Babelgum Online Film Festival

The Babelgum Online Film Festival is the first web-based film festival by Internet TV startup Babelgum. Babelgum's mission in organising the festival is to promote independent filmmaking and provide a global showcase for budding filmmakers from all over the world. [cite web
publisher = Business Week
title = Babelgum's Contrarian Approach to Web TV
date = September 042007
url = http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb2007094_157643.htm?chan=search ] On announcing the first edition of the festival, on September 1, 2007, Babelgum CEO Valerio Zingarelli described it as "an exciting project that will heighten awareness for Babelgum, attract quality films for the competition and give the public an important voice in identifying the next great filmmakers of our time.” [ [http://reelot.com/home?template=detail&module=news&view=detail&id=2570 Reelot: Home ] ] .

The 2nd edition of the Festival was announced on September 5th, 2008 in Toronto, at the Toronto International Film Festival. [ cite web
publisher = Variety.com
title = Spike Lee launches Babelgum
date = September 072008
url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991813.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562 ]

The Babelgum Online Film Festival is chaired by US film director Spike Lee, who has remarked, "Now more than ever before, independent filmmakers need every bit of help to showcase their work. The Babelgum Online Film Festival will accomplish this, as it combines the value of a film festival with the openness of the Internet for those seeking to advance their careers.” [ [http://reelot.com/home?template=detail&module=news&view=detail&id=2570 Reelot: Home ] ] .

The festival jury also includes other international figures from the film industry (see below).

Competition Categories

The first edition of the festival, in 2007-2008, comprised seven competition categories: Short Film, Documentary, Animation, Social/Environment, Spot/Advertising, Music Video, and the Babelgum Looking for Genius Award for new or emerging talent. The winners in each category were awarded a prize of €20,000 [ [http://www.babelgum.com/online-film-festival/?cmd=cmdSkipIntro Babelgum - The new global Internet television network ] ] .

The second edition, 2008-2009, has four competition categories: Short Film, Documentary, Animation and Mini Masterpiece. The latter category is for films of up to 5 minutes in length, with a quirky or original style. [http://www.babelgum.com/online-film-festival/ Babelgum Online Film Festival minisite] ]

Submission and Judging Process

Entries are required to be professionally produced films but the Festival is also open to film students, as specifically requested by Spike Lee. [ cite web
publisher = Fest21.com
title = Babelgum welcomes Spike Lee to chair The Babelgum Online Film Festival Jury
date = November 192007
url = http://www.fest21.com/blog/babelgumonlinefilmfestival/babelgum_welcomes_spike_lee_to_chair_the_babelgum_online_film_festival_jury ]

Films entered to the first edition were shown on a dedicated channel on Babelgum and users were asked to rate the entries. The jury then viewed 10 highest-rated entries in each category, and chose the top three in each category to present to Spike Lee. Lee made the final selection and presented the winners with their awards at a ceremony on May 20th 2008. [ cite web
publisher = Business Week
title = Spike Lee on Internet TV's Reach
date = September 042007
url = http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb2007094_132928.htm ]

According to the [http://www.babelgum.com Babelgum website] for the first edition the jury members, in addition to Spike Lee, included:
* Joe Bateman, Director of the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival (UK)
* Ally Derks, Director of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
* Bhuvan Lall, Founder of the Independent Indian Filmmakers Worldwide Association (India)
* Tiziana Loschi, Managing Director of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival/Citia (France)
* Joe Neulight, Co-founder and President of Withoutabox (US)
* Johannes Newrkla, Founding Member of the Art Directors Club of Europe (Austria)
* Sandra Ruch, Executive Director of the International Documentary Association (US)
* Teri Schwartz, Dean of the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television (US)
* James Mullighan, Creative Director of Shooting People (UK)
* Carl Spence, Artistic Director of the Seattle International Film Festival (US)
* Stefano Martina, Director of "Arcipelago", International Festival of Short Films and New Images (Italy)Also announced on the Babelgum blog as a late addition to the jury was acclaimed French director Michel Gondry, who judged the Music Video category. [ cite web
publisher = Rotten Tomatoes
title = Cannes 2008 Exclusive: Michel Gondry Joins Babelgum Jury
date = May 162008
url = http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/cannes_film_festival_2008/news/1728414/ ]

Winners

The winners of the first Babelgum Online Film Festival were chosen from the finalists by Spike Lee, who presented them with their prizes at the awards ceremony at Le Baoli restaurant in Cannes, France on May 20th 2008. The awards ceremony was hosted by presenters Kris & Kris.

As announced on the Babelgum blog [ cite web
publisher = Babelgum Blog
title = Babelgum Online Film Festival Winners Announced
date = May 202008
url = http://www.babelgum.com/blog/?p=168 ] , the winners in the 7 categories were:
* Animation Award: Rémy Schaepman (France) for "Quidam Dégomme ("A Sheep on the Roof")"
* Documentary Award: Emanuel Exitu (Italy) for "Greater - Defeating AIDS"
* Looking for Genius Award: Andrea Lodovichetti (Italy) for "Sotto il mio giardino ("Under my garden)"
* Music Video Award: Antonin De Bemels (Belgium) for "Mouthface"
* Short Film Award: Richard Recco (US) for "Officer Down"
* Social/Environment Award: Briane Deane (Ireland) for "Without Words"
* Spot/Advertising Award: Ambroise Becchio (France) for "The Pocket Crossborder"

Each winner won a sculpted glass award and €20,000 (US$31,000) prize money.cite journal
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Lodovichetti tops Babelgum nods
journal = The Hollywood Reporter, The Daily from Cannes
volume =
issue = 8
pages = p. 4
publisher =
location = Cannes
date = 2008-05-21
url =
format =
issn =
accessdate = ]

References

External links

* [http://www.babelgum.com Babelgum]
* [http://www.babelgumonlinefilmfestival.com Babelgum Online Film Festival Blog]
* [http://www.filmfestivals.com/index.shtml Film Festivals.com]
* [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/05/spike_lee_babelgum.html Spike Lee's blog post on The Guardian Online]