Threadbare Film Festival (6)

Festival start: 26 August 2027      Festival end: 28 August 2027

What’s your Genre?

The Threadbare Film Festival is an eclectic and eccentric celebration of genre, inter-genre, and underground cinema, here in the tell-tale heart of Michigan.

As the Michigan Film and Digital Media Office said:

"Think of the Threadbare Mitten Film Festival as the anti-genre, but all-genre film festival, if that makes any sense. Truly a grassroots festival if ever there was one." - June Newsletter 6/12/18

We won't push you into a box:

Horror, Sci-Fi, Absurdist Comedy, Exploitation and Grindhouse, Documentary and Mockumentary, Experimental and Non-Narrative, Animation and Puppetry, Noir and Neo-Noir, Fantasy and Magical Realism, Surrealism and Liminality, Contemporary Western or Samurai, Psychological or Sex Thriller, 80s Action Homage, Splatterpunk, Creature Feature, Zombie/Everything, Road Trip, Afrofuturism, Underground, and genres not mentioned or yet to be celebrated... whatever weird quirks and kinks spark your camera rolling, we want to give you an exhibition home to exorcise them with an appreciative audience (…and if being pushed into a box is your thing, well ok, show us that!).

We categorically reject festivals that require filmmakers to sort their submissions by genre, pay multiple submission fees for awards, or don’t even screen films for an audience! It’s our job to categorize and program films, not yours. We take great pride in our thematic programming, each film block sequenced like the songs on an album. Every year’s festival is guaranteed to be different than what came before, based upon the characteristics of the films received.

We particularly advocate work that articulates across the ineffable gap between genres, films that surprise, that do not have precedent or prior comparables.

Our Festival Director personally watches every submission and makes all selection decisions. There is no selection advantage for early submission deadlines; we have and will select films submitted on the final day.

Threadbare is an ethos. Whether your budget is $10 or $10 million, your stars are old high school friends or SAG actors, your camera a potato or an Arriflex, we’re focused on the artistry of the work on screen, not any seams that may occasionally show. Independent film production requires a punk mentally to ignore the gatekeepers and go your own way, to make your art personal and powerful.

While we do not put limits on when a submitted film was completed, for this edition we are generally interested in films made since we went on hiatus at the end of 2021.

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NEW FOR 2027:

A GUY A GIRL AND A GUN FILM COMPETITION: we are launching our own film competition inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s famous quote: “All you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun.” Competition films must be shot and finalized during the month of June, with top films screening in a special program at the Threadbare festival. Separate competition trophies will be awarded at the screening.

More details here: threadbarefilmfestival.org/competition

Registration link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/a-guy-a-girl-and-a-gun-film-competition-registration

SHOT ON A POTATO: We are introducing a new discounted category for films shot on unusual formats, including Super 8 and 16mm celluloid film, VHS and DV video, still and pinbox cameras (basically anything outside the typical digital cinema camera, handicam, or cellphone aesthetic). Films must still be submitted, and will be screened, in digital format as per our Rules.

DISABILITY FILMMAKER DISCOUNT: Any filmmaker with a disability may email director@threadbarefilmfestival.org for a submission fee discount code. As a working filmmaker with a neuromuscular disability, our Festival Director is offended by the existing disability focused festivals that seem only interested in films explicitly centered on the experience of disability, rather than supporting the vast community of disabled filmmakers and the art we make. If your film is a fit for us, please take advantage of this discount.

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HISTORY: For five years, the original Threadbare Mitten Film Festival developed a wonderful community of oddball filmmakers and cineastes, with unique thematic programming in a variety of venues, free community events, live band accompaniments, and filmmaker discussions. We pivoted to secure online screenings through a local company during the pandemic, before enduring a lengthy hiatus. Now we’re back with a slight rebrand and regular theatrical screenings, with the same focus on independent and Great Lakes filmmakers, and the same core of dedicated and experienced volunteers. Why bring it back? Because too many established and storied Michigan film festivals have folded in the interim, and our community needs what we can offer.

