Looking for an Audience-Swansea Film Festival 2010

[GiveADamnFilm]

Really enjoyed this and hope I can avoid these types of fests this next year or two

[kezseralu26]

This is humiliating and embarrassing for Swansea. It is a great city, but this man, Binda Singh, is making us a laughing stock. I am disgusted by the way he treated you, I am so sorry. Wales is usually such a welcoming country, but your experience has been very poor.

The 'organiser' is a joke. No, not a joke - he's either totally incompetent or a complete charlatan. I guess the latter. Someone please organise a proper film festival so these guys can come back and show their great films.

[CariadProductions]

How embarrassing.

I am disgusted!

Who is this man? Boycott Film Festival Swansea under the management of Binda Singh.

What a rude man.

Poor people, I'm so sorry. Good Luck with your project. Would love to see it!

Rebecca, Cariad Productions. x

[benxander]

Binda Singh is a total idiot. He does not represent anything to do with Swansea, Wales or British film-making in the slightest.

[MrFrosty]

As an Amateur Welsh Film Maker I am so ashamed that this sort of thing exists so close to my home. I wish your movie had the proper screening it deserves.

[SergioDoBrasil]

Thanks for exposing this scam!

[MrSupaAli]

I wouldn't have believed a film festival in Britain can be so poorly organised.

That Singh character is a disgrace!

[mtrevis]

Well done for exposing this bumbling mess of a film festival and organiser. They really need to get their act together. Sack Mr Singh!

[DoosaFan1]

Some review somewhere referred to 2nd tier filmmakers. Damn right, 2nd tier scamming off somebody else scamming 1st tier honest funding! How the frig do you get yourself scammed twice, between BC and UK? A...hole? In cahoots with another? Once bitten twice shy, admittedly you have bloody good actors in your team. Just don't try us again, we're waiting for you ... !

[dilloss]

This is what you get when you attend a film festival in a third world city.

[swanskdb]

@dilloss oh piss off, probarbly from Cardiff .. how bitter

[swansrus1]

HI - sorry you had this bad experience - Swansea is a great city with wonderful scenery, beaches and people. It's a shame that one idiot (I guess every city has them) can cast such a black shadow over what should have been a great experience for you. I'm suprised our local paper has not picked up on this and exposed how this guy is giving Swansea a bad name internationally.

[ThisTownMovie]

Tx for making this.

[revengeguy]

I feel sorry that these professionals come all the way from America and meet with clowns like Binda. It shames all other independent filmmakers in the UK

[chrisdactor]

Very very sad that the documentary makers from the US had this experience, which must have been so disappointing for them. It also looks like their complaints were handled really badly. As the documentary makers say, hopefully this won't reflect badly on them and the other film makers. This festival has given support and a platform to a lot of film makers in the past, and has shown some great films on the occasions that I've attended. I hope some good will come from this.

[necklacing]

As an apology my friends and I have just destroyed Binda's car.

[undercurrentspaulo]

@necklacing really?

[welshfluteplayer]

Yes I live in Swansea It was disgusting that you came all that way to meet a shit head like Bindas and no one saw your film is it on youtube so people can view it. Obviously this guy needs to be sacked and someone else found to host the festival. Most of the Swansea public don't attend these festivals a re think is needed.

[Studiorondo]

When I saw this, I was very disappointed, as my experience of this festival was marvellous. We met, and are still friends with many film makers from around the world, all because of the festival, with projects developing because of the festival, and that is what a festival is all about. I feel the film makers of the above video were disappointed because of their personal experience, so I urge readers not to right off Swansea because of one groups experience.

[TheHolyMane]

that Binda man really pissed me off

[JonnyChappell]

Hope Swansea had some redeeming features for you. I would be interested to know. All the best to you.

[JonnyChappell]

To the people who made this film my heart goes out to you. You have wasted precious time and money in your quest to enlighten a very small audience of this world by travelling so far. Fuelled by your passion this is what you wanted to do and it had been totally ruined. I am sorry for you and all the others let down by the 'ego' in the mini-doc. As for Swansea - Wise up and get it right for next time. Let's save ourselves the shame. This looks very honest and I applaud you for it. Hope Swansea

[JonnyChappell]

As a film lover from Swansea I am embarrassed about the way you were all treated. If I had known of this 'festival' then I would have made every effort to attend. A poorly organised event through and through. I mean, it's simple logic to have your film scheduled for a particular time of day. These people wanted an audience and got nothing. Binda, how can you call this a 'Film Festival'? It seems that the only person you were trying to impress was the Mayor with a nice free dinner.

