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About SURGE
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Film, Music Video and Script Submissions - Donate to SURGE Exhibit at SURGE - Trailers and Video Interviews Host a Screening of the "The SURGE Collection: 7 Years Strong" in Your Area SURGE Film Festival Schedule - Follow Us. Subscribe. Love to SURGE - Directory of Officially Selected Films, Music Videos, Scripts, StagePlays and Teleplays SURGE Flyers "One must remember that in choosing the lesser of two evils, one still chooses evil." --Hannah Arendt, Philosopher, Activist Love. We will start our mission statement with a personal statement of love and thanks for everyone all over the world. We will also allow a letter from a filmmaker to describe SURGE before we describe it for you.
Read How Filmmakers Describe S.U.R.G.E.! Film FestivalPhoto: 'Asphyxious' screenwriter and director Shawn June, standing in front of the Marquee after the screening of the films 'Free World' and 'Asphyxious' at the Historic Academy Theater. This screening celebrated not only the Grand Finale of the West Coast portion of the 7 day SURGE Film festival, but it also marked the Grand Finale of the Fifth Annual International SURGE Film festival which ran for over 10 days nationwide! As always, admission was free of charge for everyone because everything in the world should be free!
Below is a letter from Shawn June written in Summer 2012 about SURGE Film Festival: "Being an independent filmmaker is far from easy with having to setup and do all the work. It gives me an even deeper appreciation for the filmmaking process. In the end of this process is the final product, which is seeing the film completed. A finalized film is even more rewarding to not only watch, but to share. SURGE Film Festival has extended it's hand in not only sharing my film with them, but share with me an equal opportunity in supporting and showing my past films "Asphyxious" (2010) and "Claddagh" (World Premier Screening Dec 1st, 2012 in Los Angeles) by giving me this experience. "My first film experience ever is with SURGE Film Festival. The following year they also accepted my second film, "Asphyxious" (2010). When they first told me that they accepted my film it was such an overwhelming feeling to know that all the hard work and time put into filmmaking was finally starting to get notice. SURGE told me they were going to show it in Austin, TX in February 2011. Immediately, I told them my assistant director and I would drive down from Des Moines, Iowa for the showing and support my film, but most importantly to show how grateful I am to have been accepted by SURGE. When I arrived they told me I won the Love and Encouragement Award, and that they would fly me out to their Portland, Oregon screening later that year in May. They paid for my round trip flight, housing and they even gave me a micro-grant as a stipend for other expenses. The photographs they provided me with also has greatly helped with publicity and press. That was my first experience on the West Coast. I plan on flying to LA this year (December 2012) to see the screening of my third film "Claddagh." I have never been to LA and I anxiously wait to see how it goes there along with the experience. "I submitted my fourth film "Cherish" (2012) to SURGE and I faithfully await to see if its accepted by SURGE. These past 5 years I have been dedicated entirely to the filmmaking world and it has been so rewarding, but nowhere near as rewarding as having all the memories and moments that I have shared with SURGE Film Festival. SURGE Film Festival will always have a place in my heart and in my thoughts for being the first film festival to ever accept my film. Thank you SURGE Film Festival, and I look forward to the future experiences together." Director Shawn June will join us for another amazing SURGE Film Festival in Los Angeles.on December 1, 2012 at the Amazing and Awesome Complete Actors Place Theatre! Join us! If the above video is not visible on youtube, you can also see it on vimeo at this website.
