Adirondack Film Festival Announces World’s-First In-Home Film Festival Experience: “Film Festival in a Box”
Glens Falls, NY – Adirondack Film Festival, in its 5th year of operation (produced by the Adirondack Theatre Festival), has invented a new way to bring the film festival experience into patrons’ homes. Producing Artistic Director, Chad Rabinovitz, is excited to announce the world’s first Film Festival in a Box, available Oct. 15-18, 2020.
“Most festivals are going digital at this point, which is imperative, but that leaves the audience missing arguably the best part of the whole festival: the experience,” says Rabinovitz. “Our Film Festival in a Box delivers you just that.”
In short time, AFF has become well-known in the industry for the care and attention it puts into both its patron and filmmaker experiences. For that reason it’s currently ranked in the Top 10 of Filmfreeway.com’s Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals (out of 9,268).
Rabinovitz continues, “In addition to more than 100 short and feature-length films to choose from, you’ll also receive everything you need to recreate the exciting atmosphere that has become synonymous with AFF. Your box comes with items like your festival lanyard, killer AFF swag, 3D glasses (you may just need them), and even a rope to cordon off your room from those pesky housemates who don’t meet your VIP status. We’ll provide you with some of the best new films on the planet – along with all the popcorn you’ll need to get through the weekend – and so much more!”
Unlike most digital festivals that allow the viewer to choose when they want to watch it, the AFF films will be shown at specific times, exactly as it would be with the in-person festival. Filmgoers will be given a full schedule and must recreate the experience of choosing which films to see and when.
“Half the fun of a film festival is circling the schedule blocks and trying to figure out where to go and when. I can’t imagine a festival experience without plotting your plan of attack,” says Rabinovitz
The schedule will replace the traditional AFF venues (Wood Theater, Park Theater, etc) with rooms in the home. So a patron may find themselves finishing up a movie in the bedroom and then racing to their living room to catch the next film on their list. This “film fest experience” schedule will exist from Thursday through Saturday. For those wanting to watch whatever they want, whenever they want it, the full catalogue of films will be available “on demand” for Sunday.
Filmgoers will vote on their favorites through a live voting app and an awards ceremony will be held via Zoom, with AFF trophies mailed to the filmmakers after the festival.
“Traditionally we would provide every filmmaker with a hotel room and free admission to our festival. This year, they’ve got the hotel room covered, so we’ll instead provide all 100 filmmakers with complimentary admission along with a VIP box mailed to their home.”
Film selection is currently underway, led by Programming Director, Jessica Levandoski, and will be announced in early September. Festival blocks will be created for the short films, as in previous years, by theme (e.g. Laugh Therapy, Sweet & Sour, A Shot in the Dark, Tasting Menu, etc.) But this year these blocks may be combined with box items to enhance the experience. AFF Kleenex may accompany a drama block or a scented candle will help set the mood for a romance block.
“Box items may accompany any of the shorts, features, or even special events,” says Levandoski. “But part of the fun of the whole thing is not knowing what’s in the box until it’s time for the festival. So we’re going to keep the exact contents a secret!”
Each film will have a very brief pre-recorded introduction by the filmmaker in lieu of a Q&A. AFF is also exploring innovative ways of recreating special events, like parties, foreign film series, Made in NY series, panel discussions, and its popular Tooning In art gallery (a gallery of 100+ hand-made art pieces inspired by the films).
At this time, AFF is still considering a live component which would consist of select showings of feature films at the Charles R. Wood Theater. However, all films shown live would also be available online so that all patrons, regardless of their comfort level in public, have the opportunity to attend all screenings.
AFF is part of Adirondack Theatre Festival’s IN THE BOX ENTERTAINMENT platform which includes five additional live Zoom performances that will entertain audiences from the comfort of their homes – all delivering a surprise box ahead of the show that will fuel their viewing experience. For more information on all IN THE BOX offerings, visit www.intheboxentertainment.com.
“Our goal from the start was to create entertainment that isn’t a consolation prize for not having live theatre, but instead to develop an iteration of live theatre that benefits specifically from being digital. We’re not putting our art form on Zoom, we’re creating an art form for Zoom,” states Chad Rabinovitz.
PASSES
VIP passes are $75 and include full access to all films and the total festival experience box complete with AFF swag. Basic passes are $45 and include access to most films (excludes headliners) – no box is included. Prices will increase closer to the event. More information can be found at adirondackfilmfestival.org and www.intheboxentertainment.com. Tickets may also be purchased by calling the Wood Theater Box Office at (518) 480-4878.
About Adirondack Theatre Festival
Chad Rabinovitz, Producing Artistic Director
Tracey Sullivan, Managing Director
Jessica Levandoski, Programming Director – Adirondack Film Festival
Jessica Reed, Event Director – Adirondack Film Festival
Founded in 1994, Adirondack Theatre Festival (ATF) is a professional not-for-profit summer theatre located in Glens Falls, NY. ATF strives to challenge, entertain, and nourish its audience through the development and production of new and contemporary musicals and plays.
During its 26-year history, ATF has launched more than 35 world premieres and produced 25 new play workshops. Each summer ATF produces a nine-week season of theatre for an audience of more than 9,500 using professional artists from New York City and across the country. Its summer season includes four mainstage productions, a new play workshop, two cabarets, and a children’s dinner theatre. ATF is the only professional summer theatre in the Capital District, Saratoga and Adirondack regions of upstate New York solely committed to producing new works.
ATF also operates the Adirondack Film Festival, now entering its 5th season. Serving over 4,000 patrons in one weekend, the film festival brings in notable stars from the industry and showcases more than 100 films.
Chad Rabinovitz
Chad Rabinovitz is the only artist in the United States simultaneously serving as the Producing Artistic Director of two theaters devoted to new works: Adirondack Theatre Festival (Glens Falls, NY) & Bloomington Playwrights Project (Bloomington, IN). In addition to producing new works, Chad has directed more than 100 productions across the country, focusing primarily on new and contemporary plays and musicals. He is also currently the Producer of the acclaimed Adirondack Film Festival, Managing Director of the Bloomington Academy of Film & Theatre, and Producer of a visual arts festival, Arts Fair on the Square.
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