To the peopl

[tiffer47]

Wow, amazing. I work for the Cornwall Film Festival - I hope we never make filmmakers feel so under-valued and show so little respect! Thanks for posting this film, it's brilliant and makes me even more determined to make the 2011 Cornwall Film Festival the best possible experience for our filmmakers - without who we would not have our film festival!

[liftingthecurse]

I'm no film critic or connoisseur but I couldn't watch this without feeling a sense of collective shame for Swansea - even if it was the result of a few poor organisers. If this festival had been better publicised, I would definitely have attended.

Although I'm in no position to offer one, please take this as a collective apology from the people of Swansea. We don't like people visiting and leaving with a bitter taste in their mouths, regardless of who has caused it.

[ajjps15]

I hope you submitted this to the following years festival!

[LittleFingerFilms]

its an unorganised, terrible and shoddy film festival. It brings down the City, and it brings down the welsh film industry.

[sovibrant]

No wonder Catherine Zeta Jones has resigned her patronage. It must be like being the patron of a chimps tea party, though to be fair i am sure chimps at least all sit down together.

[sovibrant]

I am from Neath, have lived in Swansea and now live in England - many of my family are still in Wales and seeing this embarrassment of an event makes me ashamed. To disregard people who have travelled thousands of miles and to then continually patronise their intelligence is shameful behaviour. The list of fundamentals missing from the organisation is disgraceful. Organising a party during the screenings is an insult and the filmmakers should have their costs refunded. What a joke.

[welshleprechaun]

Don't group Wales and Swansea into the same category. It's like grouping fresh meadows and a steaming pile of dog shit.

[cjwcymru]

What a shower. I'm truly sorry.

[PhatAss1983]

Have you thought about submitting this for the next one in Swansea?

[alunewilliams]

Hi there, I remember Mr Binda Singh during my University days at Swansea University. He was the commercial manager at the Swansea University Student Union. A complete chancer, all mouth and no trousers.

I am sorry about your shoddy treatment in Wales. We have excellent Film festivals and we appreciated the effort you made. Its just a shame that Binda was involved.

[mephastopheles]

This is the problem with Wales not enough quality managers and leaders, things rarely run perfectly here. I love Wales but you can't get away from this fact. Thankfully, the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor was overseen by non-welsh. 

[alunewilliams]

@mephastopheles Listen this is nothing to do with the Welsh. We've organised great things, it more to do with Mr Binda Singh. I knew Binda during my university days, a complete chancer.

[shmilesey]

This just sums Swansea up - the original 'graveyard of ambition'. Always has been and always will be.

This is so embarrassing, to be from Swansea and to say this is very disappointing to me, but that's the way it always is here. There is so much potential here, but it is never realised. This is nearly as embarrassing as the statement plastered on the boards of the new cultural development on high street, namely 'Swansea 2nd greatest city after Paris' - what a crock of s*!t

[jdhuk]

Why did anyone think a film festival whose patron was Catherine Zeta Jones would be any good?

[onfiremusicman]

I used to live in Neath, seven miles east of Swansea, but now live in London, and have never heard of this festival. What a shambles – why isn't the Welsh Assembly taking a more active role in securing funds for this and ensuring that it is executed effectively? This needs to be raised in the Assembly, otherwise that itself is a waste of our taxpayer's money. No wonder the film industry isn't attracted to Valleywood.

[TheGearsofwar2010]

both Michael Sheen and Catherine Zeta Jones have resigned from the Swansea Bay Film Festival

[kessuperstara]

Let along the general public...which in Swansea means people living in about 4 or 5 of the poorest areas in the whole of the U.K, so in that way is it surprising that there are so few people there?...and again see the whole volunteer thing, there is no money to pay people so people/cities stay poor and shocking it is too!

...end of posting!

[kessuperstara]

As for an audience, there are any people who go to see films here, but I’d like to make it clear that there is only one art house cinema in Swansea: the Taliesin arts centre. It generally sells out when it shows a film, which is only about once a week, as it's actually a theatre the rest of the time. So there is a small audience interested, but the advertising isn’t even there to grab them.

