Meet Avery Cohen of The Macoproject Film Festival

Today we’d like to introduce you to Avery Cohen.  

Hi Avery, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Macoproject began with the idea that filmmakers should feel valued and that the incentive for investing your blood, sweat, and tears into a film or a screenplay should mean more than just exorbitantly expensive festivals that hardly care about showcasing their filmmakers or giving their submitters a sense of importance. The distinction between us and many other film festivals is that we provide very exclusive chances, but everyone has a chance. Macoproject gives artists the chance of a lifetime, regardless of their budgets or production size. We as a film festival want to offer your work the chance of a lifetime if you believe it deserves it. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Making a great event and learning the ropes of how to get to a stable place is never a smooth path, but that’s probably not how it’s meant to be. Like any other event, ours has faced its share of challenges, but the end result is always worth the effort put in leading up to it: whether it’s a screenwriter reading a review that motivates them to write better dialogue for their next project, or a new filmmaker getting recognition and praise on our social media and at the live event. Making a movie is a challenge in and of itself, and anyone who has worked on a set for hours on end will tell you that. But everyone agrees that when the movie is done, they don’t regret working on it for a second. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Macoproject Film Festival provides an opportunity for filmmakers of all backgrounds to break into the industry on their own terms, cutting through some of the fluff that standard industry competitions encompass. It propels filmmaking and filmmakers to a new level of risk-taking in their careers. 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Due to the dynamic nature of filmmaking and the ever-evolving ways in which we consume our beloved films and shows, the festival industry presents unique challenges. Not because I don’t think events can change but because I genuinely think it’s more crucial that they cater to the needs of the filmmakers rather than the viewers. There will always be an audience in need of entertainment.  A movie can be about anything or nothing at all, but every style has its position in the world of film. It will be even more important over the next few years to highlight the reward-to-effort disparity. In the coming years, it is important to me that both ease and lack of privilege improve. We’re great at it, and every year our event moves to larger and better locations. 

Contact Info:

• Website: Macofilm.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themacoprojectfilmfestival/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MacoprojectFilmFestival/
• Linkedin: https://kr.linkedin.com/company/macoproject-film-festival
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/macoproject
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mSabYtnKrkCJ4Z_EGIhkQ