Final Submissions Deadline for 2009 ONFilm Festival, Jan. 2
After an 11-year run as a retrospective film festival, the 2009 Old Dominion University - City of Norfolk (ONFilm) Festival is getting competitive. The festival will run from March 25 - 28, 2009, and feature screenings of independently produced features, documentaries, shorts and short shorts on the ODU campus and in various Norfolk venues.
Films will be judged by a panel of internationally acclaimed film directors and personnel (judges and prizes to be announced soon). In addition to screenings, the 2009 festival will offer lectures, panels, discussions, and other events, including an appearance by a major U.S. film director. Actor, director and humanitarian Danny Glover presided at last year's closing gala and received the ONFilm Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hampton Roads Film Office Commissioner Jeffery Frizzell noted: "Having the ONFilm Festival as a competitive festival generates great economic impact opportunities in a wide range of business sectors. Not only does it serve to promote tourism to the destination in general, it also brings a significant cultural contribution and helps put the region on the map for film directors, producers and photographers eager to find attractive, exciting locations for their shoots. The ONFilm Festival is a tremendous value for the Hampton Roads region."
"Old Dominion University is pleased to continue its partnership with the city of Norfolk as the ONFilm Festival transforms into a competitive, annual event. The festival had a productive 11-year run as a retrospective series, and we look forward to this new venture, which will screen new independent films," said acting ODU President John R. Broderick.
Call for Submissions Already Producing Results
Submissions for the 2009 festival are being accepted now, and can be sent online either at www.withoutabox.com (the international online clearing house for films and film festivals) or through the ONFilm Festival web site (www.onfilmfest.com). There is a submission fee of $35 for films submitted by Nov. 1, $45 by December 15 and $55 by Jan. 2. Participants will be notified by Feb. 2 if their film has been selected.
The film schedule and list of venues will be available soon.