Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema
New York City, New York | Film Festival
Film-related Business, Shorts Program
Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema is the only film festival of its kind in Queens, New York. Helping expand the audiences of independent cinema from around the globe, the main objective is to bring the community together and deliver a of a World-Class film festival experience to attendees.
Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema
New York City, New York | Film Festival
Film-related Business, Shorts Program
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
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Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema is the only film festival of its kind in Queens, New York. Helping expand the audiences of independent cinema from around the globe, the main objective is to bring the community together and deliver a of a World-Class film festival experience to attendees.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Heralded by The Wall Street Journal as the film festival event that New York City's avid moviegoers are taking note of, and as featured on The Huffington Post, Time Out NY and NY1 News, Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema is a non-profit organization established to support the development of and help expand the audiences for independent cinema from around the globe. Our second year festival will take place Aug. 3-12, 2018.
Offering over $15,000 in prizes, Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema is honored to partner with a variety of local and international sponsors, including SAG-AFTRA, IndiePix Films, Soundview Media Partners, Moviemaker Magazine, Variety 411, Final Draft, and Yelp. Audience choice winners, along with winners of Best Feature and Best Short categories will each receive a distribution offer from IndiePix Films. Other awards include an InkTip Script Listing to promote themselves and their scripts to InkTip’s entire network of producers, managers, and agents; a sales consultation with Soundview Media Partners; a subscription to iPitch.tv; and full writing software provided by Final Draft, along with other sponsored prizes.
Giving incredible exposure to fantastic filmmakers, KGFC Film Fest is quickly becoming the festival to have your film recognized. In 2017, we received 400 submissions, both feature and short length films from around the world, of which 157 were carefully selected. Two feature films received a distribution deal, while two other feature films earned the attention of independent film distributors in Los Angeles, leading to acquisition interest.
Additional promotional opportunities to our filmmakers included an invitation to participate on the KGFC Festival Talks Daily Podcasts. KGFC Film Fest also invites selected filmmakers to participate on their independent filmmakers panels, and works to get as much press coverage for all the films as possible. (our 2017 festival saw over 30 films being featured in numerous media coverage across Queens and NYC!)
Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema accepts all lengths and genres, so we encourage filmmakers from around the globe to submit their work for a chance to have it screened at The Kew Gardens Cinema. Built in the 1930's, it is Queens, New Yorks oldest and only operating Art House Movie Theater, and at Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Because our festival takes place in a small town, we offer filmmakers a more intimate experience, allowing them to network with their audience and their peers. We also want our filmmakers to succeed, so every filmmaker that submits their film(s) will automatically be receiving a 1 year subscription to Videomaker.com, a leading subscription service that focuses on guiding independent filmmakers with online tutorials and publications (a $20 value). In addition, this years selections will all be converted to DCP for optimal quality, offering filmmakers the opportunity to purchase their DCP at an incredibly discounted rate.
You can rest assured that all submitted films are watched in their entirety by our programmers, which we know is a major concern when it comes to choosing which festival to submit to. Along with our daily screenings, we plan on hosting intimate panel conversations with independent filmmakers, producers, distributors and sales agents. Something many festivals often overlook. You can expect red carpet premieres and familiar faces. The Festival staff will be hard at work promoting every film that gets accepted, to ensure that audiences attend your screening.
Finally, we want this to be an amazing experience for everyone that attends - so expect to have activities such as Karaoke, Movie Trivia Night, Stand-up Comedy Night, Outdoor Screenings and After Parties hosted by our wonderful sponsors!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Advertising Costs
Costs $2,500
Publicity will help our festival bring exposure and recognition to truly amazing independent films.
Facility Expenses
Costs $7,500
To help with the rental fees associated with our beautiful theater venue and Awards Dinner Gala
Share this update!
About This Team
As the founder of the Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema and a native of Glendale Queens, Jayson studied acting at The Acting Studio NYC and began making his own movies since 2000. With over 40 credits on IMDB.com and having written, directed and produced 12 films, his passion makes him the perfect candidate to launch a major film festival.
Another Queens native, Caroline Lim was raised in Oakland Gardens, NY and studied biochemistry and mathematics at Binghamton University. Caroline is no stranger to number-crunching, having spent 13 years as an actuary, where she analyzed risk for financial investments and insurance policies. Besides running a baking company that serves Queens locals, she is an event organizer who promotes positive community and economic growth throughout New York City neighborhoods.
After over seventeen years of editing films, commercials and television shows, John Fallon founded the Indie Film NYC Podcast to help other filmmakers navigate a career as artists in an increasingly digital world. John sees the Kew Garden Festival of Cinema as a logical extension of the work he’s doing with IFNYC because this festival will give filmmakers a place to showcase their films, network with their peers, and learn from other filmmakers.
Brian Geldin is a Queens-based film publicist and is extremely proud to be repping the inaugural KGFC! He has created successful publicity campaigns for fiction and nonfiction films, most recently for Del Shores’ hit comedy “A Very Sordid Wedding,” Adam Irving’s documentary “Off the Rails,” and many others. In 2015, he worked as the Communications Manager for the Emmy-winning PBS series POV.
Fern Kershon is the principal of Call Back, a media company with a dual focus: marketing and advertising as well as film and theater production.
An experienced media strategist specializing in start-ups and emerging businesses, Fern has a proven track record of launching and supporting successful initiatives. Fern executive produced PHOTO OP, a short film by writer/director Dave Solomon. Starring Randy Harrison, Aaron Lazar and featuring Tony-award nominee, Lucas Steele.