[kessuperstara]

). However art generally in Wales/Britain is not taken seriously at all and in Swansea there is a culture that people will work for nothing-did you notice that the lassie helping them in the film was a volunteer,

It would help perhaps if there was some money to pay these people, which would make for a better experience all round, I bet that idiot organiser was paid! The fact is though there is no money for things like this here.

[kessuperstara]

this shall have to have a few posts as it's too long for youtube:

I live in Swansea and am a visual artist and so therefore keep up to date with what goes on culturally in the city, and for a tiny city there are a lot of cultural happenings here. I DID know that this festival existed alongside a few others in the city, there's an animation one once a year I think and regular mini festivals based around undercurrents (a film company in the city).

[mohawk69doc]

Bloody organRizer!

[LukeLewisAnimation]

I'm so sorry that this happened to your fillm I hope that you will come to Swansea again I live right around the corner from where your film was shown and I would have gone had I even known that this festival was being held. I'm glad you made this documentary I hope it makes them realizes how poorly they treated you and your film, and how they handled themselves and this festival and that they really need to improve upon it.

[TheGearsofwar2010]

All of the local people attending just want to be seen in the following month's edition of Swansea Life Magazine. No true love or passion for films or anything else.

[TheGearsofwar2010]

Unbelievable. I have lived in Swansea for 24 years, am an actor myself and have never heard of this festival until I read about Michael Sheen resigning. Unfortunately, this is NOT in any way unique as most of the events in Swansea are a complete and utter shambles. Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience

[hannahlew]

Oh dear Binda.... can't even blame bad editing.

I'm just surprised no one's complained earlier

[bysmariann]

Can't believe that all these filmmakers from around the world attended this - I live in Swansea and have never heard about it. Another sad reflection on our ugly, lovely town.

[CARLI930]

omg!! :( 

[jprice1984]

I live opposite the Dylan Thomas Center and I had no idea that this was being held. I am thoroughly ashamed of how these people were treated by the 'organisers' of this event. I hope that these people do the honourable thing and resign and also hope that this hasn't damaged Swansea's reputation and future festivals.

What a shambles.

[rufffinoo]

Jeez, I'm in the business, live not far from Swansea.........and have NEVER HEARD about this festival. Good for you guys making the doc about it. I'm just sorry you all had to spend a lot of money, time and effort dealing with this abomination.

[MattPhantomBeats]

That guy Binda Singh comes across as a complete idiot! Totally up himself. He brings shame on film makers. What a complete joke!

[larsgathe]

what a sham. i submitted to this festival once - quite happy that i didnt get in!

[mizenman]

Excellent and absolutely true. This festival is a joke.

[holtc01]

Make no mistake. The 'Swansea Film Festival' is a scam. The clue is in the website: cheap, showy, every option costs. We made the mistake of attending in evening dress, only to be sat in a bar watching it on a screen. Miriad categories, subsidised categories and winners. DO NOT ATTEND THIS SCAM.

[eoghankidney]

brilliant! don't fuck with documentary filmmakers!!!

[JohnShandFilms]

I am from Wales, i recently went to the Ffresh student film festival in Cardiff, Wales. It was such a high standard. Looking at this festival in Swansea is a joke, the organiser and probably the comittee should be sacked!

[fournineandhalf1]

What a horror show. Thanks for making this and posting this. Lots of bogus festivals, run by crooked people out there. Filmmakers beware!

[ryanjandrews]

I am from Cardiff wales and i'm embarrassed so badly about seeing this, i am a director that know's all about the bullshit that goes on hear, if i see the organiser of the festival i'll make sure i tell him what a cock he is!!

[queenmarigold1]

I am from Swansea and I live in Swansea and all of the very good people I know who work or appreciate the Arts here are very embarrassed at this treatment of people. We do not have a polychronic culture, the guy who runs this festival simply doesn't know how to treat people and is far more interested in promoting himself. He runs 11 festivals around the world and I have heard that many of them are just as badly organised. Please don't think we are all like him in Swansea. It's a lovely city.

[CineGraphic]

Bravo!

I know exactly how you feel. Thank you for not being afraid to post this. It should be screened at every festival in the world! This past year I attended 6 festivals where a short of mine was screening and my treatment varied from being totally ignored to being waited on hand & foot. Sadly, some festival organizers seemingly have no idea how to treat people.