We’ve exhibited films in an independent cinema, listening room theatre, and arts gallery, with special screenings in a public park, pub, coffee shop, under a pole tent in an alley, and online through Festivee.

We’ve screened films from established filmmakers like Oscar winning director Jonathan Glazer and nominee Yorgos Lanthimos, with recognizable stars like Will Ferrell, Matt Dillon, Margaret Cho, and William Jackson Harper, and from local luminaries like Devin Cameron, Jackson Ezinga, Bret Miller, and Michael McCallum. Hell, we turned down more films with ‘names’ than most regional festivals have the luxury to judge. We are especially partial to filmmakers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, collectively the Great Lakes Region states and provinces.

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ABOUT US: The Threadbare Film Festival is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, because we don't operate to maximize revenue off the backs of independent filmmakers.

We are passionate filmmakers, dedicated to growing our film community and providing a viewing experience worth the time and effort of everyone involved from ourselves to the filmmakers and the ticket buyer. We respect the film and the filmmaker, the cast and the crew, as does our audience. We support local and regional film, student film, international film, diverse voices, and quality craft regardless of budget or thematic content. We take an expansive view of what a genre festival can be, pushing the boundaries of expectations to include the most gripping and unusual documentaries we've seen.

About the only thing we DON'T want are straight-up 'indie' dramas and serialized content that does not provide a complete narrative.

As the Lansing City Pulse commented:

“When Kofoed talks about the films playing at the festival, he was unceasingly enthusiastic. His passion for film - especially locally produced, DIY films - is immediately apparent.” - September 4, 2020.

Our festival is neither a vanity exercise nor a party for ourselves, and we do not screen our own films or shower our friends with prizes. We strive for quality of presentation and experience across all our venues.

OUR HOME: We are proudly of and from Lansing, Michigan’s oft overlooked capital city, a vibrant rustbelt dystopia full of creativity and festivals. Our opening night will be hosted by Stage One at Sycamore Creek, a newly renovated performance space next to the Eastwood Town Center on the Northside. Our all-day Saturday screenings will take place in The Fledge, a wonderful nonprofit community hub tucked away in the Eastside neighborhood just off the downtown core. Both venues are within easy travel of numerous restaurants, bars, and shops in the Lansing metro. As is tradition, we’ll pregame the festival with a free community program on Thursday at a surprise local business.

Awards & Prizes
Unique laurels and hand-crafted Trophies for each of 10 Award Categories. Award nominations are made by the Festival Director, with award winners determined by an independent panel of judges.

___Juried Category Awards___
Best Short Film (all short/micro films eligible)
Best Feature Film (all feature/mid-length films eligible)
Stranger than Fiction (all documentary films eligible)

___Audience Award___
Michigan Masterpiece (all Michigan made films eligible)

___Juried Special Recognition Awards___
A+ B-Movie (for the best 'bad' movie)
Bloody & Brilliant (for fluid fun)
Eye of the Beholder (for exceptional visuals)
Not Just a Pretty Face (for acting excellence)
Subversive Selection (for defying formal or social expectations)
Special Jury Award (for anything else that grabs our attention)

See our Wall of Fame for past years' Award Winning films: www.threadbarefilmfestival.org/awards

Unique laurels and hand-crafted Trophies for each of 10 Award Categories. Award nominations are made by the Festival Director, with award winners determined by an independent panel of judges.

___Juried Category Awards___
Best Short Film (all short/micro films eligible)
Best Feature Film (all feature/mid-length films eligible)
Stranger than Fiction (all documentary films eligible)

___Audience Award___
Michigan Masterpiece (all Michigan made films eligible)

___Juried Special Recognition Awards___
A+ B-Movie (for the best 'bad' movie)
Bloody & Brilliant (for fluid fun)
Eye of the Beholder (for exceptional visuals)
Not Just a Pretty Face (for acting excellence)
Subversive Selection (for defying formal or social expectations)
Special Jury Award (for anything else that grabs our attention)

See our Wall of Fame for past years' Award Winning films: www.threadbarefilmfestival.org/awards

GENERATIVE AI:

While machine learning provides useful tools for humans, Generative AI is anti-art (and the legal ownership of AI created work is an unsettled matter). Limited AI use in submitted films is allowed but must be disclosed. The use of AI to replace or remove the traditional work of a crew or cast member is disqualifying.

