FilmFestivals.com launched in 1995 (an M21 Entertainment company) it has hosted the number one portal site for festivals and film news since this early, pionneer venture.
We, at M21 Entertainment, have also ventured into the new web 2.0 possibilities to serve our festival community with better (modern) tools for our blog platform fest21.com which hosts more than 25.000 blogs (and growing)
Fest21.com also host video blogs from 6.000 festivals and 15.000 filmmakers interested in the festival circuit.
We have been maintaining these two sites and have now decided to regroup the best of both world (portal and community) into one single url www.filmfestivals.com which will provide state of the art technology.
Migration begins end of April.
Of course the previous links will continue to be live (and passwords....)
Filmfestivals.com’s mission is to be the premiere online entertainment destination dedicated to showcasing film festivals around the world and fostering new film and filmmaking talent.
6000 festivals connected, we have covered editorially over 3000 of them and provide solution to connect film to festivals, festival submission suite, promotional package.
We offer over 70 000 pages of content and 20 000 pictures and videos from the festival scene.
Kindly let us know your concerns or suggestions.
A bit of (pre) history
The company was founded in 1995 began its festival involvement with the production of a CD-Rom on the Cannes Film Festival and the creation of their first official website. This successful experience developed into a focus on film festivals all over the world. Filmfestivals.com was registered on July 26, 1995. Yes, you read it right, 95!
1996 - coverage of the major international film festivals in partnership with Moving Pictures International, the (ex) British film industry magazine (transformed recently).
1997 - creation of the worldwide festival directory and a monthly bulletin board
1998 - Expanded to include films reviews, pertinent articles…
1999 - Launched the film and festival databases, a weekly news edition and services to festival organizers and filmmakers.
2000 - Launch of pro site and new version of french and Internatonal sites.
2001 - Launch of the film interactive experience at Sundance. Company has built a catalogue of 50 films and 150 shorts.
2002 - Launch of the Festival Circuit.
2003 - Launch of the Buyers Lounge for Cannes Market
2004 - Partners with Hollywood Europan Awards to promote european film through Hollywood European Award
Partnership with Cannes, Los Angeles Festival, Karlovy Vary, Venice, IFP Market, MIFED...
2005 - Partners with 2005 Cannes Market to promote the Short Film Digital Avenue showcase and panel on convergence and new media digital rights management. Partnership with Cannes,Satis, SIL 2005 Roma Independent Film Festival, Dubai...
2006 - Filmfestivals and M21 Entertainment launch www.fest21.com at Cannes new video blog platform for festival, film professionnals and film fans at large. Free storage for blog streaming at state of the art conditions.
2007 - M21 Entertainment introduces the first digital library bundle, including an e-Book reader and a selection of 24 books dedicated to prospective management and technology.
2008 - Cannes Future of Cinema Salon (4th edition of our prospective panels) goes to Cannes and Locarno (as an official partner)
2009 - 2011- Launch of fest21 new version with improved search and new Festival Directory merged with filmfestivals.com.
The company partners with Cannes for the seventh year. The company publishes "A festival Wife" by episodes on fest21.com with a reveal in Cannes of the last chapter of the festival thriller by Rex Weiner (former Journalist with Variety)
Malo Girod de l'Ain, co founder
The Company was founded in 1995 by Malo Girod de l'Ain, who created the first official website for Cannes International Film Festival and went on to develop the Internet's leading website for film festivals.
Previously, he was involved in the computer software industry for more than 10 years. He held VP and President positions in venture capital and software publishing companies and was a management and data processing consultant in New York and Paris. He holds a doctorate in engineering in addition to a law diploma.
Bruno Chatelin, Editor co founder
Bruno Chatelin was in charge of the launch of over 250 films during his tenure as Marketing Director and Managing Director for Columbia TriStar Films and Twentieth Century FOX. In 1995 he initiated and managed the joint venture between French major UGC and FOX and led it to the leading position in the french market. Mr. Chatelin brings experience in promotional strategies for interactive media. He has created two commercial websites for small-business entrepreneurs (individuals working from home, or companies with fewer than 10 people). He holds an MBA from HEC (École des hautes études commerciales). He is a Board Member of EFA, European Film Academy, board member for Cesar academy, and co chair of Hollywood European Awards, advisory Board Member at IFFS Europe - International Film festival Summit.
He has served in a couple of festival juries.