A
New Online Newsletter for the Truly Independent Film Community
10.14.2003
(NEW YORK CITY) : Come November, The Festival Rag,
a new online periodical dedicated to true independent filmmaking
and filmmakers, will be broadcast to thousands of media-industry
subscribers.
The
monthly newsletter will pick up the buzz on the indie fare now showing
at film festivals worldwide, and will also shine fresh light on
the festivals themselves, which celebrate the best in breakout screen
entertainment. The Rag will feature occasional
interviews with the brave new filmmakers at the vanguard of independent
cinema, as well as the bold festival programmers who showcase their
work to the hungry indie world.
"The
climate of independent movies has changed so much," says Rag
Editor-in-Chief Gil S. Ripley. "The so-called
'independent films' that get released nowadays cannot and should
not be considered as such. Most of these films come from an arm
of a major Hollywood studio, or a mini-major. And that's fine. But
they certainly aren't independent."
For
films made outside the Hollywood circuit, the box-office return
is negligible; their reward is festival word-of-mouth. The biggest
notice most indie films will receive is at film festivals, and Managing
Editor Dave Roberts plans to maximize that attention.
"There are great films and filmmakers out there who can't be
heard above the hundred-million dollar din of the blockbuster,"
he says. "The Festival Rag is meant to be their megaphone."
Through
the online entertainment portal KeMeK, The
Festival Rag will deliver its flagship issue via email
on November 3rd, 2003 to its list of more than 20,000 subscribers
among the film, television, theatre and commercial media trades.
Subsequent issues will be sent free of charge on the first Monday
of each month, and will be posted online
- the website will offer the entire past-issue archive among a wealth
of indie-film links and resources.
As
a subscriber, you will also be privy to our Breaking News
Communiqué: exclusive, festival news items immediately
sent to you as we receive them.
A veteran
of the international film festival circuit, The Rag's
Publisher Markus Varjo is calling out to festival
alumni and staff alike for insider-indie comment. "As the only
magazine that will give a voice to filmmakers at the festivals,
we're asking for their thoughts, comments and reviews." Editorial
submissions from filmmakers and vendors can be sent to Dave
Roberts, dave@kemek.com.
Advertising for the first issue is already sold out. The deadline
for the December issue is November 20th - for more information on
advertising rates and standards, contact Mitchell Kleibacker
at mitchell@kemek.com,
or visit the online
rate card.
###
|