I am not really involved in organizing it, but I didn't see it advertised anywhere, so I thought I had better announce it before it goes by unnoticed:

 
 http://www.marbellafilmfestival.com/

From the web site:  

"The Marbella International Film Festival provides an artistic opportunity for independent international talent within the worlds of cinema, visual and performance art. The event offers the opportunity for independent artists to ingratiate themselves within the commercial world of entrepreneurs, financiers and sponsors. Only the highest calibre of independent artistic work is selected for exhibition."

"There are no boundaries for the talented. The festival will present works from Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia."

I went last year and the turnout was very poor indeed, with about 20-60 people there at anyone time on average.

It's a shame really, as the concept is fantastic, but the people running it clearly have no concept of marketing. If so, we'd all know when it was on!

The films on show were really well produced and I went on both days on a professional basis. I shall not be attending this year as despite being on their mailing list, they neglected to tell me when it was happening this year.

Oh well, maybe next year.

PS: This is just my opinion :)

I just came back from the festival for an hour.  This afternoon, I was watching "The Doorman", a documentary about Trevor W., a well-known doorman in the NYC club scene. It was lots of fun and Trevor was also there as well the producer Brian Devine. 

They also  presented a very nice opera singer, Maria Ferrer, a soprano from Miami who sang pieces by Puccini and from Carmen last night and helps out as an interviewer.

Unfortunately, this year the turnout isn't any better despite interesting films.  It needs more promotion, and I was also on the mailing list and didn't get any particular notification. I guess film industry participants go to festivals to sell the films, so people from distribution firms must be there in first place.

Or they promote it to the general public, that's the other possibility.   They need to find the right pricing and mass advertising strategy for that. Maybe that would be financially more risky.

Anyway, it's still fun.  There will be a party on the fringe of the festival at The Edge in Puerto Banús at 10 pm tonight and the Gala Dinner tomorrow evening.  The day ticket costs €25 and the Gala Dinner tickets are €150.

For more info:

www.marbellafilmfestival.com