World [Record] Cinema

A Conversation with Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival President Gregory von Hausch

by Jennifer M. Wood | Published February 3, 2007

Gregory von Hausch, Ingrid Rubio, Eduardo Mignognia, Florencia Bertotti, Bonnie Adams

Gregory von Hausch, Ingrid Rubio- Actress, Eduardo Mignogna- Director, Florencia Bertotti- Actress, Bonnie Adams- Senior Program Director

Founded in 1986, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival is an event that can count even the Guinness Book of World Records impressed. It holds the title for the world's longest film festival, clocking in most recently at 28 days. Though a native of Ohio, the Festival's President and CEO, Gregory von Hausch has been contributing to the Florida arts scene since 1973, when he founded the Hippodrome State Theatre, North Florida's only professional regional theatre. In 1989, he came aboard as FLIFF's Executive Director, and has been helping to build its reputation as one of the country's preeminent regional festivals ever since. In a recent discussion with MM, he discusses the challenges of maintaining momentum throughout a month of screenings.

Jennifer Wood (MM): What was the original focus or intention of the festival? How have you worked toward your original mission and how has that focus changed?

Gregory von Hausch (GVH): The festival was simply an eight-day event until I arrived in 1989, then it grew from eight to 10 to 12 to 14 to 17 to 21 to 24 and now to 28 days. Also, we began a monthly series of films for our local members which has now grown into a daily schedule, year-round, with our own cinema.

The mission at the time was artistically to highlight North American indie filmmakers. In 1991, we added the word "International" to our name and began nurturing contacts around the world. That direction has grown significantly over the years and now we show 65, 70 percent international films. We still have a major interest in American indies, but we tend to scrutinize those selections more intensely. From my perspective, Americans tend to make films too easily, almost flippantly, without the investment in script and character development. The GenX films, which hopefully have now begun to decline, were a vast artistic vacuum. So, in a nutshell, our mission has evolved.

MM: FLIFF is considered one of the most important regional film festivals. What is it about the event that has secured that reputation? It seems that almost every city, big or small, ha its own film event now. What makes FLIFF different?

GVH: One thing that really pisses me off is to attend a festival where the programmers feel they are the celebrities and focus. We select content, but the moviemakers are the stars. We also want to be known as the friendly festival, where all of our guests are invited to everything the festival has to offer. I don't know if our audiences are any different than any other, but they love meeting the filmmakers, known and unknown, and provide a safe and receptive atmosphere to debut a film.

MM: FLIFF is the longest film festival in the world. How many films do you typically screen? Also, how do you solicit films, in addition to a general call for entries?

GVH: We show between 120 and 140 films with approximately 400 screenings. We solicit many ways, including our party in Santa Monica (last Sunday of February) every year and in Cannes (first Sunday of the Festival) every year. We do direct mail and the Website has been a major help in this regard.

MM: Is it difficult to keep the momentum going throughout the several week period of the festival? How do you keep things exciting and entertaining, and get attendees coming back for more?

GVH: It is like preparing for a war: you seem to prep forever and when the first day of screenings begins, it's like you're on a waterslide. You can't stop, you hang on, you think you're going to go flying off a wall on a turn, but somehow you hang in there. Really, it's a nightmare. I always say my favorite day of the year is the day after the festival closes, then the next day and so on, diminishing them until the day before the festival begins, which is my least favorite. I try as much as possible to have new things every year, parties, awards, procedures, focus. Many times this works, sometimes people long for a previous scenario.

MM: What are the parties and events like?

GVH: Our Opening Night Party is really special. About 1,600 people attend and 25 restaurants all prepare their specialties choosing a movie theme. This past year was the best, taking place at Florida Studios. The Chairman's Brunch and Cruise aboard a 350-passenger luxury yacht is a treat for our filmmakers and press. The IFC Festival Cafe, which operates throughout the festival, is the best hospitality area of any fest I have attended.

MM: Considering that your 2001 event took place so closely after the events of 9/11, did you notice any drop off in attendance?

GVH: 2001 was our best year. Attendance was at the 1999 level, 66,000, our best year ever. And this is significant because 9/11 made us cancel our mini fests in Hollywood and Miami, thereby losing 10 days of screenings. We canceled those dates due to the fact that we could not get anyone's attention with regard to slots, participation, shipping, the whole enchilada. The only other impact was a few no-shows during the festival; other than that, it was our best year ever.

MM: FLIFF has really become a year-round program. What sort of events are you offering cineastes throughout the year?

GVH: Our art house is an old church built in 1926 and adapted to film in 1998, we named it Cinema Paradiso. We host nightly screenings and weekend matinees throughout the year, two Academy Award parties and Local Filmmaker Night. We offer sidebars for Asian, Iranian and French films on a monthly basis, free films for the Krome Detention Center and free outdoor screenings in the park. We have a year-round festival in the local school program with nine-week residencies that have kids writing, producing and directing their own 16mm film, which culminates with a screening at Cinema Paradiso. We also do a Polo Picnic Party where our supporters come to the polo grounds, watch the ponies, drink, eat and bid on auction items.

MM: Anything new we can look forward to in 2002? Any special area of interest or category of film that you're really looking to see more of?

GVH: A new Beach Party with an outdoor screening, another IMAX film, more private parties and increased attendance from Europe and Asia.

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