance started, “Independence Day” was the highest-grossing film that year, the “Macarena” was the biggest dance craze, and the U.S. elected Bill Clinton as its President.
These days, FirstGlance hosts two film festivals in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Earlier this month, the FirstGlance Festival handed out awards in the feature, documentary, short film, drama, and comedy, among numerous others.
One of the winning films from this month’s film festival is a short called “Adams,” which features established stars Patton Oswalt (“King of Queens,” “Ratatouille”) and Fred Armisen (“Saturday Night Live,” “Portlandia”).
Along with the festivals and twice-yearly online short film competitions, FirstGlance also investigates distribution opportunities for the filmmakers screened at the festivals. The online short film contests have garnered over 250,000 viewers and over 175,000 votes since its inception.
Now, you have the opportunity to become a part of this vibrant community.
How you say?
You can vote in the FirstGlance Fall 2019 Short Online Contest, which features 13 dynamic, tension-filled shorts. The winner will receive $2,000 in cash prizes and a premiere at FirstGlance Film Fest Los Angeles in March 2020.
(Psst…to binge these awesome shorts and vote, go here and register. You have until of December 4).
