Festival Celebrates Ten Years
Ariella Ben-Dov founded the organization which involves women submitting eclectic and unusual films from around the globe that they directed. Each winter and spring MadCat tours cinemas, art houses, universities, and other places promoting the festival. The organization continuously seeks films directed or co-directed by women that are visionary.
According to their website, MadCat has films that are political and innovative and would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. What is unusual about this film festival is that it links some more accessible films with unusual works submitted to MadCat.
For instance, in “Flip Film,” stark black and white photography is used to film scenes from San Francisco and in “Safety in Numbers,” hailed by one psychologist as a good portrait in depicting the intensity of one obsession, a woman attempts to quiet the chaos in her mind while suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and agoraphobia.
Even the old cartoon character Betty Boop gets a piece of the action in “Mysterious Mose.” And, making its California premiere,” Fear and Trembling” marks an escape from a dinner party.
Venues include Artists’ Television Access, Grand Lake Theater, and the Pacific Film Archive among others. MadCat receives over 700 submissions yearly, from two-minute entries to ones from other countries.
Even films made as far back as 1987 are featured as are music videos. If you are a woman and you co-directed your film with a man you can still submit an entry.
Submission fees are between $10 and $30, sliding scale. Send submissions to 639 Steiner Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. To send multiple entries, mail with separate fees and forms. Label tapes with title of film, length, name of author, address, phone, and email address. Submissions should not be mailed fiber-filled envelopes. If you want your item returned, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Due to the high volume of submissions, MadCat cannot confirm receipt of deliveries. Read over the submission guidelines on the website listed below before submitting entries. Notification of acceptance is made between July and August.
Include a VHS or DVD copy of a preview of your submission and a one-page or less description of your entry, a list of screenings (if any), publicity materials and still (optional), and entry fee.
For more information, go to madcatfilmfestival.org or call 415-436-9523.
