04-08-2026, 08:50 AM
The Conundrum.
I received an email yesterday touting the fact I had reached the final round of review before the film festival decides to accept Iron Crotch or not. Their first question is whether I will still be having a world premiere at their festival. Then they want to know how I will use their film festival to promote my film.
In the world of film festival, having a World Premiere is kind of good bait to have to entice people to your festival. It's one of the small pieces of leverage I have to get into festival and this festival, Dances with Films, based in Los Angeles, wants to have that World Premiere. If it was a simple Quid pro Quo, you give us the World Premiere and we'll screen your film at the festival, I'd say sure. But that's not what the letter offers. Dances with Films just wants to know if that's on the table while they make their decision. If I say yes, I have to withdraw from about four other festivals that are currently considering Iron Crotch. All of those festivals have screenings before Dances. One of those festival is Tribeca. Yes, I dream of screening at Tribeca. Do I think I have an actual shot at Tribeca? Not really. But I think I have to try.
One of the scenarios is I pull out of these other festivals and Dances still declines to accept me into their festival. Going with my current track record of acceptances, chances are high I will not be chosen by any of these festivals. Maybe it's a little more likely Dances will choose Iron Crotch because they have sent me this email. But a little voice in the back of my head argues, "What if they sent that letter to all the Documentary submissions?" Hope is a terrible thing. By withdrawing from the other four festival, my chances of getting in them goes from minuscule to zero.
What to do. What to do.
Probably the real kicker that is messing with my head is the venue for the Dances with Films festival. The Festival is run out of the TCL Chinese Theater, better known as Graumann's Chinese Theater.
I received an email yesterday touting the fact I had reached the final round of review before the film festival decides to accept Iron Crotch or not. Their first question is whether I will still be having a world premiere at their festival. Then they want to know how I will use their film festival to promote my film.
In the world of film festival, having a World Premiere is kind of good bait to have to entice people to your festival. It's one of the small pieces of leverage I have to get into festival and this festival, Dances with Films, based in Los Angeles, wants to have that World Premiere. If it was a simple Quid pro Quo, you give us the World Premiere and we'll screen your film at the festival, I'd say sure. But that's not what the letter offers. Dances with Films just wants to know if that's on the table while they make their decision. If I say yes, I have to withdraw from about four other festivals that are currently considering Iron Crotch. All of those festivals have screenings before Dances. One of those festival is Tribeca. Yes, I dream of screening at Tribeca. Do I think I have an actual shot at Tribeca? Not really. But I think I have to try.
One of the scenarios is I pull out of these other festivals and Dances still declines to accept me into their festival. Going with my current track record of acceptances, chances are high I will not be chosen by any of these festivals. Maybe it's a little more likely Dances will choose Iron Crotch because they have sent me this email. But a little voice in the back of my head argues, "What if they sent that letter to all the Documentary submissions?" Hope is a terrible thing. By withdrawing from the other four festival, my chances of getting in them goes from minuscule to zero.
What to do. What to do.
Probably the real kicker that is messing with my head is the venue for the Dances with Films festival. The Festival is run out of the TCL Chinese Theater, better known as Graumann's Chinese Theater.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm