Testimonials

Read reactions from recent writers and filmmakers who have had their work showcased at the Thriller Festival.

It was such an amazing experience, the cast and crew love the feedback video and I’m spreading the word for your festival to as many people as I can. It’s such an amazing idea. Your statement of “the audience LOVED our film” is also very touching.
– Scott Lyus (Short Film, Silently Within Your Shadow)

I was very moved and excited by watching the feedback video. It’s so amazing to see how people react.
– Erich Steiner, (Short Film, In the Still of the Night)

I truly believe that a table read is the next best thing in seeing my script on the big screen — so I entered my new thriller “The Devil’s Larceny.”
– Howard Fridkin, (Feature Script, The Devil’s Larceny)

I always thought that once a film is finished (or abandoned, as someone said once…), it no longer belongs to the filmmakers – it belongs to the audience. This festival is the perfect illustration of that. I very much appreciate the fact that your audience took the time to watch MEDIATION in the first place, and then chose to stay after the screening to discuss it. As a writer-director, I couldn’t ask for more – if there is an audience that cares enough to talk about a film I wrote and directed, then I’ve done my job.
– Francisco Lorite (Mediation Short Film)

I had heard rumors the feedback was genuine, and it did NOT disappoint. It helped me get to what you are about to watch and enjoy!
– Marc W Johnson (Legacy, Feature Film)

It was amazing to see the audience interact with the film. As a short filmmaker you rarely get the opportunity to get that much of detailed feedback from an audience. The general statement “It looks beautiful, but what the hell is going on” didn’t come as that much of a surprise as it is similar to reactions we received from other audiences 🙂 However, I myself enjoy films (or any piece of art for that matter) where there is lots of room for personal interpretation. So it is not that much about the intention of the writer or director, but more about what the audience makes of it for themselves. So in that sense I very much enjoyed the different interpretations and speculations concerning the story.
– Daniel Reimer, (Short Film, Bell Tower Enigma)

The WILDsound audience could speak freely and honestly and so their impressions were a joy to see. I was also over the moon to see that many in the audience seemed to have grasped and engaged with the main story arc but also with some of the sub-themes of the film. I took a risk by making a film that is somewhat open-ended and one which depends more on visual and musical communication rather than verbal communication. I am delighted to see that, for some in the audience, this paid off.
– Don Duncan, (Short Film, A Sign)

I’ve always received insightful notes / a lot of love. You’re our brass ring!
– Monte Light (Little Professor, First Scene Screenpaly)

I think I saw the festival highlighted on FilmFreeway, if I remember correctly. I had just finished writing the script and wanted to kind of test the waters to see how it would be received. I’ve directed a number of film projects in the past and I may direct Gravel Heart this fall if I can raise the funds. And I think sending the script out for feedback is important before one spends a lot of time, money, and effort – yours and other peoples’ – shooting a script that isn’t working.
– Michael Curtis (Gravel Heart, Short Screenplay)

It was absolutely great and exciting (seeing the FEEDBACK Video on my film). Thank you and the audience a lot. I also watched feedbacks of other works that screened. I need to admit that the audience in Toronto is much more film literate, and has a greater sense than most audiences that I have ever seen. The comments and reactions to the film was really nice. Although it was screened in many festivals and events in various countries, that video is the only real feedback that I got from an audience except in my country and except from people working for festivals. It was great too see that the film is still meaningful, fun to watch and has a real reflection in different countries.
– Kagan Kerimoglu (The Wheel of Time, Short Film)