‘The Dead’ don’t get in
Well, our festival experience with “The Dead Can’t Dance” is officially under way, with our first rejection letter:
“Dear Rodrick,
Thank you so much for submitting your film to the SXSW Film Conference and Festival 2010. We wouldn’t exist without the support and engagement from filmmakers such as yourself.
However, it’s a crazy numbers game. We’re sorry to let you know that while ‘The Dead Can’t Dance’ was given every consideration, it did not make the final cut. This year we received well over 4,000 submissions for a final program of about 120 features, and 120 shorts. There are way more excellent and fascinating films than we can program, and the final decisions are agonizing.
Again, we thank you for your support, and apologize for this disappointing news.”
It’s not really a surprise (and I tried to not get my hopes up too high). But I think it IS very cool that we hung in there as long as we did, and with only a very rough cut submitted (while it would have been cool to have sent them a more polished cut, it just wasn’t possible). Unlike many other festivals, SXSW sends out notices in batches, so if your film gets a thumbs down right away, you’ll know. Final notifications will go out around Feb. 1, so that means we were still being considered much longer than many films. Very promising. (The last time I submitted to them, I got a rejection before the first deadline was even up — ouch.)
And 4,000 submissions???!!!! It makes getting in nearly impossible. Crazy!
But this officially kicks off the next phase: Dealing with the festival beast. And I feel pretty ready and confident, with my armor glaring. Bring it on, freaks! This won’t be the first rejection for “The Dead Can’t Dance,” but hopefully someone bites somewhere. We’ll just have to see.
And while I was reserving world premiere status for SXSW, knowing this I can now pursue our own world premiere here.
Sure, it would have been absolutely incredible to be in SXSW, and with no word until now, it almost seemed possible. It’s fun to day dream, but it wasn’t meant to be (probably never will, and that’s OK). Still, it’s a bitter pill. Just gotta wash it down and make room for more.
Until, hopefully, we get that nice, sweet — elusive — one. Someday.
-r.
