Add to favorites Examiner Bio

42nd annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival kicks off

"Before Sundance, Before Telluride There Was WorldFest"                         

 

The 42^nd annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival opens on April 17 and runs through April 26, 2009. WorldFest-Houston was originally founded, in 1961, as Cinema Arts, an International Film Society. It is the oldest independent (Indie) film festival in the World. The festival had reached competitive status by 1968. As the festival progressed, it evolved into two different entities; WorldFest –Houston and the Houston Film Society.  WorldFest-Houston is renowned for its complete dedication to showcasing independent films from across the world. It is the only festival in North America to keep its focus solely on independent film projects. WorldFest-Houston does not accept films from major studios. 

 

Some of the most famous and recognizable faces in Hollywood have had their work debuted at WorldFest- Houston. Among the notables are Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ridley Scott, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Robert Townsend, Robert Rodriguez, and The Coen Brothers along with many others who are now among Hollywood’s elite. 

 

This year’s WorldFest-Houston will be screening 55-60 full-length feature films and 100 short films over the course of the festival. In addition to prizes for the top feature and short, the festival awards prizes in the following categories,  TV Production, Documentary, Corporate & Business Films, Student & Experimental, TV Commercials, Film & Video Production, Music Videos and New Media (Interactive & Web Sites. This year WorldFest-Houston will focus on premieres of films that are in search of distribution. For access to a complete schedule of the feature length and shorts please click below. 

 

WorldFest-Houston Screening Schedule 

 

WorldFest-Houston’s management admits that the preponderance of categories does increase the number of awards given out. However, in an effort to make the award ceremony as festive as possible; only those who have actually won prizes in their category are invited to the WorldFest Awards Gala. Management believes the inclusion of just the winners lightens the mood because there are no ‘dissappointed’ nominees’ present. 

 

All WorldFest-Houston screenings will be shown at the AMC 30 Theater at 2949 Dunvale. For driving directions to the theater, please follow the link below. 

 

WorldFest-Houston Screening Theater Driving Directions 

 

WorldFest-Houston is committed to the independent spirit of the Indie filmmaker. Their feeling is that far too many of today’s film festivals are merely offshoots of larger studios who want to showcase their ‘Indie’ divisions. WorldFest-Houston employs a variety of industry insiders who have experience in various aspects of the film industry. This puts them in the unique position to understand the needs of the industry as well as the needs of the filmmaker. 

 

To aid those attendees who want to learn more about the industry, WorldFest-Houston hosts seminars in a number of disciplines, including Cinematography, Casting, Distribution, Directing/Producing and Writing.  For a complete seminar schedule please follow the link below. 

 

WorldFest-Houston Seminar Schedule 

 

To help those attending the festival, keep track of all the goings-on, a 120+ page program is available free of charge. It’s interesting to note that the program is also free to every film studio and all the major film festivals in the world as well as every major film & video distributor in the world. According to the WorldFest-Houston website, the program has become ‘an invaluable reference document for film acquisition and review.’ A full color commemorative edition of the program is available for $5.00 during the screenings. The cost will be $10 if the program is mailed.  

 

Cultivating the Future of Film 

 

WorldFest in conjunction with the Houston Film Society makes it easy for festival attendees to have access to film events all year round. The Houston Film Society(HFS) is the largest film society in Texas with over 1,000 members. HFS sponsors the Student Film Award and also provides scholarships to the festival and the production seminars for some 200 deserving high school and college students in and around the Houston area. The total scholarship money granted stands at $79,000.00. For more information on HFS or to learn about sponsorship opportunities please contact the festival at 713-965-9955 or visit the festival offices at 9898 Bissonnet. For directions to the office please follow the link below. 

 

WorldFest Contact Information 

 

 

As part of the closing day festivities,WorldFest Houston will again feature its signature Regatta at the Houston Yacht Club. The day’s activities will start with buses leaving the Renaissance hotel at 10 am and traveling to NASA’a Johnson Space Center. From there they will adjourn to the Yacht Club where all WorldFest guests who are interested will be assigned a yacht and a crew. There will be a three hour ‘fun race’. Please bring a sweater or windbreaker if you are planning on sailing. For anyone who will be sailing there are strict guidelines for attire. Only white soled shoes or tennis shoes are allowed. No dark soled shoes will be allowed. Non sailors will be able to board one of the large party yachts that will follow the racers. After the race everyone will dock at the marina for some local color with a ‘Bollywood Madras’ feast and live Mariachi music. The buses will depart the yacht club in order to arrive at the AMC 30 Theater in time to catch the 7pm closing film. 

 

The Cost of WorldFest-Houston 

 

Evening screenings for individual films are $10.00. Matinee screenings of features and shorts will run $6.00. The cost for a VIP pass for the entire festival will set you back $500.00 but it does include every screening as well as the seminars and the closing day activities. There are a variety of additional pricing options available. To see all of the ticket prices or to make a purchase please click the link below. 

 

 

WorldFest-Houston has been the launching pad for many of the best and the brightest in Hollywood. No doubt this year will continue that tradition. Perhaps in the 150 plus entries is the next “Slumdog Millionaire” or next years Oscar contenders. Take some time to drop in and see for yourself.