[ImaginalCells]

But thanks for making this doc. And kudo's to Brad Glass for speaking up. Make sure you post your comments on withoutabox but please know the difference between a bad moment at a good festival and festival that is just bad. It's how a festival handles it's mistakes that matter. Obviously this one just didn't give a damn about filmmakers.

[evangelinered]

If you are able to, Google Chronemics on wikipedia. This filmmaker was not wrong in what he was saying & I can understand his point, but it may just be about finding a film festival that's a better fit for what works best for them. I feel badly that they flew so far to not have it work out for them. It seems like the Swansee Film Festival is more about relationships and coming together & 'it all happens when it happens' more like a polychronic culture which is okay. Just my humble opinion. :-)

[evangelinered]

I'm getting a sense that the Welsh are simply more on a polychronic time schedule while this documentary filmmaker was hoping for a predominately American monochronic schedule at the film festival with a more organized timed schedule. Nothing wrong with both sides at all, but I guess it may to do with finding what works personally with each person.

[evangelinered]

Just watched this documentary & IMHO am thinking that it has mostly to do with different cultural expectations & a different sense of time more than anything. I'm am American who grew up in Miami Florida in a predominately Hispanic community and had to understand & adjust to what was "Cuban time" when growing up.

[undercurrentspaulo]

@evangelinered no- this is about a man who sets up bogus film festivals with no publicity and no scheduled times. Nothing to do with cultural differences

[sydneyunderground]

Thank you for making this mini doc. It's really important to see first hand what goes on at other festivals whether big, small, organised or disorganised. I can't believe they had no program and no screening times - the bare essentials of a film festival! Poses the question - can they even be called a film festival?

[glyrenden]

This mini doc is great! I have been to a few festivals like that and felt so ripped off! You all handled it so well and this is the perfect way to voice your disappointment in that festival! Also I would like to second Mr. Springen, that you should send your film to the Orlando film fest. We had an awesome experience there and Dan really does care about the filmmakers.

[dmpitv]

Come to the Orlando Film Festival this year in October for the exact opposite of this experience. I'd love to screen your latest film at no charge. Find me at the Orlando Film Festival website on the contact page. Sorry you had such a terrible experience. As a filmmaker myself I am disgusted at their lack of care for the ones that allow them an income. Just Terrible. Daniel Springen Executive Director - OFF

[stevenhore]

I'm sorry for your dreadful treatment. If it's any consolation, at least you had the presence of mind to create this compelling and vital expose.

[crock703]

What a bummer. How hard is it to be slightly competent?

How do you have a festival without screening times?

[jasonwilderevans]

By the way - Amritsa's website sucks too! That should of gave you a clue in the first place.

[DaffyddDuck]

The one thing I can say is it's a great plus that you've shown this film and exposed Binda for the amateur he is, trying to work with professionals like yourselves and failing badly. Please don't think that this is a true depiction of how we do things in Wales. The only way to benefit in Bindas world is to get him free drinks, cigarettes and offer to work for him for free. The guy is a parasitic JOKE.

[DaffyddDuck]

Hi There,

I am so sorry to hear about your experience with Binda. Talking to this man is rather like a broken pencil. Completely pointless. I spent 8 months working with him and got ripped off to say the least. No fee for playing the lead role in his musical and not being paid money for providing costumes for the show. This came directly out of my pocket and I'm a single mum. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Binda only cares about Binda. I wish you all the luck for the future.

[wordsandeyes]

"Looking for an Audience" has also attracted interesting Comments on a recently launched + publically funded site entitled "SwanseaTelly". Peep at the Comments on "Swansea Telly" if you are interested in supporting the craft of the independent filmaker.The activities of Swansea Film Festival 2010(that Teri de Bono and Steve Rosen have professionally and bravely exposed in their balanced video) must be eradicated if the credibilty of Swansea as a place of artistic endeavour is to be restored.

[TellyTonic]

You probably would've won if you'd called it "Boyohood Shadows". It's an endemic problem in these little sink towns (especially Swansea where I was raised but left as soon as I could!). Towns full of small minded councilors, claiming to "regenerate our proud, cultural city", getting government funding, creaming it for all it's worth then leaving it to rot. Another fine example is Animated Exeter (note to animators, stay well away!)

Film-makers of the world, I'm so SO sorry

[glistlegook]

Great to see this doc - one of my films screened at the Heart of England festival run by the same organisation (AMRITSA). I was invited to do a Q&A, so I spent 7 hours getting there to find an audience of zero in a room above a bar. The festival wasn't even advertised in the pub! Seven hours later I was back home, lighter of pocket and heavier of spirit.