The SURGE organizers want to sincerely thank everyone for your support of the SURGE Film Festival and our increased and expanding ability to help filmmakers and screenwriters share their work throughout the world. We started a film festival over half a decade ago with no funds and no grants based on the foundation of love, equality, access and creating a better world. We made certain that general admission to all films and script reading exhibitions remained free of charge to ensure access to all and we know it is only by love and the will of the people that we not only continue to exist... but we grow year after year. We have screened films in Texas, Illinois, Oregon, multiple cities in California and more... just within the last 11 months. As we have grown, we have endeavored to remember our roots: instead of transforming our event into high ticket fees as is the tradition amongst growing film festivals...we have instead made certain to expand the benefits that we provide for our audience members and our filmmakers and screenwriters. For our audience once again we are providing free of charge popcorn (typically the largest profit machine of film festivals) and for writers we offer the benefit of each script receiving three (3) independent readers providing written feedback coverage for all script, stageplay and teleplay entries at no extra charge even if they are not official selections of SURGE. We also offer the unique advantage of returning feedback to writers at three intervals (as detailed in our category details). Our dedication to films, music videos and scripts is helping to give spotlight to more amazing writing such as the 2012 SURGE Official Stageplay selection of SWEET MERCY created by Melody Cooper which deals with the genocides in Africa and was developed by the New York Stage and Film in their summer Powerhouse series. Melody also created the amazing "DAY OF RECKONING" about the legendary Lucy Parsons. S.U.R.G.E.! is dedicated to international and unparalleled outreach in order to promote creating a better world through Film, Scripts, Stageplays, Teleplays, Music Videos, Multimedia, Visual Arts and Music. Our mission is to strengthen the voice of people on the quest for a better world - while encouraging everyone to continue working for a better world! AT SURGE, you will have the opportunity see numerous films from around the world, attend educational panels, hear scripts read by the screenwriters, meet filmmakers and hear from people creating a better world from all over the world. SURGE is the first international film festival which is not only an annual film, script, music video and multimedia festival but it is also a film festival network which enables people worldwide to bring the festival into their area of the world through the SURGE film festival network! Now in our seventh year our film festival promises to be more amazing than ever! In 2011, SURGE was scheduled to take place for only 3 days in Austin, Texas. Yet, because of increased international interest in SURGE, the SURGE Film Festival took place for a total of over 10 days nationwide, showing a total of over 40 films in the cities of Austin, Texas; Urbana, Illinois; and Portland, Oregon! Films from over 15 different countries were shown. These films included a vast array of independent features and world premiers by new filmmakers as well as feature films such as 'In The Footsteps of Elie Wiesel' with internationally recognized Emmy and Golden Globe winning actors such as RICHARD GERE, and feature films such as 'Love & Valor - The Intimate Civil War Letters' with Golden Globe winning actors such as BRIAN DENNEHY. _ Photo: Production still from the film 'In The Footsteps of Elie Wiesel' filmed in France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the U S A. High school students travel through Europe as they trace the life path and, in this photo, sit in front of Nobel laureate, author, humanitarian and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. Screenwriter and Director Rio Collier of the B Media Collective seen here in 2011 after she received the SURGE 'Eternal Flame' award for keeping the flame of equality and social justice burning bright for all the world to see. She received the award for her inspiring film 'Armed with Art: A New Revolution is Necessary - "Armad@s Con Arte. Una Nueva Revolucion es Nescesaria." It was filmed throughout Mexico and shown at the Historic Academy Theater en Español with English subtitles. Video: To see the video interview in which Director Rio Collier is presented with the Eternal Flame award please click here.
SURGE recognizes that it is extremely difficult for small, independent films to find a wide audience. That is why in 2011, SURGE started the S.U.R.G.E. Collection DVD Compilation which circulated over 1,000 DVDs with two films selected from the 2011 SURGE Film Festival. After filmmakers are officially selected for SURGE they are given a questionnaire and filmmakers who choose to have their film included in the SURGE DVD Collection may receive a wider audience all over the world. In Addition, in 2012 at least one filmmaker and/or screenwriter will receive our annual “Love & Encouragement” Award. This award is presented to a filmmaker and/or screenwriter who presents an excellent film that simply strives to create art and media that does not promote or cater to politicians or multinational corporations. The filmmaker will receive round-trip airfare from their city to the film festival, housing during the film festival, a spending stipend and much more. In 2011, SHAWN JUNE was honored at the SURGE Film festival in Austin, Texas for his film Asphyxious. He also received round-trip airfare from his home in Des Moines, Iowa to the Portland, Oregon screening of his film at the