Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo Set to Unspool in the Fall

Art and Commerce converge in Anaheim’s premier all in one entertainment content festival and marketplace, November 14-18, 2012
Entertainment content creators, buyers and Industry leaders expected to converge in Anaheim’s newest global marketplace for
Film, Television, Music, Digital and Media Arts related industries.

Jo Moulton, Executive Director of the Anaheim Film Arts Society today announced the Inaugural Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo (“AFFMAX”) is set to open November 14-18, 2012.

AFFMAX was conceived and developed by veteran film festival professional Moulton (Founder and Festival Director of the 17 year old Temecula Valley Int’l Film & Music Festival, Sponsorship Development and Benefits Fulfillment Strategist for the Chairman’s Office of the Palm Springs International Film Festival from 2001-2010, Co-Creator of the San Diego World Film Festival and Festival Director of the 2010 Anaheim International Film Festival).

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to be a part in the birth of the Anaheim Film Arts Society and its primary event, the Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo,” commented Jo Moulton, Creator and Executive Director. “It’s taken us over a year and two months to create, develop and define our mission, our goals which brought us to this stage - where we knew it was time to unveil and open our doors to the city of Anaheim and to the rest of the world. We hope to build on the solid platform we’ve created and work not only to celebrate the convergence of art and commerce of film and its related media arts industries, but also to raise the visibility and appreciation for Anaheim as a destination among her constituents and the many who will come here for the annual Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo.”

“The goal was to create an event that is uniquely Anaheim. Anaheim is an exciting, vibrant hub that never ceases to attract tourists, artists, sports, conventions and business professionals from all around the world. Anaheim is also a stone’s throw away from Hollywood, the undisputed capital of Film, Television, Music, Digital and new media arts related industries. Combining all these elements gave birth to the Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo (AFFMAX) where art, glamour, entertainment, world press and business are all inseparably linked,” Moulton added.

AFFMAX plays at the intersection of culture and commerce, providing a forum and marketplace where global entertainment business is encouraged by providing an efficient marketplace in the US for all content holders and buyers to discover the best quality products in the film, television, music, digital and media arts entertainment business. Films of every genre and length are showcased in the various sections of the Festival while the Media Arts Expo, in Anaheim’s famed Convention Center, provides fertile ground for building and fostering contacts, tap into trends, gain insight and identify business opportunities.

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait said, “Anaheim has seen a growth in its diverse cultural and artistic offerings in recent years; the debut of the first Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo adds to our cache as a place where the arts flourish.”
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Commenting on the announcement, Anaheim/OC Convention and Visitor Bureau President Charles Ahlers, said, "The Bureau is proud to be a founding partner of the Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo. Cultural events like film festivals have proven consistently that communities that invest in the arts reap the additional benefit of jobs, economic growth, and quality of life. We look forward to supporting a very successful 2012 Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo.”

“We are thrilled that UltraLuxe Cinemas will be the official home of the Anaheim Film Festival and Media Arts Expo,” said John Ellison, COO, UltraStar Cinemas. “Film festivals are vital to fostering cultural arts in the community, and we have been privileged to host dozens of festivals throughout the region for many years. As an Anaheim business, UltraLuxe is proud to host an event that will showcase and advance independent filmmaking talent, while bringing the community together to share in the joy of movies.”

AFFMAX Film Program Director, Derek Horne, has a clear vision for the programming, “Taking a cue from our sponsors and neighboring tourist attractions, it is only natural that the Anaheim Film Festival reflects the fun-loving, exploratory, and innovative nature of the community in which the festival takes place.” He adds, “The Anaheim Film Festival will place an emphasis on the intersection where art and entertainment merge to create a film program that audiences will enjoy and appreciate.”

Derek is already scouring the globe to find these cinematic gems, having just attended the Sundance Film Festival in Utah and the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival in France (the largest short film festival in the world). With his eclectic but discerning tastes, he welcomes numerous types of films to be submitted from feature-length narratives, documentaries, and animations to short films, music videos, and sports-action videos. He encourages locals to submit their films for the “Freshly Squeezed” section of the festival which will be dedicated to films from Orange County. Derek will also be working with the area high schools on a youth filmmaking competition and area colleges to develop a trailer for the festival.

Moulton enthusiastically states, “We are now officially open for film submissions if you are a filmmaker, memberships if you are a cinephile, exhibit registrations for exhibitors, volunteer applications for those who want to help and be part of the festival team, and last but not least, sponsorships. We are a non-profit organization. All contributions of cash and in-kind products, trade and services are welcome, most appreciated and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.”

The festival is open to US and Foreign films. Films may be entered through Withoutabox.com or the Festival website, www.AnaheimFilmArts.org. Early deadline for submissions is May 1, 2012. Regular deadline is June 1, 2012. Late deadline is July 1, 2012.

About Anaheim Film Festival & Media Arts Expo
The 1st Annual Anaheim Film festival & Media Arts Expo takes place Nov. 14-18, 2012 at Ultraluxe Cinemas at Anaheim Gardenwalk. The festival is presented by the Anaheim Film Arts Society, a non-profit cultural arts and education organization dedicated to celebrating film in all its glory while bringing together a community of filmmakers, film professionals, and film going audience; to honor emerging and accomplished filmmakers alike, and pay tribute to their achievements and contributions to the art and commerce of Film.