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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Welcome to our 17th year. We discover and curate a unique collection of local and global Independent Drama, Documentary, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Political, Horror, Comedy, Experimental, Music Video, Animation, VR/AR, and Web Series films in Philadelphia, PA, using surrounding traditional and non-traditional theaters and venues. We are committed to discovering and presenting a unique cinematic experience unrestrained by conventional boundaries. We invite you to take part in our ongoing Underground Film Forum, #uff, held around the city including recently at local Cafes, Pen&Pencil Club, Mt Airy Nexus, Robert Morris House, and UArts Lightbox Theater, oftentimes streamed, and other times in the cloak of secrecy. We are often discussing submissions, the tokenization (Democratization of Content) of film, independent distribution, breaking media technology, and digital propaganda, via the crossroads of digital storytelling, media, film, education, and culture using #uff #piff #piffFilms #mediabureau #PTW21 #AI among other tags. How did the Festival begin? Founded by digital media pioneer Media Bureau Inc in 2007, the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival’s (PIFF) birth was a direct result of a colliding critical mass of independent digital film and media, and a swift reaction to the perceived demand to “experience” it. The goal was to establish an “always-on” event environment to discuss film, digital media, and the intersection of storytelling, while always trying to innovate at the leading edge. The festival incubated from the then omnipresent underground film forum #uff. The forum had been meeting off and on since the inception of the Media Bureau in 1997 and was the first place in PA to regularly produce, screen, and stream digital films and discuss the art of digital storytelling at the intersection of digital media. No other place existed like it at the time in Philadelphia and the tri-state area. Through a steady stream of incredibly in the moment original content and technology grew the rare appreciation for the craft of film in ways that we never had thought of. It was not a passive experience anymore. With this, we realized we were taking part in Philadelphia’s transformation, from analog to digital content production, and in turn were witnessing the birth of a new (digital) storytelling technique. The audience’s reaction was instant. This analog to digital media transition (adoption) was complete across the consumer market place as early as 2006 (just in time to adjust via the great recession) and was a strategic reason to launch the festival when we did. By this time, MBN had fully engaged in digital media history from a uniquely Philadelphian, old city (historical) perspective. Our ecosystem had been established by design and by “request” and was defined by our ability to reach layered and displaced digital communities on demand. We have been fortunate to be able to follow and peer into the many journeys of countless storytellers, innovators, creatives, and filmmakers, in all formats, across many borders, over 20+ years. We are now screening/discussing digital film from a unique perch – the Democratization of Content. Digital filmmaking has taught the festival many things. Most importantly, perhaps, it has opened the minds of possibility for anybody to exercise their right to shoot and post “their story”. This was how we were able to coin the term in 2008, Real-Time Documentary, to help our filmmakers better place their experiences in the context of a narrative, yet obviously documentary film. The festival was conceived to help enable this type of creative cypher to know no cinematic bounds. The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (PIFF) is in its 17th year of operation. Each year, the festival has grown and adds to its knowledge bank a diverse selection of unknown national and international films. 95% of the films the festival screens during its 5+ day festival are premiers, while an average of 70% +/- are world premiers. We hope you join us or just purchase a ticket for a friend! Thank you, Benjamin F. Barnett Marteen Olaya ::: Festival ORGANIZERS ::: Festival Founder Festival Director Screening Committee – Underground Film Forum #uff ~ est. 1997 Chuck Treece (#uff) (Ultimate Robot) (US) Jenni Reid /Warrior Dreamzz #uff Business Development Most Honorable Screening Members past/present: Thank you for inspiration when it was needed most: Sean McKnight (Cinema Alliance) Graphic Design (past and present) Digital Media Strategy Festival Blogging Team Honored bloggers Digital Technology Music Interface Digital Media Audio / Video Business Consulting The Eco-System evolves: WhoMagazine ………………………… ……………………….
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