Mobile Phones and Movie Making
The world may appear to have changed in the mobile filmmaking industry, since 2009. But for me, it has not. And it dates back to 2001.
I had a vision of the future of mobile phones during the events on September 11, 2001. That vision stuck with me as I began to realize the evolution of mobile phones even when the media questioned it as a “trend.”
I realized that the communication device where you could hold it close to your ear for private conversations had a humanitarian element to it which would persist well into the future. And sure, you could have an earphone but who wants to wear an earphone all the time?
When a phone notifies you that your Mom is calling, or a close relative, you lift the phone and put it close to your ear. You hear their voice close to your soul. It’s as if they are kneeling beside you at your beside when you are five years old and they tell you those words that ring throughout your being, “I love you.”
A conversation with someone close can be had through a video or through texting. That’s a fact I will not deny. But a private one-on-one with that person is felt with the heart and can even lift us when it’s on a phone. Yes, earpods or earphones, that’s fine too.
The everlasting phone in my vision was the future of storytelling with film and video.
Why I felt strongly about that had to do with 9/11.
The phone would evolve to include cameras because I was convinced that the vision I had was not unique to me. I felt that those who manufactured cell phones would see the connections I envisioned. Stories, cameras, reach.
The news shared the stories of ordinary people from ground zero to the rest of the world in real time. Radio and news stations relaying information from people calling on their cellphones. News stations broadcasting videos from home video cameras from tourists that were there. The internet sharing witness stories in forums.
When I finally decided to launch our film festival in 2009, the iPhone 4 had not been released yet. I could not find any film festival for only mobile phones that promoted making movies for the big screen.
Then, nothing. No films were submitted. I spent three years looking for a venue to showcase films. I had one film in 2011 submitted. It was shot with iPhone 4. I didn’t care what it was shot on. The call was for only films shot with ANY mobile phone camera.
It did not matter what it was edited on, or with. As long as it was a human making editing decisions and not an automated editing app or software. I suppose that would be closer to AI today.
I remember having conversations with colleagues where they suggested I open it up to other “mobile devices” to get more submissions.
So you may wonder, why call it a “mobile” film festival if it wasn’t for all mobile devices?
It’s always been about the democratization of filmmaking.
I came home from working on a three-week production of a feature film in Big Bear, California and launching the festival was on my mind. Someone there inspired me. An intern carrying his screenplay in his back pocket.
It was as a sign, for me.
The intern was hoping to find someone with a camera who could help him realize his dream to make his movie.
‘Enough!’ I remember thinking on my drive back home. It was time to launch a film festival only for mobile phone shot movies for the cinema. Respect!
I remember trying to find a name for it. What do I call making movies with a mobile phone when all I knew about was cell phones?
The point of the festival was to create a platform for any human anywhere on earth to realize their dream to make movies. It had to be a name that could carry that vision forever.
I could not get away from how I felt phones were a communication tool that connected us human-to-human beyond any other device. It’s the size that makes it portable. Beyond mobile, it fits in your pocket. It is always with you.
I don’t carry my laptop in my pocket or everywhere. If I had “the middle child” as I like to call it, I woudl not carry an iPad along with me everywhere, either. But I’ll go back home if I forgot my phone. For many people around the world, that is all they have. And they can do almost anything we can do with our laptops and notebooks, plus…make that call. Answer the phone. Feel close to someone privately in a conversation.
The words, “I love you” felt inside your heart and soul.
In 2013, I read something from the media with statistics that stated more people around the world owned a cell phone than a tooth brush. It solidified the vision again, for me. The most popular mobile device is a phone.
If that were to change, it would still be a mobile device. But for now and probably for a long time, it’s still a phone. The name of the festival will not need to change.
So why only mobile phones? Why smartphones?
A film festival is a platform that celebrates filmmaking. But it is still a competition. A competition in our festival where only films shot with any brand or make mobile phone qualify means one thing. It’s an equal arena. An equal opportunity to compete with only other films shot with phone cameras.
If you’re interested in submitting a film, you should know that only films shot with phone cameras qualify, with one exception. Not more than ten percent of the footage in your film can be aerial footage shot with a drone camera.
You should also know that since the beginning, humans are at the center of the filmmaking process. No automated editing. Meaning you, as a human, make all editing decisions. But just in case, we made a point last year to point out no AI (artificial intelligence) is allowed in the making of your film.
And yes, we receive less film submissions. By being specific we know we don’t earn as much as other festivals who accept anything. However, as a filmmaker and creator, isn’t it nice to know that you have an equal opportunity to win? Isn’t it awesome to watch the films during our film festival and realize all the other films were also shot with a smartphone camera?
It’s the most inclusive platform because everyone has access to mobile phones. But it’s the most exclusive to only allow films shot with mobile phones. And hey, even indie filmmakers and storytellers with access to the most expensive cameras still have a smartphone. And yes, some of them are making films with smartphones too.
Submissions for IMFF 2025 open June 19. 14th Edition dates are April 25-27, 2025.
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