[Futureshucks]

If it is any comfort, I've forwarded this to all my film making friends and I think you made a good expose, admittedly not what you had planned. Hope your film is picked up, perhaps by a charity who can use it to empower the abused to speak out.

Hope the response to this film gets you a raised profile and something comes together from it. Your heart must have sunk, when you saw a photocopy and thought "ahh the festival progamme, oh my God!"

[ingridweel]

It's outrageous. A simple schedule and less arrogant pontificating from an absolute twit (soft version..) could have made this festival - and Wales - something internationally acclaimed. Its amazing how much one individual can screw something up to such a level!

[archfarchnad]

Speaking as a Welshman, I am furious about anyone in this small country of ours with a chance to put us on the map and enhance our reputation for hospitality or otherwise give a good impression of Wales to people who might otherwise never have visited, squander that opportunity so hideously. Binda/Vinda, in my opinion you have shamed us and yourself, so make up for it; be big enough to accept how badly you conducted yourself and either step down or do it right next time. Not better, but RIGHT.

[petercoster]

not sure what you expected from the festivals, you call the series of films 'Looking for an audience' wasted all that money traveling around when you should of just stuck it on you tube, if all you wanted was people to see it! Festivals are mainly networking parties and are populated by industry people, normaly with a vested interest in that particular festival. Don't expect masses of people to say 'oh kiddy fiddling film, erm i want to see that'. when your own country men didn't.

[crx091081gb]

I'm afraid to say you've been "Binda'd!". Sadly you're not the first and I'd be surprised if you're the last to suffer at the hands of this man. But well done for sticking with documentary and exposing the stupidity of the whole affair.

[Bucephalas69]

Wow. What a scam merchant

[matthemes]

I'm a Film Production student at Staffordshire University in the UK. I thank you for your film. A true insight into politics in film festivals. If had I been in your position I would have felt my time in Wales had been wasted. Such a shame for you both. You didn't deserve to be treated like that at all.

Good luck with promoting your film in the future! I wish you all the best!

[thespermdonor]

Is Boyhood Shadows on YouTube? I'd be interested to see it.

[jimmyprophet]

Although you had a terrible experience with the whole festival, I think this short docu-expose vindicates that!! Well done for sticking with it and seeing it through!! I've also had personal experience with the 'politics' of a film festival. At the end of the day, everything is biased and geared towards self-promotion for the 'organisors' (loosely coined).

Anyway, good luck with the future and don't let this put you off!!

[urbanboutique]

Oh dear Vindar ! Event's really are not your strong point are they !!! maybe you should go and get a job more suited to your skill set. Shame I cant think of one tho ;-( thank you guys for making this film docu it has really shown things in a fair light. I am really sadden to have watch you all have to go through what you did however do not let it put you off.

Best wishes,

R

[doomstonemanor]

this made me so sad for those filmmakers :(

[MilesToGoFilms]

Great documentary but yeah, depressing. You guys didn't deserve to be treated like that and the 'organisers' should be ashamed of themselves. Although there are a lot of great British film festivals, this is obviously not one of them and any film festival that's not focused on the films and filmmakers is a waste of time. Don't let this experience put you off promoting your films at festivals, some of them are well worth it.

[undesirablenumber1]

Astonishing stuff. Hope you have more luck with festivals in future.

[TheNorliss]

Shambolic & shameful. I would have felt extremely annoyed had I have made the 45mile trip from Cardiff, let alone several thousand miles from USA. Your documentary made for good, albeit depressing viewing. All the best to you and all the film-makers who attended this dreadful excuse for a film festival.

[davidfussellfilms]

I have added your documentary to my youtube page thank you for making this documentary I showed a film at Swansea Bay in 2007 and was shocked at how bad this festival was run! I live in Wales and as far as I can see the same local people win each year its an ego trip its more for the people that what to think they are filmmakers then people that do work hard over years to make a film. I wish you good luck with your film and your new projects, Tanks again.

[gregsface]

Hi there guys!

As one of the many people out there trying to make films and get them seen I really appreciated your documentary. I will definitely avoid submitting to the Swansea film festival. I thought your documentary was well made, and I enjoyed watching it. (despite the depressing nature subject matter) Good luck with all of your future documentaries, and I will look out for them!

