Welcome to the Twin Tiers International Film Festival

The Twin Tiers International Film Festival is dedicated to finding and encouraging new filmmakers to showcase their films and let their voices be heard. We will foster an engaging and inspiring atmosphere where creativity abounds. Our venue is a popular locally owned movie cinema located in a small upstate NY town just a short distance from Binghamton - the hometown of Rod Serling, creator of "The Twilight Zone".

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Come for a great festival of film, workshops and networking. Walk in Serling's footsteps and explore Binghamton's downtown and Twilight Zone inspirations. Or just enjoy sometime at the zoo or spend sometime in our region's natural scenic beauty while you visit us!   

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Every film submitted to us will be viewed start to finish and graded by our judging panel of industry professionals. Our goal is to show as many films as possible across all film genres of any length. We have a big heart for local film and encourage local filmmakers to submit their work regardless of experience.

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We are partnered with Shami Media Group (SMG) to provide our selected films and filmmakers a chance at indie film distribution. This is an exciting opportunity we are pleased to be able to offer! You're film may be the next hit on Amazon, Netflix or in the Redbox!

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We know how hard the festival circuit can be. We are filmmakers ourselves. We want to invite you to our festival where we will strive to put the filmmakers and their films first. We will have strong networking events to ensure everyone gets an opportunity to discuss their work with other filmmakers. Our workshops will provide additional knowledge of various film making areas from things like writing screenplays to budgeting and funding. Each of our filmmakers will have a chance to discuss their work in our audience talkbacks. It is about the films and the filmmaker.  Come and spend some time with us and get ready to leave inspired!  

The Festival

Date and Times

September 18-20, 2020

Time: To be Determined

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Film Submission Categories

Documentary Feature,  Documentary Short, International (feature or short), Student (feature or short), Horror Feature, Horror Short, Drama/Thriller Feature, Sci-Fi/Action Feature, Drama/Thriller Short, Sci-Fi/Action Short, Comedy Feature, Comedy Short, Local (feature or short), Family Friendly, Made in NY

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Run time for Feature Films is any film over 40 mins. Shorts are 39:59 and less. 

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Unproduced Written Screenplay Submissions

Short Screenplays are 50 pages or less

Feature Screenplays are 51 pages or more 

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For a complete list of competition rules and award listings, please click here.    

Looking for a hotel to stay at? We've got a list of discounted rates from nearby hotels.

2020 Special Guests and Events

Film Adaption Workshop (2 parts)

Friday, September 18th @ 2pm

Hosted by Professors Jeroen Gerrits and Jack Bryant

Many of the films we love originate from books, short stories and other literature. Our 2-part Film Adaption workshop will explore both the theoretical and the practical aspects of taking literature and turning it into cinema. 

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For the first part of the workshop Professor Jeroen Gerrits, of Binghamton University, will first explore film adaption from a critical and theoretical viewpoint. Jack Bryant of Ithaca College will then follow with part 2 of the workshop with his practical approach to writing a screenplay from a literary work. 

Jeroen Gerrits

Associate Professor - Binghamton University

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Jeroen Gerrits is Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Binghamton University (SUNY). His teaching and research center on intersections between film, literature and philosophy. His book Cinematic Skepticism: Across Digital and Global Turns, published by SUNY Press (2019), draws on the film-philosophies of Stanley Cavell and Gilles Deleuze to argue that skepticism is an ethical problem that pervades contemporary film. He has also published a series of essays on film adaptation, specifically focussing on creative ways of moving across media and cultures. Forthcoming articles discuss Raúl Ruiz' Chilean film adaptation of an Iranian novel (The Blind Owl) and Eric Rohmer's creative cinematic "commentary" on Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.

Jack Bryant

Associate Professor - Ithaca College

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Jack Bryant is Associate Professor and Program Director of Media Arts, Sciences and Studies at Ithaca College. He teaches both introductory and advanced screenwriting courses specializing in film, video games and emerging media.

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In addition to teaching, Professor Bryant works as a professional screenwriter and screenwriting consultant. His most recent feature films are Fair Haven (2016) and Purity Falls (2019). 

