Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

What animates a filmmaker? If it’s having his films reach the widest possible audience, Ian Fischer has scored big time. Over the last few months, this Art Institute Video Production instructor has had the opportunity to show his films at a number of festivals.

He premiered his new short film Magritte Moment at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, and just got back from Cannes, where his short film Foet played in the Short Film Corner.

Foet was also shown at New Filmmakers Film Festival, Tromadance Film Festival, New York City Horror Film Festival, Boston Underground Film Festival, Show off Your Short Film Festival, New York International Independent Film Festival, Philadelphia Independent Film Festival, Mini-Shock Film Festival, International Film Festival Egypt, Necon, Crypticon, Fangoria: Weekend of Horrors, and Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. The film was nominated for awards at the Hoboken International and Swansea Life Film Festivals.

Most festivals receive several thousand films, but they are extremely competitive and only a few are accepted to be shown. Ian says he feels lucky that his films have found an audience. “Strangely enough, I didn’t realize that Foet is as funny as it is until I sat in an audience and heard the roar of laughter. It's a tough sell, being a horror/fashion satire, but people are responding to the original point of view. Filmmaking is all about finding the right audience for your work. What I have learned is that each festival has a particular viewpoint and it is important to match your film with the right festival.”

Ian is a graduate of Tufts University, and received his MFA in Film Directing from Columbia University. At The Art Institute of New York City, he teaches Screenwriting, Editing, Producing and Directing. As a director, he is currently in pre-production on a new short film called Wonder of See-Saws (which will be part of a feature currently called The Wonder Project), a music video, and a documentary on a comic book artist.

Ian loves being an instructor. He says, “Working with talented students keeps my skills sharp. And there are the moments when seeing a student ‘get it’ can be as rewarding as my own personal success.”

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