[ninfilms]

Fantastic documentary. I'm sorry to hear that you got treated in that fashion. I just want to say it's not a Welsh thing to treat filmmakers from America or anywhere in that terrible fashion. I know that there was a film shown at Swansea because the local Welsh filmmaker couldn't make it to the festival they decided to show in poky little room. This film has been distributed by the company that release the twilight films. Show how much they care about filmmakers. Keep up the good work.

[johnnyjazz]

Excellent docu. I was one of the film makers sitting downstairs that you can hear cheering embarrassingly loudly when you return with your award near the end of the film and I can sadly admit that the evening's highlight for our table was that speech. As somebody that only had to travel an hour to get to the festival I can only feel embarrassment and shame that your memory of my country will most likely forever be painted with disappointment. Wishing you all the best for the future, ADP

[Camerafreakuk]

camerafreakuk:- i have made several films which have been shown at the festivals organised by amritsa. i feel ashamed to be a welsh film maker if our film making cousins from off these shores are treated so unfairly by these people. i feel confident that if we were to travel outside to other festivals in the US for example things would be different. i didnt attend this years festival and glad i didnt but i would have enjoyed meeting you guys and watching your film. great doco you've done no har

[macguruwales]

I also feel sorry for anyone who has been duped by the organiser, whether a film maker or the people who have volunteered to help while thinking that it will give them a leg up in a very hard to enter industry only to have their dreams shattered by something that is more likely to hurt their chances.

[macguruwales]

I am thoroughly disappointed and extremely sorry that something so shabby and poorly organised has been based in my home town, making it one of the top results when people search for Swansea!

I work in the media industry and am appalled that this company have been allowed to get away with what seems to only have been and excuse for a party at the film makers expense and I hope that this shambolic film festival disappears without trace.

[dyffaty]

Binda Singh the Organisers, Judges, and the Sponsors like the Evening Post must be held to book. This is just not bloody good enough. Heads must roll. Hang them high, and video the public execution. Be lucky or top yourself Paul Durden..

[LiveMusicSouthWales]

Hi there. My sincere apologies that you had to deal with these problems. I'm sure you are aware that AMRITSA have had similar problems with their other festivals as well, it is they who are at fault. Hopefully you get the chance to come back to Swansea one day and see that the vast majority of people here are honest and supportive of the arts.

[neonanddust1]

The local authority has been providing this boorish joker and his circle with a career for years.

And as long as they do so the town will continue to be the shallow cultural puddle it is.

Shame these film-makers had to travel so far to find out what most of us here already know.

[MikDunkin]

Its a joke, we were pissed off too, and we are from Swansea... I cant imagine how angry you were. You were sold a lie by Binda, hes in it for the money and knows nothing about film, there are so many great festivals around the world that you could put your time and effort into, and youd probably get a seat at the awards and not have to stand at the bar.

[sammiedodgers]

that Binda Singh needs to be stopped from "organising" such waste of time festivals. who does he think he is anyway? I dont know much about film making or film fests but it goes without saying that film makers and writers should be given respect, publicity and credit in return for all their hard work they have put in. Binda is a self-riteous idiot. Who would go to Glastonbury or Download without knowing what bands were playing and when??...no-one. thats who.

[RedandBlackFilms]

Great documentary. We made a BAFTA cymru and BIFA nominated film called 'Little White Lies', which was made in Swansea and Binda refused to screen it. We found him to be a bully, rude and clearly a self promoting scumbag. I'm from Swansea and I'm embarressed and appalled at the way you were treated. I know how heartbreaking it must have been after all that hard work to be treated with such contempt. Michael Sheen will be disgusted to see how Binda is exploiting his good name.

[solidinformant]

Congratulations to the filmmakers of this documentary for revealing the true nature of the festival organiser, Binda Singh. He's a disgrace to Wales and a living insult to the work of filmmakers.

[MrHuwrees]

i can only add my apologies for this farce, unfortunately this is endemic in Swansea when certain individuals/organisations are involved

[gionpoltera]

Steve Rosen film says it all! BS used Fern Hill Hotel this year in South Africa. He showed films to an almost empty theatre every day (certainly not all 100 plus films). No panel of experts were ever present, and no "party!" . I have 328 films in sealed boxes. Film makers can contact me directly should they wish to have them returned or destroyed. Clearly, no committee nor panel of experts have seen all of these films. I hope to be able to help.

