Straight outta Muskegon, Mich., the fourth annual Laugh Out Loud Short Film Fest (LOLSFF) puts a twist on the traditional film festival. The fest, which comes to the Capitol Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, allows patrons to function as film critics.
“At the end of the film, information appears on-screen telling movie-goers how to vote for their favorite short film using their cell phone or other mobile device,” says festival founder Joe Edick in a press release. “Live voting results are instantly displayed on the voter’s phone so they can see how their vote compares to others. Vote totals from each participating cinema are then added together to determine one of the cash awards. It’s fun for the audience to actually take part in the event and affect the outcome. Traditional Film festivals typically take at least one entire day’s commitment and patrons are forced to move around from one makeshift film venue to the next. We’ve strung together a collection of 14 gut-busting short comedies with a time commitment of only 92 minutes. And best of all, you watch them at the familiar surroundings of comfort of your local movie theatre.”
The patrons who attend the festival will determine the Audience Choice Award winner and the recipient of a $1,000 prize. A panel of film-buying professionals from the motion picture industry pick a second award for Best Short Comedy.
"Filmmakers dream of having their work seen at theatres across the country on the same screens as the big budget Hollywood blockbusters,” says Edick. “We’re simply helping them get in front of traditional theatre audiences a little more quickly. Our lineup of short comedies is top-notch and represents some of the best up-and-coming filmmakers from around the globe. You will not be disappointed."
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