Central Florida Film Festival Rejection Email is Totally Unprofessional

If you're a filmmaker, you get quite used to rejection emails from film festivals. No matter how well made your piece is, if it gets accepted to everywhere you submit it, then you're either not submitting it to enough places or you're submitting to festivals that are smaller than your piece deserves.

I have never, however, received a rejection email written as unprofessionally as the one recently received from the Central Florida Film Festival. I reproduce it here, in full.

Stephen,

I am sorry to inform you that your short entry LIZ, did not make the preliminary cut to qualify into the Central Florida Film Festival.

A jury of five industry professionals voted to not advance your project. The judges were in agreement that your production was bland. "There wasn't anything major wrong with the piece but nothing really creative either." Another quote from a judges card had - "A well made mud pie still isn't appetizing." Three judges felt there were not able to fully understand some of the creative choices that drove the story and direction. Rule of thumb is "if one judge is confused it's the judge but if a majority are confused it's the filmmaker."

Sometimes we lose sight of what we are trying to accomplish as a filmmaker. What story do we want to tell and how can our cast and crew help. Take chances move the actors or move the camera. If you can't afford a dolly, use a wheelchair but you have to creatively tell your story both with performance and with visuals.

Don't take this critique personal. Film is art and art is subjective. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and as filmmakers we need to grow a thick skin. I edit and write what the judges have passed down to me and where possible hope it will help you become a better filmmaker. I am sorry the news couldn't have been better.

Bob Cook
Executive Director
Central Florida Film Festival
5029 Ledgewood Way
Orlando, Florida 32821
(407) 370-3703
www.CentralFloridaFilmFestival.com
http://bobcookfilmdirector.blogspot.com/

I'm embarrassed to admit that we submitted our film to this festival, since they obviously do not take themselves seriously. We won't be making that mistake again, and I recommend you do not either.