It is upon us again: The 3^rd Annual San Francisco Frozen Film Festival. The festival shows annually during the second weekend in July (this year July 8-11th) and brings independent filmmakers and musicians to the San Francisco Bay Area from around the globe! Included in the festival are four nights of short films, animation, global features, long and short documentaries, skate films, music documentaries, and music videos. All films screened and accepted into the festival inspire the artistic community with work that is leading film, music, and cinematography's evolution, and that will ensure the Bay Area's reputation for innovation in the arts.

attribute magazine caught up with Gabriel Bellman, Co-founder, Co-Director of the festival to see what is new this year, what some of the festival highlights are and how they are faring considering the economy (and how the film makers are perceiving the economy, which should be interesting). It’s a great festival full of energy and artistry so if you are in the San Francisco Bay area or heading that way, July 8-11^th...support the arts and attend!

What, if anything, are you doing differently this year than in the past?

This year we are going to try to repeat a few of the films. In the past, we've mostly just shown the films one time only. For sure the animation short program will play twice, and maybe a few of the other films as well.

Any highlights for this year?

Highlights for this year include (see press release at the bottom for a few of the films we are excited about) the follow up to 2007's best animation winner "Everything Will Be Okay" by Don Hertzfelt (also won Sundance Best Short). Now, two years later, is the animation sequel, which is really cool. (Advance word is that MovieMaker magazine will be naming us to their "Coolest Festivals" in their summer issue, though we're supposed to hold that release 'til next month).

What is the average amount of submissions you get per category (film)?

This year we had over 300 submissions, with more in our narrative categories. I always tell people: make a short film first. That way, you learn the craft and it's cheaper, faster, and you build relationships with actors. You don't need to do a feature first - that's like writing a novel before a poem or an essay. That said, some of the first time features are incredible (though I bet they practiced with shorts at home).

What was your total count of festival goes in 2008? Do you expect a similar or better turn-out this year?

We had over 800 people come through in 2008, and we expect a similar turnout this year. Unfortunately, the economic downturn has hurt most of the arts - film being an exception. Though, art house films have suffered. The small budget films have been hit hardest. For our filmmakers, this is the only chance to see their work in the bay area, so we hope people will come by.

Has the economy affected the festival at all?

The economy has definitely affected the festival. We have lost interns (who just can't afford to live in the bay area), and we have had sponsors not just pull out of sponsorship, but go completely out of business (Babylon Falling- the indie bookstore that was SF's best of the Bay indie bookstore and a SF FFF 2008 Music Sponsor went out of business). So, we are doing our best to stay afloat, which just means being more creative and making use of what we have. Like Ed Wood. The way we see it, everybody is suffering. Which is why, more than ever, a little art, joy, and film is needed in our lives. If we didn't have a passion for bringing these films to people, it wouldn't be possible because I don't know anybody who is making money right now. This is a time where treading water is actually moving forward, because a lot of good, strong swimmers are getting sucked under. Our message to film goers is be creative with your shots because a big budget doesn't cover anything up- in the end, the best stories make it to the surface.

Thanks for helping spread the love. ~ Gabriel

More info on the festival and the event schedule:

(The San Francisco FROZEN FILM FESTIVAL is a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status.)

The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival was founded in 2006 to provide a forum for Bay Area Filmmakers to mingle and be exposed to Non-Bay Area Filmmakers, with the intention of creating a lasting and sustainable Bay Area Film Network.

Here are some of the films our 2009 festival includes:

2009 Best Animated Shorts - Featuring prior Sundance winner Don Hertzfeldt’s new animated film: I AM SO PROUD OF YOU: THE EXISTENTIAL LIFE OF A STICK FIGURE.

http://festival.sundance.org/2009/news/article/i_am_so_proud_of_you_the_existential_life_of_a_stick_figure/

The Dhamma Brothers - amazing Prison Doc

http://www.dhammabrothers.com/

http://www.dhammabrothers.com/press.html

What’s the Matter with Kansas - Political Doc What's the Matter with Kansas? plunges viewers into the heart of Middle America, which twice helped elect George W. Bush.

http://whatsthematterwithkansas.com/index.html

The Snake - independent comedic feature film which Margaret Cho appears in.

http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/18/sxsw-review-the-snake/

Dramatic Short Films

Comedic Short Films

The Silence in Between - Music Doc

What is 'the Funk'? To find out we went on tour in Europe last summer with Dr. Funkenstein himself, George Clinton. Together with his legendary band, Parliament Funkadelic. Film by Mark Limburg.

Music Videos & Surf/Skate Film

Dates

* July 9th – 12th

Venue

http://www.roxie.com/ (MAIN VENUE)

3117 16th Street, San Francisco, CA

Ticket prices: $10.00

Screening Times

* 2009 Best Animated Shorts – Sat. July 10th @ 9:45pm

* The Dhamma Brothers- – Sat. July 10th @ 8:00pm

* What’s the Matter with Kansas - Sat. July 10th @ 2:00pm

* The Snake

* Final show times announced in two weeks at www.frozenfilmfestival.com

Phone Number for public seeking info:

* Ticket Information Call the Roxie Theatre: (415) 863-1087

* Organization information call: (415) 846-1375