The Red Carpet at Miami Short Film Festival

Level Up finished its festival run for the season at the 9th Annual Miami Short Film Festival, where we were one of five shorts nominated for Best Narrative. Out of more than 500 entries from 27 countries, I was proud to have been in such good company!

The winning film, LASTRAIN, was was a beautiful film and it was a joy to discuss its development with the writer and star, Raul Alvarez.

The festival screening was held in a first class theater, packed full with an appreciative audience and followed with a thoughtful Q&A session.

I was also invited to sit on a panel at the festival with a group of extremely talented directors, discussing the art of short film.

Opening Night with Festival Director William Vela

Q&A after the Level Up screening, with Program Director Maggie Drayton

Art of the Short Film panel at Miami Short Film Festival

Oh, yeah, Michael Moore was at the Miami Short Film Festival, too

Level Up received Best Comedy at FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival 2010. This was twice as exciting to be recognized this year, since our last short film won Best Comedy at the same festival last year! Thanks to everyone who came out to the Franklin Institute and supported us!

Nic Baisley from Film Snobbery Live interviews Greg Koorhan on the red carpet at FirstGlance Philadelphia 2010.

Join us for a screening of Level Up at FirstGlance Film Festival Philadelphia 2010, Sunday, October 17 at 3:30 pm. We’re in a block with other award-winning films, so it’ll be fun! Come to The Franklin Institute, Franklin Theater 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Buy tickets in advance at www.firstglancefilms.com.

Level Up was called “the brighter side of cinema” in Montgomery Media, as they covered local film makers screening in the upcoming FirstGlance Philadelphia, one of the “top 10 festivals for the rest of us.”

Read the full article.

Miami Short Film Festival selected Level Up to screen at their 9th Annual event. Showcasing 80 international films, the festival runs from November 15-20, 2010.

This will most likely be the last festival for us this season, so if you are headed south this fall and can join us, please do!

I was a guest on Nic Baisley’s Film Snobbery Live! show on Sunday, October 3. We talked about where the ideas in Level Up came from, as well as the upcoming FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival and issues like working with SAG, how film production time affects family and equipment questions from the audience. Then Nic gave away $300 in software.

You can watch the episode here (I’m in the second half of the show).

Level Up was selected to screen at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival on September 17, 2010. Big Bear is about 90 miles outside of Los Angeles and a beautiful setting for this, their 9th festival. No wins for us this time, but this marks our West Coast premiere!

FirstGlance Philadelphia 2010 has selected Level Up as part of this year’s program. We’re very excited, because last year we were awarded Best Comedy in our category for Tripping Up. Philly’s longest running indie film festival, now in its 13th year, is held at the Franklin Institute October 14-17th. For more information, visit www.firstglancefilms.com/philadelphia/officialselections.