Happy birthday to us.

Happy birthday to us.

Happy birthday, little Kfink blog.

Happy Birthday to us!

Snow Bunny.  One year ago (according to our blog, without which we’d have NO RECORD of what we’ve done) we’d just finished shooting.  Jessica was in the process of editing.  We were working with our musical director Jeffrey Bouthiette.  We were picking festivals to submit to.  We were happy.

WHAT DID SNOW BUNNY LEAD TO?

• Fun Screening for Family & Friends in Chicago.

• Film Festivals. So far, Snow Bunny has been an official selection of the Queens International Film Festival, EgoFest, and Lakedance Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Drama.  The movie is still being considered by a handful of other fests, but if you can’t wait for Snow Bunny to show up in your neck of the woods, feel free to buy it or stream it from IndieFlix.

Talking with Eren at QIFF Screening

• Fabulous Friendships. In November at the Queens International Film Festival we met director Matt Shea, producer Maria Lokken, and Eren Gulfidan of the Film Annex.  Since then we’ve contributed to Maria’s blog and posted our short film Sound Sleeper on Film Annex.

Kfink Crew at Cinekink NYC

• Fabulous Friendships – Part Deux: Our friendship with Matt blossomed into a love affair with a whole group of NYC/NJ filmmakers and writers, many of whom went to see our short LIBIDOLAND when it played at Cinekink NYC in February. Their attendance at Cinekink resulted in us receiving an award for “Outstanding Viral Achievement,” and now LIBIDOLAND is a part of Cinekink’s national tour. Sweet.

Adam & Jessica

• Fake Boyfriend. We didn’t get to go to Lakedance, which really bummed us out, but Adam Bronstein contacted us after the fest and told us that he liked our movie, that it was well-received at the fest, and that he wanted to do a movie swap.  We were very flattered, because Adam’s film (My Movie Girl) won several awards at Lakedance, including Best Feature.  We were lucky enough to meet Adam when MMG came to the Lake County Film Fest in March, and we have plans to see him again in July. Any thoughts on what we should wear for the second date?

• Film Snobbery. As a result of our Twitter conversation with Matt about the highs (and lows) of QIFF, we ended up doing an interview on Film Snobbery Live with Nic Baisley.  Nic subsequently gave us some very helpful advice for our blog.  Now we’re slated to write a column for the Film Snobbery site.

Silly Philly

• Phil Holbrook. Phil got our jokes about QIFF on Twitter and in the Film Snobbery chatroom.  We clicked and started talking. We watched his hilarious short (HONEST WORK), we submitted our movies to his film festival, and, eventually, we started talking about a feature project that had been knocking around in his brain for a few years.  This project was TILT, and now we’re writing it for (and producing it with) Phil.

A year ago we never could have predicted where we are now. The past year has been filled with great new friendships, exciting new projects, and a whole lot of fun. Any predictions about what April 2011 has in store?

We Are Girls.

Yes, we know that you probably already know this.  We have long hair, we have curvy girl bodies, sometimes we wear make-up, and so on and so forth.  The movies we saw at film festival screenings around Chi-town this weekend reminded us of our absolute and unquestionable female-ness.

The Scenesters at the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, 3/5/10

• Why did we see it? Recommended by indie movie marketing & publicity guru Sheri Candler, had a couple friends who knew people in the movie, produced by Chicago-based Midwinter Studios, stars included Second City Alums

• What was it like? This is a movie with a lot of dudes, dude.  There were a few women, but most of them were (SPOILER ALERT!!!) dead.  Or Sherilyn Fenn.  (SHERILYN FENN!)   The woman with the biggest part was a highly discussed prop used to give the hipster protagonist an achy-breaky  arc.

• What was the best part? Seeing such a great film fest turn-out.  Every seat was full in the impressive 2nd floor viewing area in St. Paul Cultural Center.

The Scenesters Q&A w/ Brett Thompson & Jeff Grace

Night Before the Wedding at the Lake County Film Festival, 3/6/10

• Why did we see it? Couldn’t pass up a chance to see this film written and directed by LA-based Film Courage radio host David Branin; wanted to meet actor Kevin Deen.

• What was it like? This movie was as singularly male as a chili cheese dog wrapped in a baseball game covered in Playboy sprinkles.  It’s about a bachelor party, but it’s much more than that.  We don’t want to give anything away, but Julie said she felt like “Night Before the Wedding” plunged her deep into a secret world of male friendship and terrifying bachelor party rituals.

• What was the best part? Meeting the charming and talented Kevin Deen.

Actor Kevin Deen & Julie

MY MOVIE GIRL at the Lake County Film Festival, 3/6/10

• Why did we see it? There’s no point in hiding it: we have a crush on director/writer/actor Adam Bronstein. Adam contacted us last fall and initiated an indie movie swap (one of the best parts of meeting other filmmakers) after seeing Snow Bunny at Lakedance International Film Festival. At LIFF, “My Movie Girl” won awards for Best Comedy, Best Soundtrack, and Best Audience Feature.

• What was it like? Hugging Adam?  Heavenly.  Oh, wait…you meant the movie.  Awkward. “My Movie Girl” is a lost love wrapped in a minor-obsession dipped in hope, from the guy’s perspective.  It’s a sweet, engaging movie that takes you to a place where exes fear to tread.  We’d seen it on DVD, but it was even better on the big screen.

• What was the best part? Hugging Adam.  I mean, hanging out with Adam.  We also got to meet Alex Schwarm, another filmmaker who screened at LIFF and LCFF. Find out about Alex’s short “As Ever, Stan” here.

The LCFF Crew: Jess, Julie, Alex, Adam & Kevin

• What the the toughest part? Trying to keep our cool and not asking Adam to marry us.

Adam & Jess