Generative AI films will be disqualified and we will shame you.

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CONTENT:

While we generally do not impose content restrictions for submitted films, please consider the following:

1. We are not interested in purely pornographic material without narrative/documentary interest (no Porn)

2. We are not interested in exhibiting actual acts of real life violence or death (no Snuff)

3. Racist and hateful messaging outside your narrative is gross (no Nazis)

4. The use of copyrighted music or stock footage without credited license is disqualifying (no Theft)

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DISTRIBUTORS:

We are open to working with distributors for film submission. Please email director@threadbarefilmfestival.org with your information or catalog.

We typically offer distributors submission fee waivers, and may pay reasonable screening fees for select titles.

Your initial email must clearly and explicitly disclose any potential screening fees. We have had distributors attempt to scam us in the past, and have no patience for anything but professionalism and honesty in all communications.

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WAIVERS:

Filmmakers in regions legally prohibited from commercial transactions with the United States may receive a submission waiver. However, you must understand we are not a general audience international film festival, and are primarily interested in genre and underground films.

Email waiver@threadbarefilmfestival.org with information on your film including a description of the film and a trailer/screener to request an entrance fee waiver.

Only emails that demonstrate your film is a thematic fit for the festival will receive a reply. Mass emails without relevance to our festival will be deleted and blocked.

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EXHIBITION FORMATS:

Films selected for the Threadbare Film Festival must provide exhibition copies to the festival coordinators within three (3) weeks of selection notification. Make sure your Festhome settings are correct to receive notification emails and download requests from Festhome.

Films selected for screening must provide a digital screener in standard .mp4 format with h.264 encoding, or equivalent, in at least HD resolution with flat aspect ratio. 4k files will be downscaled to HD with surround sound mixed down to stereo for exhibition.

If you are unable to establish an electronic transfer or Festhome download of an exhibition quality film, we ask you to please mail a flash drive or SD card containing the file to our submission address.

At this point, we do not have venues scheduled for this year's Festival that require physical media or DCPs for exhibition. Any changes to our exhibition capabilities will be communicated to filmmakers.

We reserve the option to reschedule, remove, or replace your film with another selection if there are issues receiving adequate exhibition files.

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TERMS:

1. The Threadbare Film Festival (the FESTIVAL) will only accept original works (no fan-films or unauthorized remakes).

a) By submitting your film to the FESTIVAL, you assert that you are authorized to submit the film, and that you own (or have legal permission to use) the copyright to all submitted materials, including the soundtrack, story, and on-screen imagery. The FESTIVAL assumes no liability for any potential claims, damages, judgments, and expenses against any submitted film. Filmmakers shall indemnify and hold harmless the FESTIVAL in any actions or litigation arising from the exhibition of their film.

b) By submitting your film, you grant permission to the FESTIVAL to publicly exhibit the film during the festival dates, and to share imagery, copy, and audio/visual clips from the film for promotional purposes, including the promotion of future events. Film files will be stored locally and only exhibited during the festival dates.

2. Electronic submissions only. We encourage you to provide any available electronic promotional/publicity materials at the time of submission. Upon notification of selection by the FESTIVAL, the submitter of Feature category films must provide at minimum a film trailer, poster, and synopsis; Short category films must provide a poster and synopsis.

3. All submissions must be in English or contain English subtitles. Subtitles may be burned into the image or delivered as a subtitle file (.srt).

4. Judging art is inherently arbitrary. FESTIVAL judge decisions are final.

5. The FESTIVAL does not require any particular Premiere status or completion date; any prior screenings or distribution will be considered as part of the overall submission for all films. Online distribution on free ad-supported platforms prior to the festival dates is discouraged.

6. Filmmakers whose work is selected will receive a VIP pass to the FESTIVAL. Additional guests may be accommodated for the program in which your film is screening.