Historic Academy Theater that screened during the Grand Finale of the Portland, Oregon portion of the 7 day SURGE Film festival! Many films were shown with the directors attending Question & Answer sessions after their films and receiving the distinguished SURGE 'Eternal Flame' award for keeping the flame of equality and social flame burning bright for all the world to see. It is notable that the budget for Asphyxious was estimated at $1,000.00. At SURGE, it is not the cost of the film that matters, but the courage to encourage other people to follow their dreams in the quest for a better world. As always, general admission was free of charge for everyone because everything in the world should be free! Many films were shown with the directors attending Question & Answer sessions after their films and receiving the distinguished SURGE 'Eternal Flame' award for keeping the flame of equality and social justice burning bright for all the world to see. It is notable that the budget for Asphyxious was estimated at only $1,000. At SURGE, it is not the cost of the film that matters, but the courage to encourage other people to follow their dreams in the quest for a better world. In 2012, IARA LEE has been selected to receive the Love & Encouragement Award at the Sixth Annual International SURGE Film Festival for her amazing cinematic endeavor known as 'Cultures of Resistance.' The Cultures of Resistance Trailer Here is a brief synopsis of the film: "Does each gesture really make a difference? Can music and dance be weapons of peace? In 2003, on the eve of the Iraq war, director Iara Lee embarked on a journey to better understand a world increasingly embroiled in conflict and, as she saw it, heading for self-destruction. After several years, travelling over five continents, Iara encountered growing numbers of people who committed their lives to promoting change. This is their story. From IRAN, where graffiti and rap became tools in fighting government repression, to BURMA, where monks acting in the tradition of Gandhi take on a dictatorship, moving on to BRAZIL, where musicians reach out to slum kids and transform guns into guitars, and ending in PALESTINIAN refugee camps in LEBANON, where photography, music, and film have given a voice to those rarely heard, Cultures of Resistance explores how art and creativity can be ammunition in the battle for peace and justice. Featuring: Medellín poets for peace, Capoeira masters from Brazil, Iranian graffiti artists, women’s movement leaders in Rwanda, Lebanon’s refugee filmmakers, U.S. political pranksters, indigenous Kayapó activists from the Xingu River, hip-hop artists from Palestine, and many more..." We are also very happy to report that the CULTURES OF RESISTANCE film has now acquired a distributor for their film! It is our desire to see that films and scripts presented at SURGE increase their worldwide exposure in every way! In addition, the 2012 SURGE Film festival features more Internationally celebrated Speakers giving workshops in addition to their film. For example, in 2012 SURGE is pleased and honored to welcome Randy Taran from the non-profit Project Happiness Group screening the Project Happiness Film during SURGE in Berkeley, California! They have also finalized the Spanish language version of the Project Happiness film and will be premiering it soon. SURGE also offers officially selected filmmakers user accounts on the SURGE website so they can upload as many trailers for their films as they like to our website. Trailers for their films will remain on our website for at least a year to help promote their films. In addition, when visiting the SURGE website, people will see the “Love to S.U.R.G.E. - Film Festival Directory.” This directory not only extensively profiles the officially selected films of the prior year, but it also features photos and a great deal of press kit material highlighting the filmmaker and some of their biography and/or cast and crew..
SURGE is a non-competitive film festival so all participants are winners. Because we remain a non-competitive film festival, when a film, script or music video is officially selected by our film festival, each member of the cast and crew is permitted to display our official selection SURGE laurels on their website and materials. The SURGE laurels not only distinguish you as being a part of an official selection of SURGE, but more importantly the laurels distinguish you as someone who works for equality and social justice on behalf of all people. In addition, each member of the cast and crew are eligible to receive a certificate. SURGE has also begun interviewing members of the cast and crew who attend SURGE and placing the video interviews on our website through Vimeo as well as Youtube channels. This enables the video interviews to appear not only on the SURGE website, but these video interviews can also appear on the filmmakers website through links. Each and every year admission and ticket fees for people to attend the SURGE film festival has remained free-of-charge! This enables the largest possible audience, from all different financial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, to participate in the film festival. Registration fees to submit films into the SURGE film festival remain low. This enables the largest possible audience, from all different financial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds to submit films... +...in which anonymous entries are accepted as we encourage whistle-blowers to expose injustice! +...in which some of the entries that are not included in the festival are still published along with all the other entries in our International, S.U.R.G.E. Multilingual Film Festival Directory! This enables all entries to receive exposure and networking with people from