The festival is an excellent opportunity for Midwest filmmakers and beyond to screen their shorts and features and to network with other filmmakers.  We’ve screened hundreds of shorts and features from across the U.S. and from around the world.

We accept entries by students and filmmakers of all ages, and submission fees range from $15 to $40, and include student discounts.  All entries go through Withoutabox.com:

Early Bird Deadline
October 15th
($20 for non-WAB, $15 for WAB)
Regular Deadline
November 30th
($25 for non-WAB, $20 for WAB)
Late Deadline
December 15th
($40 for non-WAB, $35 for WAB)
Students subtract $5 for all categories.

More information and the submission link can be found at our website www.riverbendfilmfestival.org. We are sponsored by the non-for-profit Mid America Filmmakers and Downtown South Bend (www.downtownsouthbend.com)

Interested in becoming an MAF member? It’s only $10.00 per year, October through September! And only $8.00 for students. Just print and complete the application below and mail it in with your payment or bring it to a MAF meeting (7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month in the Cellar Door restaurant below the Ramada Plaza downtown South Bend).

DOWNLOAD MAF_MEMBERSHIP_APPLICATION_10-11(Right click+SAVE)

BENEFITS OF MAF MEMBERSHIP:
·Extensive networking in filmmaking, screenwriting, and acting, networking opportunities in Indiana, Michigan and the Midwest.
·Receive regular MAF newsletter via email.
·Via MAF website, post announcements of screenings and other film-related events, including requests for casts and crew in the Michiana and Chicago regions.
·Membership fees help support MAF actors list, casting calls, mailings, mentoring, education, regional screenings, and other marketing costs.
·MAF is a 501C3 nonprofit organization.
·Participation in MAF Screenwriters Group
·Free entry to all MAF screenings
·Discounted tickets to MAF supported River Bend Film Festival
·Opportunities for discounts from filmmaking-related local businesses
·Fiscal sponsorship for your filmmaking or film-related activity if applying for a grant
·Eligibility to partake in the MAF sponsored $100 movie project

There will be two free one-hour screenings at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. for the general public, and a two-hour screening at 7:00 p.m. with more mature content for an admission cost of $5.00 at the door.

Here is the list of films that will be shown, in no particular order (an asterisk* denotes a MAF member):

“Bad TV” (3 episodes) by Scott Goble* and Shane Roby*
“Fresh Fruit Pie” (trailer) by Carl Obremski
“Opportunity Jones” by Steve Bensics*
“Comatose” by David Gilleand
“The Transient” by Chris Lukeman
“Harvey Putter” (music video & trailer) by Tim Richardson* and Michael Kouroubetes*
“Silence of the Belle” by Marx Pile

More details and descriptions available in our screenings section here.

Date:

Description: A panel of local filmmakers and actors will share their experiences, and entertain questions from the audience about any aspect of production, including script to screen, planning, locations, lighting, shooting the movie, editing, sound, marketing and more.

Panelists: Scott Goble & Shane Roby (“BadTV” online sitcom), Carl Obremski (“Fresh Fruit Pie” children’s show), Ed Ernestes (actor), and Tim Richardson (“Harvey Putter” film).

This free and open to the public presentation will take place at 7:30 p.m. immediately following our regular monthly Mid America Filmmakers meeting which begins at 7:00 p.m. You are welcome to join us for both.

Professional Makeup Effects Artists Victor Cao (owner of Fun F/X) and Andrew Swisher (various local films) share examples of different makeup products that could be used to make cool effects, and how they would appear on film. They will show samples of a latex prosthetic, gelatin prosthetic, and silicone prosthetic and… explain the pros and cons of each one.

This free and open to the public presentation will take place immediately following our regular monthly Mid America Filmmakers meeting which begins at 7:00 p.m. You are welcome to join us for both.

This is the sixth in a monthly series of “Making Movie Magic”workshops.

This free and open to the public presentation will take place immediately following our regular monthly Mid America Filmmakers meeting which begins at 7:00 p.m. You are welcome to join us for both.

This is the fifth in a monthly series of “Making Movie Magic” workshops. Please visit our website at www.midamericafilmmakers.org for updates and additional workshop listings. Next month’s topic will be on FX Make-up For Film.

Deadline for entries is July 1, 2010.

Preference will be given to films from the Michiana area. Download the form:  MAF Summer Screening 2010 Submission Form.

The festival closed Saturday night with the local premiere of MAF member Devi Snively’s first feature film TRIPPIN’ with over 100 film lovers  in attendance.  The festival also featured a local film block, which included the MAF $100 Movie Project winner 5 CM PETER by MAF member David Boyer, produced by BigHatCowboy Productions, who screened their own short as well, called SMALL CHANGE.

MAF president Tim Richardson is the festival director and his committee is made up of a number of fellow MAF members, as well as other film supporters and artists in the community.  The fest will continue to update their website www.riverbendfilmfest.org with photos and videos.

This free and open to the public presentation will take place immediately at 7:30 p.m. following our regular monthly Mid America Filmmakers meeting at the Cellar Door restaurant, which begins at 7:00 p.m. You are welcome to join us for both.

This is the fourth in a monthly series of “Making Movie Magic”workshops. Please visit our website at www.midamericafilmmakers.org for updates and additional workshop listings.

RSVP if you like on Facebook right HERE.

Over 70 films in a wide variety of genres, cultures and topics from students to industry professionals will be shown throughout the festival weekend. Most of the films are grouped into thematic blocks such as experimental, horror, family friendly, documentary, Asian, Local, and gay and lesbian. There will also be workshops on filmmaking, lighting, and makeup effects on Saturday afternoon.

The free Thursday night screening is 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. in Room 1001 in Wiekamp Hall at Indiana University South Bend. The first half of the evening will include a selection of short films, including the award-winning “The Vaudevillian”, about a ventriloquist’s strained relationship with his dummy after their act is cancelled.  After an intermission, the festival’s keynote speaker, director Lloyd Kaufman, will introduce his cult classic comedy/horror film “The Toxic Avenger”, followed by a Q & A.

Times, ticket prices, and festival schedule at www.riverbendfilmfest.org