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The Lady and the Film Festival
These days it seems that everyone is launching their own film festival and the latest to do so is Australian comedian, Julia Morris.
Over her twenty-three year long career funnywoman Julia Morris has proven herself to be a lady of many talents, entertaining audiences as an actress, singer, comedian and even a Club-med dancer. With her latest foray into the world of film, she can now add ‘Film Festival Creator' to this ever-growing list.
Inspired by Hollywood trend-setters like Robert De Niro who have started their own film festivals, Morris has decided to follow suit by creating JMoFest, a film festival dedicated to showcasing the talents of amateur filmmakers across the globe.
Having lived in LA for the past few months, Morris is now back in Australia to promote JMoFest. "If I've learned one thing this year, it's that you're nothing in Hollywood without your own film festival," she jokes to FILMINK.
The impetus for JMoFest came after Julia's husband, British comedian Dan Thomas, bought a full page advertisement in the Daily Telegraph at a charity auction last year. Unsure of what to advertise, Thomas suggested placing a cut-out-and-keep ‘Lady Julia Morris' mask on the page. "Dan was like, ‘People could do something with the mask like take crazy photographs of it and put it on the website and that's kind of where the film festival idea came up," Morris explains.
Morris was immediately intrigued by the idea. After receiving enthusiastic responses from her Twitter followers, Facebook friends and filmmakers, she decided to create JMoFest.
Morris is challenging entrants to submit a short-film up to three minutes in length. The film can be about any subject and can be filmed using any equipment, including a mobile phone. The only requirement is that the ‘JMo' mask must feature in the film at some point. The ten finalist films will be chosen by Morris and shown at three screening nights in her hometown of Avoca Beach, plus Sydney and LA. The winner will receive an HD camcorder and an award.
"I'm just hoping to see loads of laughs and brilliant ideas," Morris enthuses. Ever the comedian, she is also keen to stress that nudity is definitely acceptable. "I don't care if there's like boobs bouncing around everywhere, I couldn't care less!" she laughs.
While Morris says most people have been supportive of JMoFest, she concedes that there have been negative reactions. "Most people have said ‘That's hilarious' and they understand that it's just about silliness... not everyone can like you and you just have to kind of absorb it and that's all about being in the public eye," she reveals candidly.
While many may roll their eyes at news of yet another film festival, Morris believes that what sets JMoFest apart is that she has no pretensions about herself. "I'd say that most of the other people who run their own film festivals have some credibility so that's the thing that really sets me apart. The bonus is that I don't take myself too seriously so hopefully that will add to it as well," she says lightheartedly. "If it generates more films, creativity and artistic contribution, then it has been well worth it."
Entries for JMoFest close October 31. For more information, click here.