Sirajus is a Queens based filmmaker. Although, a large portion of his works were focused on film editing, but his wide range of skills has led him to many different opportunities. Being a part of the team, Sirajus hopes to bring growth to the festival with his knowledge and expertise.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Heralded by The Wall Street Journal as the film festival event that New York City's avid moviegoers are taking note of, and as featured on The Huffington Post, Time Out NY and NY1 News, Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema is a non-profit organization established to support the development of and help expand the audiences for independent cinema from around the globe. Our second year festival will take place Aug. 3-12, 2018.
Offering over $15,000 in prizes, Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema is honored to partner with a variety of local and international sponsors, including SAG-AFTRA, IndiePix Films, Soundview Media Partners, Moviemaker Magazine, Variety 411, Final Draft, and Yelp. Audience choice winners, along with winners of Best Feature and Best Short categories will each receive a distribution offer from IndiePix Films. Other awards include an InkTip Script Listing to promote themselves and their scripts to InkTip’s entire network of producers, managers, and agents; a sales consultation with Soundview Media Partners; a subscription to iPitch.tv; and full writing software provided by Final Draft, along with other sponsored prizes.
Giving incredible exposure to fantastic filmmakers, KGFC Film Fest is quickly becoming the festival to have your film recognized. In 2017, we received 400 submissions, both feature and short length films from around the world, of which 157 were carefully selected. Two feature films received a distribution deal, while two other feature films earned the attention of independent film distributors in Los Angeles, leading to acquisition interest.
Additional promotional opportunities to our filmmakers included an invitation to participate on the KGFC Festival Talks Daily Podcasts. KGFC Film Fest also invites selected filmmakers to participate on their independent filmmakers panels, and works to get as much press coverage for all the films as possible. (our 2017 festival saw over 30 films being featured in numerous media coverage across Queens and NYC!)
Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema accepts all lengths and genres, so we encourage filmmakers from around the globe to submit their work for a chance to have it screened at The Kew Gardens Cinema. Built in the 1930's, it is Queens, New Yorks oldest and only operating Art House Movie Theater, and at Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Because our festival takes place in a small town, we offer filmmakers a more intimate experience, allowing them to network with their audience and their peers. We also want our filmmakers to succeed, so every filmmaker that submits their film(s) will automatically be receiving a 1 year subscription to Videomaker.com, a leading subscription service that focuses on guiding independent filmmakers with online tutorials and publications (a $20 value). In addition, this years selections will all be converted to DCP for optimal quality, offering filmmakers the opportunity to purchase their DCP at an incredibly discounted rate.
You can rest assured that all submitted films are watched in their entirety by our programmers, which we know is a major concern when it comes to choosing which festival to submit to. Along with our daily screenings, we plan on hosting intimate panel conversations with independent filmmakers, producers, distributors and sales agents. Something many festivals often overlook. You can expect red carpet premieres and familiar faces. The Festival staff will be hard at work promoting every film that gets accepted, to ensure that audiences attend your screening.
Finally, we want this to be an amazing experience for everyone that attends - so expect to have activities such as Karaoke, Movie Trivia Night, Stand-up Comedy Night, Outdoor Screenings and After Parties hosted by our wonderful sponsors!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Advertising Costs
Costs $2,500
Publicity will help our festival bring exposure and recognition to truly amazing independent films.
Facility Expenses
Costs $7,500
To help with the rental fees associated with our beautiful theater venue and Awards Dinner Gala
Share this update!
About This Team
As the founder of the Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema and a native of Glendale Queens, Jayson studied acting at The Acting Studio NYC and began making his own movies since 2000. With over 40 credits on IMDB.com and having written, directed and produced 12 films, his passion makes him the perfect candidate to launch a major film festival.
Another Queens native, Caroline Lim was raised in Oakland Gardens, NY and studied biochemistry and mathematics at Binghamton University. Caroline is no stranger to number-crunching, having spent 13 years as an actuary, where she analyzed risk for financial investments and insurance policies. Besides running a baking company that serves Queens locals, she is an event organizer who promotes positive community and economic growth throughout New York City neighborhoods.
After over seventeen years of editing films, commercials and television shows, John Fallon founded the Indie Film NYC Podcast to help other filmmakers navigate a career as artists in an increasingly digital world. John sees the Kew Garden Festival of Cinema as a logical extension of the work he’s doing with IFNYC because this festival will give filmmakers a place to showcase their films, network with their peers, and learn from other filmmakers.
Brian Geldin is a Queens-based film publicist and is extremely proud to be repping the inaugural KGFC! He has created successful publicity campaigns for fiction and nonfiction films, most recently for Del Shores’ hit comedy “A Very Sordid Wedding,” Adam Irving’s documentary “Off the Rails,” and many others. In 2015, he worked as the Communications Manager for the Emmy-winning PBS series POV.
Fern Kershon is the principal of Call Back, a media company with a dual focus: marketing and advertising as well as film and theater production.
An experienced media strategist specializing in start-ups and emerging businesses, Fern has a proven track record of launching and supporting successful initiatives. Fern executive produced PHOTO OP, a short film by writer/director Dave Solomon. Starring Randy Harrison, Aaron Lazar and featuring Tony-award nominee, Lucas Steele.
Sirajus is a Queens based filmmaker. Although, a large portion of his works were focused on film editing, but his wide range of skills has led him to many different opportunities. Being a part of the team, Sirajus hopes to bring growth to the festival with his knowledge and expertise.