all over the world. SURGE is so much more than just another film festival: it is in word and in action the sixth annual international Social Uprising Resistance and Grassroots Encouragement (S.U.R.G.E.!) Film Festival! Mission Statement Peace, Equality and Solidarity. Although political protests give us the opportunity to unite our thoughts in opposition to the route which our governments are taking us, many of us all over the world have come to the realization that the lack of peace in the world and the problems that we see increasing every day have a foundation deeper than the Republicans, the Democrats, or a few select multinational corporations. What we face are institutionalized problems, problems which can only be confronted at the root, researched and solved by imaginative and broad based, non-violent social movements - not ballot boxes. A Forum of Unparalleled Access and Outreach Access, Horizontalism and Outreach. The Annual Social Uprising Resistance and Grassroots Encourage (SURGE) Film Festival begin during the first Annual International A World Beyond Capitalism (AWBC) Conference that began in 2005. Much like the AWBC, SURGE has always aimed at contributing to the process of Access, Horizontalism and outreach by providing a space for activists - to reflect on the importance of long term vision, strategy, face-to-face relationship building and the realization that a worldwide multi-racial struggle for true universal equality must pro-actively work to include all races and classes of people, differently abled people, and even those who do not speak English. We also seek to bring together and give voice to people working for a better world: a world of equality, a world of peace. With this in mind, SURGE is a film festival that is now moving to the next level by once again organizing the Annual International SURGE Film Festival that will take place in several different cities during several large events. There has been so much talk about what kind of ‘charity’ third world countries and immigrants ‘need.’ But there is little talk about the need for self-empowering justice beyond capitalism and more capitalism. Once again, in 2012 SURGE is being organized with hopes of not replicating the style and approach of traditional film festivals, which are often alienating and racially homogenized with little attempt to create outreach and universal accessibility to non-English speaking people and to the disabled people of our society. These segments of our society are often the most vulnerable populations victimized by the oppressive characteristics of capitalism. Rather, SURGE is an attempt to use outreach to create an inclusive gathering. Our Vision Those of us who have collectively worked together to make the ‘SURGE’ a reality share the vision below, one that we imagine is also shared by many who have agreed to participate, facilitate, present, translate, or involve themselves in some active way. We envision a space in which all voices are heard, and see the concept of "horizontalism" as a goal and a tool. It implies directly democratic discussions where theory meets non-violent practice, seeing and hearing one another in our full humanity, and confronting the power hierarchies that we observe amongst ourselves. Given that we all still live under the shadow of capitalism and the consequences of how it affects our behavior and psyches, we know that it is necessary for us to put great amounts of energy and thought into structuring egalitarian and provocative conversations, ones in which all of our voices and ideas can thrive. This at times may mean putting aside our defensive egos which often may inadvertently defend our lifestyles of privilege. At some level, we all have privileges in the United States, and these privileges of our capitalistic society have been gained by exploiting millions of the most vulnerable people throughout the world. Diverse Perspectives All of us participating in Film Festival have various experiences and thoughts on all the topics being discussed, from those of us who have spent most of our adult lives contemplating a particular subject, to those of us who are now just thinking about certain things for the first time. There are those of us who are creating alternative energy in our communities, and those of us who are still very much in the dreaming and questioning stage. We would greatly like for you to help us work towards the goal of education and peaceful, universal alliance building. The best event and intentional community is the one we build in solidarity. Bring a friend, offer housing or a ride, post flyers in your community, volunteer or just be imaginative! Goals "Once people understand the strength of non-violence - the force it generates, the love it creates, the response it brings from the total community - they will not easily abandon it." --Cesar Chavez, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers of America, Union Activist, Ethical Vegetarian, Philosopher, Activist You have probably attended many meetings and conferences which speak about building Multi-racial alliances. Here are a few of the many ways in which film festivals that you have attended in the past greatly differ from SURGE Film Festival.
We have many more innovative ideas to build real and lasting multi-racial alliances amongst people who are truly working for world peace. But we can only do it with your help. Volunteer or just make sure you come to the SURGE Film Festival! "Once people understand the strength of non-violence - the force it generates, the love it creates, the response it brings from the total community - they will not easily abandon it." --Cesar Chavez, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers of America, Union Activist, Ethical Vegetarian, Philosopher, Activist |