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Agnes Varnum is a freelance writer, film programmer and communications manager for the Austin Film Society. She is the primary contributor to doc it out and Tribeca Film Institute's Resources.

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Throw me a freakin bone here

April 22nd, 2007 • Related Posts • Tags

Despite the mixed murmurings I’ve heard over the past couple of years, I was excited about attending the Tribeca Film Festival for the first time this year. I secured a writing assignment from International Documentary magazine and set about jumping through the hoops required for media accreditation. I went to pick up my badge on Friday and am sadly disappointed by what the festival holds for me.

The festival, I’m sure trying to keep space for those $18 ticket buyers, has made it nearly impossible for me to participate. I can only request a ticket within 24 hours of a screening, and if I’m given the ticket, I have to go to the press office to pick it up (and the rumors are true, the venues are all over the place and not near the press office). The press and industry screenings are all during the day, and like most doc folks, I have a day job that makes it impossible to go to them.

At IDFA, I greatly appreciate the press/industry screenings to get some serious movie watching done during the day but, when I’m there, my time is at the disposal of the fest. Not so at a hometown fest. I don’t mean to sound bitter; what I am is bitterly disappointed. I was really looking forward to seeing films and seeing what Tribeca has to offer; willing to give up my nights and weekends, only to find out I’m not really welcome.

Oh, and I got (no joke) a 25-page document of red carpet appearances, like I give a crap. Maybe I should just go snap some pics of Tobey Maguire in his Spidy tights and call it a day.

[Update: The festival updated their ticket policy to allow us to get tickets in one go rather than day by day. Big relief! Thank you!]

There Are 7 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Cary on 22 April 2007:

    I definitely sympathize with your predicament. There are many people with the same dilemna!
    I do have a question, though, if you wouldn’t mind. On your “25-page document” was there any information regarding the movies “Nobel Son” and “Scott Walker:30th Century Man”? Thanks so much!
    I hope that your TFF experience turns out to be a good one!

  2. Comment by Mitchell Teplitsky on 23 April 2007:

    I appreciate your honesty, sharing your ranting. Makes me feel I’m not so crazy. I’ve been back to NYC 3 days and more than ever, feel like the whole city - well, Manhattan - has turned into one giant theme park for yuppie frenzied consumption. Tribeca just reflects that.

  3. Comment by Bob on 23 April 2007:

    Below the hype, the steady buzz is that this is really not about independent film, but about commercial sponsors and creating events. There is room, says Jeff from Gen Art in his interview with IndiePix, for a truly indie film fest in NY. Maybe those folks on the lower east side will do that this fall!

  4. Comment by Mark Rabinowitz on 23 April 2007:

    I agree. I appealed my press pass “verdict” and even after 2 emails over a week, I got no response. I have TWO people covering the fest and they wouldn’t (so far) give one of us the upgraded pass, which I have had in the past. They way they handle press is shamefull.

  5. Comment by Danielle on 24 April 2007:

    It’s so huge… our EP who lives there (Vanessa, you know her, right?) went to get her passes this morning. :) I don’t know if she had trouble, but it sounded like a pain.

    If you can’t make them, some of those films will be available for download on Jaman:
    http://www.jaman.com/festivals/tribeca

    I know you’re probably not interested, but you could win tickets to that shee-shee Red Carpet Premier (Spider *cough* related) here:
    http://www.jaman.com/redcarpet

  6. Comment by Danielle on 24 April 2007:

    oh, also, similarly, you can watch some SFIFF films here:
    http://www.jaman.com/festivals/sfiff

    The pages aren’t available to the public yet from the rest of our site… I’m kind of leaking them to you out of professional admiration.

  7. Comment by Marybeth Stokes on 6 May 2007:

    Oh PUH-LEASE …

    You poor press darling, you. Suck it up and deal with the hassle (and have fun doing so because it IS Manhattan after all). It’s a *festival* for flipping sake. One that is in its infancy and is still ironing out the kinks. I hope you have a better experience next time, or as me mum used to say, if you’ve got nothing nice to express then say nothing …

    Thanks!