What’s the Deal with the New York International Independent Film and Video Fest?
What’s the Deal with the New York International Independent Film and Video Fest? Anthony Kaufman Highly criticized in a Village Voice article in October 1997, the six-year-old NY International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF) looks to be unfazed, having just completed its first event of ’99 last January. When indieWIRE writer Dave Ratzlow was sent to cover the now tri-annual event last September, he discovered a whole range of opinions on the fest, from a few satisfied customers to a number of disgruntled participants, the most serious of whom was filmmaker Will Lyman who contacted indieWIRE alleging the festival forged a check in his name for $1,200. Forgery verses Draft Lyman’s expensive dealings with the NYIIFVF began when he received a phone call from the festival, wanting to see his short film, “Leaving the Post.” Lyman submitted it and the festival called back and told him they wanted it. But the entrance fee was $300. Lyman says they told him that “Miramax and CBS h