Hollywood Actor Jobs Workshop

Saturday, September 19th @ 7pm

Hosted by Professional actor Phillip E. Walker

Now concluding with a GettingPaid.us screening, this popular Lecture ~ WORKSHOP will be returning to the Twin Tiers International Film Festival because everybody loves to hear about Hollywood - even if they do not strive to become a working entertainer.

But for those that do dream of “making it” in La La Land, this information is not just fun but career changing! HAJ is the Sherpa’s living guide up the mountain of LA talent full-time employment. It instructs ANYONE how to secure such entry level Hollywood  employment within 3 business days of one’s arrival.

Having premiered 8-15-16 at Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theater, this employment advise was also presented for the Huffington Post reported California Educational Theatre Association’s 2017 Statewide Annual Conference held at the Academy of Television & Sciences (Emmy’s home); as well as in Honolulu, Texas, rural Wyoming, Socal’s Inland Empire, NoHo & Santa Monica, NYC, Queens plus Western & Central New York State and many more.

Hollywood Actor Jobs is speckled with select Phillip E. Walker video clips from his more than 900 performing gigs or appearances during his first 5 LA years such as: 93 music videos (Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”, Trolls movie theme song, Beyonce’s music movie “Lemonade”, J. Cole’s “ATM”, Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk”) feature films like "The Other Wife" and many short film Starring roles such as his upcoming "WineGame". Further, this WORKSHOP session shares how Phillip’s Hollywood entry level acting work has lead him to multiple Co-Starring TV series roles including: Marvel TV’s Legion opposite Dan Steven, HBO TV’s Sharp Objects opposite Amy Adams and, as chronicled in his talent employment workbook, the Lead’s father in the late John Singleton’s Snowfall on FX.

This WORKSHOP is based on Mr. Walker’s latest book title: "Entry Level Acting in LA 2016". a hands-on, new actor full-time employment workbook
http://EntryLevelActing.LA

VIP Events

exclusive invites for VIP pass holders

VIP events are special events held after the festival each night! VIP pass holders are automatically invited to attend! Filmmakers are highly encouraged to attend as a way to socially network together! 

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Stand Up Comedy with Comedian Mike Brindisi

Friday, Sept. 18th @ 10pm

 - The North Brewery* - 

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Mike Brindisi has spent the last 15 years going from showcasing in NYC doing standup, Acting in film/Tv, hosting his own radio show & touring with his band “The New York Rock”. Being fulfilled being on a stage singing, doing stand up or just entertaining people, he recently decided to go back to comedy full time. Mike has appeared on SNL, MTV2 & Howard Stern. In music, Mike has played shows with Gavin Degraw, Sponge, Tim Reynolds & on the Vans Warped Tour.  Mike brings a huge energy & years of life experience to his stand up and will leave you wanting more.

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For more information visit:

mikebrindisi.com

*Note: The North Brewery is planning on doing a small remodeling project that should be done by the time this event occurs. In the event that the project is not completed, this event will take place inside Cinema Saver.*

Free Bowling and Live Music

Featuring: Voodoo Highway

Saturday, Sept. 19th @ 10pm

- Ideal Bowling Center -

Join us for a great evening of fun at the Ideal Bowling Center in Endicott! VIP pass holders will receive 1 FREE game of bowling - and 50% off all games thereafter - with free shoe rentals. Hang out and connect at the bar over food and drink and enjoy specials all night! and enjoy live music featuring local band Voodoo Highway!

Voodoo Highway is an original blues-rock jam band in the spirit of classic blues, the Allman Brothers, and the Grateful Dead. Their music has found success on both FM and internet radio, where they have had four tracks from their debut album “Hidin’ Out with the Blues” hit #1 on listener-voted monthly top-10 lists. The band features Dana Stewart on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Bob Rynone on lead and slide guitar and vocals, Tom D’Angelo on drums and percussion, and Irem Ayan on bass; Voodoo Highway & Company is the extended version of the band and also features Curtis Kendrick on keys and vocals.