Comments on: WorldFest-Houston Film Festival 2024 – Cancelling screenings, no refunds https://filmindustrywatch.org/worldfest-houston-film-festival-2024-cancelling-screenings-no-refunds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=worldfest-houston-film-festival-2024-cancelling-screenings-no-refunds Exposing the shell games of the film industry - we won't let them hide. Sat, 08 Mar 2025 08:55:51 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Film Industry Watch https://filmindustrywatch.org/worldfest-houston-film-festival-2024-cancelling-screenings-no-refunds/#comment-20 Mon, 22 Apr 2024 03:59:10 +0000 https://filmindustrywatch.org/?p=6103#comment-20 In reply to A producer.

Thank you for your comment. The fact that many “festivals” don’t have screenings and they’re a complete scam, doesn’t justify WorldFest canceling the screenings element (after 50+ years) and turning itself into one of “those” festivals. At the minimum, submissions that did not want to take part of the festival and asked for a refund, could have been given one, and those who wanted to continue to participate, would have financed watching the films and sending out awards (which cost a fraction of organizing a real life event.) Thank you for your perspective and commenting on the article, we appreciate it.

]]> By: A producer https://filmindustrywatch.org/worldfest-houston-film-festival-2024-cancelling-screenings-no-refunds/#comment-19 Mon, 22 Apr 2024 03:29:05 +0000 https://filmindustrywatch.org/?p=6103#comment-19 Most film festivals run in the red and sink those entry fees into the cost of far more than the screenings well before the event date. Worldfest is one of the few thay actually hand out framed awards and trophies, which award winners will still receive. They pay their judges, pay deposits on venues and the tiny staff that runs the festival. They have to rent an office space to effectively run the festival and carry all the expenses that go along with that. Much of the cost of the festival is incurred well before the screening event. Which is why there are no refunds when something unexpected (like a key staff member being hospitalized or a venue backing out) forces cancellation. In 56 years, the in person event has rarely been canceled, such as 2020. Most festivals don’t even include in person events these days, so this narrative that the in-person screening is the most important thing doesn’t really hold water and doesn’t justify requesting refunds when those expensive to ship awards will still go out. Few festivals have financial reserves large enough to refund fees if the festival faces a devastating unexpected event. That’s why they are listed as non-profits. There is literally no profit, unless it’s something like AFF or Sundance, who aren’t keen on refunding entry fees, either, but at least have massive sponsorships that afford them that option.

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