Well, that image just about sums it up, huh? (We’ve also updated the trailer.) I’m gonna tell you the whole story, but first a couple of caveats:
1. If you live in Kansas City or Lawrence, KS, you should still see a film or two at the Kansas International Film Festival. You can buy tickets HERE.
2. Film festivals are in a tough spot, and need to evolve to survive. Their selection process is their most valuable asset, and they should absolutely stick to their guns when it comes to how they program their festivals.
Now, that said, let me tell you the sad and hilarious story of why you won’t be able to see 72 musicians at the Kansas International Film Festival. 
Here’s the short version: The film was never actually accepted. Turns out, it was rejected.
The long version begins in May, shortly after we finished the film. I was traveling for work, checked my voice mail, and heard a really cool and exciting message from Dr. Ben Meade, president of the festival. In the voicemail he said something to the effect of “Hey, I’m Ben Meade, I just watched your film and it knocked me off my couch and across my basement. We’re going to program it at the Kansas International Film Fest, and I want to talk to about some other festivals where I want to make sure you submit it, too.”
Needless to say, I was pretty stoked. We really wanted the film to play at KIFF, as it gave us the best chance to show the film to everyone in KC and Lawrence. Perfect. So I called Dr. Meade back, and we had a great conversation about where else I should submit the film, about KIFF, and about his own music doc called American Music: Off The Record. We also talked about my work at Topspin, building marketing and management software for artists. We left off that he’d contact me with more details closer to the festival.
I called Nick, the film’s editor, and we added the KIFF laurels to the film’s trailer. Sure, I probably should’ve waited for written confirmation of acceptance, but I *did* just hear directly from the president of the festival. And let’s be honest: KIFF isn’t a major festival. It’s a small festival that needs all the help it can get to put butts in seats. So knowing that I had powerful marketing tools and a pretty good size email list at my command, I set out to make sure I promoted KIFF whenever I talked about the film, and to make sure that we had a packed house come September. And it was working.
Whoops.
So fast forward to a week or so ago, when the emails from fans are rolling in and I’m getting ready to do some press but we still haven’t heard back from KIFF about screening dates, times, travel, etc… and then suddenly there was a list of films on the 2009 KIFF web site. And 72 musicians isn’t one of them.
I emailed Ben Meade, I called Ben Meade, I emailed the festival, and then I finally cold-called the Glenwood Arts Theatre and got Brian Mossman on the phone. Brian owns the Glenwood and is the vice president of KIFF festival operations. I felt kinda bad putting the question to him so bluntly, but I wasn’t sure what else to do.
“Hey Brian, thanks for taking my call. My name is Bob. I made a film called 72 musicians. I have kind of an awkward question. Ben Meade told me 72 musicians was playing your festival, and now I don’t see it listed as part of the program. Ummmm… is our film in the festival?”
Brian told me pretty clearly that the film wasn’t in the festival. Dr. Meade had really liked it, and pushed for it, but he was just one vote, and the rest of the board decided not to program the film.
Uh-oh.
“Ok, well… alright,” I stuttered. “So ummm… ok. This is even more awkward. Because I really don’t want to lobby you for inclusion. I don’t. I think you should program your festival your way. I do. But well… umm… What would you like me to tell the almost 2000 people on my email list? What should I do about all the people asking me where and when they can get tickets to your festival?”
“Let me talk to the board at tonight’s meeting and I’ll call you back.” said Brian.
Fair answer. We’ve got a mess on our hands, let’s take a day to sort it out. Cool by me. Then a funny thing happened. No one called me back. Or answered my emails.
So on Tuesday, on my way to work, I again cold-called the Glenwood and got Brian on the phone. Same story. Film still rejected.
“Maybe we can do some kind of joint fundraiser thing for the festival and the film after the festival is over,” Brian suggested. “But you should just tell people the film was rejected.”
Ok, well: there it is. The film was rejected. And I just sent an email to about 2000 people, saying the same thing, and telling them not to buy tickets to the KIFF if they’re hoping to see 72 musicians.
Bummer.
But, this gives us a great opportunity to revisit a question I was asked on KCUR Radio week before last. You can listen to the program here:
I was on The Walt Bodine Show, talking about the film and local music. Gina Kaufman asked me what could be better about the way KC and Lawrence music and arts function. I took the easy way out, calling out local media for not supporting local content. I stand by that point, but what I should’ve said is… BE PROFESSIONAL and BE SMART.
Yes, that means not calling filmmakers and telling them their film is in a festival when it’s not. For filmmakers, that means not assuming, and double-checking confirmations before starting the marketing process. But in general, it means understanding the modern media world and running your arts and culture programs appropriately. Answer emails. Return phone calls. Have a killer web presence. Understand that fan attention is scarce, and that you should never, ever take it for granted.
And it also means abandoning the process of waiting for approvals or acceptance from festivals, press, labels, etc. It means making your art your way, connecting with fans, and giving them a reason to support your work financially.
Moral of the story: Connect with fans directly.
I have people who want to see 72 musicians. Why was I letting the Kansas International Film Festival dictate whether or not they can see it?
Lesson learned.
Hey Kansas City… where are we screening the film? House? Bar? Theater?
My email is on the right rail.
Let’s do this.
-bob
ps — No, I haven’t given up on film festivals. We had a good experience and learned a lot at the Maine International Film Festival in July. But it’s time for better strategery and frank discussion on which events we allow to delay our own marketing and distribution plans.