[beveryawareworld]

I am a new film-maker and this was my second film festival. There were only 4 of us film-makers who attended. We were all females and there was no audience, no film program, no audiences, no press, no publicity, no jurists for so called awards, no welcome evening, no amritsa personnel except for bindha sigh who had already left and went elsewhere. All that was there when I arrived at mid-night was a printed note that the amritsa s. african film festival had moved.

[beveryawareworld]

@beveryawareworld Please note: after I left africa, I received a thank you note from a local african lady who B.S. left all 150 films from the s. african international film festival to do what she wanted with them. Mine is destroyed but anyone who sent their film to amrtisa's s. african film festival it is floating around in africa (ready for anyone to copy and distribute it). BE VERY AWARE WORLD OF AMRITSA FILM FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD. THEY ARE A ONE MAN SHOW BY BINDHA SINGH.

[beveryawareworld]

I just left s. africa and bindha singh's amritsa's s.african international film festival. It was a total sham! I only wished that I had seen your posting before I went to africa.

[croproduk]

P.S. I wish you every success with your film, “Boyhood Shadows,” and congratulate you on your courage in taking on a sensitive subject such as this.

[croproduk]

This festival has had a reputation of being a joke for some time. I am a filmmaker from Wales & a few years ago I had a trilogy of films accepted for screening, only to be told later that the programme was full – needless to state my films were not listed.

I am appalled & embarrassed by your treatment at the festival. All I can say is that this shambolic excuse for a film festival is not representative of Welsh filmmakers & I hope your experience has not tarnished your view of Wales per se.

[stwsh]

Loved the film well done for showing Swansea film fest for what it is.

Im from Swansea and have also thought the organiser is a pratt from my own experiences.

Well done

[CharlieSmigz]

I come from Swansea, but I don't live in the city. Can I say, on behalf of the people of Swansea, how appalled and embarrassed I am by the way you were treated by the organisers. With that obnoxious idiot in charge I can't see how the event will ever improve but we live in hope. I hope this experience hasn't tainted your image of Wales.

[1bigdill]

Thank you for the accurate documentary. I had a similar experience at the Swansea Film Festival. I could not agree more with your film. Thank you for communicating what I could not. Well done! I am now a fan. I will continue to look at your work. You rock!

[bristolpomeroy]

Thank you so much for making this and posting it! What a horrible event! I'm an actor in a film that played there called Marathon and the producer flew there and had a bad experience as well. That Bindhu guy has no business working with artists such as yourselves. I hope you only have good experiences from here on out with the festivals!! My heart goes out to you guys!

[tvalleau]

Steve & Terri are great people (& my friends.) But the world is full of BS-artists preying on artistic-typeMy photos are good enough to have been shown at prestigious venues, ut hat publicity only makes it more likely that I'll be getting solicitations for "world-wide, major show(s)" promising to "expose my work to buyers and galleries world wide."

All I have to to is pay the entry-free.

Looks like Steve & Terri ran into an event that was designed only to line the promoter's pockets.

[doscoyotes]

Everything Steve and Teri make is worth seeing... As a filmaker quite dusted over I feel the pain of their latest peice here and am thankful to them for standing up for filmakers everywhere. Unfr"""""kin believeable!

[acepeeter]

I had my film screened at this festival, I can completely sympathise with you. It was so shoddy and incompetent. The screening of my film had about 20 people in the audience. It was just a disgrace. They hadn't seemed to have advertised the festival at all locally.

[BlackRiverRoyal]

what a complete loosers this seemed to me as just a big promotion party for the organisers instead of a festival, i'm really wondering what the organisation has got to say about this, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MAD IF THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THAT TO ONE OF MY FILMS .......

[gobadguy]

What a disgrace. The incompetence is bad enough but the arrogance is impossible to forgive. I hope to see your film someday.

[pedrobrenner]

WOW this is great I can only say Bravo!!!!

but it is still a small sample compared to all the other things this crook Binda did to hoax so many film makers...

[oldgypsytap]

a good lesson!!!!

[Hanitalolescocia]

It amazes me how this guy ever got to be head of 'organising' this thing....

[redsabots]

It represents the experience of many artists in most media.

[neikaplay]

Such a bad experience. I never knew that could happen and I have been to small film festivals. The least you can expect from a festival is a time for screenings and a couple posters. Thanks for showing this.