The Festival (2005–2006) User Reviews

Surprisingly watchable, entertaining even

[DennisH · 24 September 2005]

-Minor Spoilers

I caught the first episode of 'The Festival' on a lazy Saturday morning, where IFC was showing all of the episodes sequentially...twice. I think I understand why, this is one of the better shows to grace the IFC screen in some time. The quality of the show kept me watching for all of the episodes.

It's a mockumentary (probably inspired by 'This is Spinal Tap' and 'The Best In Show') where first time film-festival entrant director Rufus Marquez blazes into the Mountain United Film Festival (MUFF) with his feature film, 'The Unreasonable Truth of Butterflies.' The show focuses on the encounters between Rufus, the star of his film, the festival coordinators, the potential buyers, the other directors, and the IFC documentarian.

These story lines proceed as expected, and the talking-head interviews with the festival coordinator (Jean Nicolai) had me smiling. But while the characters are interesting, the gem of the show is the interference of the documentary producer with the film screenings. A little bit of over-acting ensues, but it's mostly believable and provided insight about how modern reality television is developed.

The third act gets a little repetitive, and the conclusion seems like an independent movie denouement. However, all of the characters were engaging, especially Nicholas Wright as Rufus, and frankly, I couldn't change the channel until I learned about The Unreasonable Truth of Butterflies.

Pretty good in general, really good for IFC.

Loved it!

[FFindie · 8/10 · 5 October 2006]

As a first time filmmaker making my way through the festival circuit, I loved happening across this on IFC. I couldn't stop laughing at the little things, that in reality, aren't really all that exaggerated. Even the acronym for the festival is funny. The 4,000 plus filmmakers submitting to festivals this year will totally identify with Rufus. (I know there are over 4,000 because all of the festivals start their letters with "With over 4,000 entries...") I feel like I have met all of the characters, from Rufus, to his hotel mate, to the festival programmer. This is a must see comedy for indie filmmakers navigating the circuit. And, although a mockumentary, I learned to always have another copy of my film with me(which I've needed ..twice!)

Not Bad

[jswansburg1981 · 7/10 · 22 September 2018]

Whoever wrote the review about how this show's not bad but just doesn't work on some levels has it exactly right. There's some fun pieces that just aren't fitting together properly. But it's still entertaining with some funny jokes. The idea of the show is a good one. I bet with more time it could have really been something cool.

Festival isn't a bad show, it just doesn't work on a lot of levels

[liquidcelluloid-1 · 19 August 2007]

Network: IFC; Genre: Comedy, Mockumentary; Content Rating: TV-MA (for profanity, nudity and simulated sex); Available: DVD; Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4);

Seasons Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)

Cameras for the Independent Film Channel roll as Rufus Marquez (Nicolas Wright) takes his first little film, "The Unreasonable Truth of Butterflies", toward what he hopes is his big break at the Mountain United Film Festival. From the outset nothing goes right and Rufus struggles against phony Hollywood producers, hapless festival executives and a successful actor friend at every turn to get his film shown.

A Canadian verite-style mockumentary on IFC satirizing the independent film festival scene, Phil Price's "The Festival" has all the look and sound of the next great pretentious cult series. Price's take on film festivals is that while they are supposedly a forum for artistic expression hey are actually teaming with the same sleazy producers and corporate sponsorships of mainstream Hollywood cinema. But right off the bat it pronounces itself loudly as a series with a pension for misery and a soft-peddled, been-there-done-that satire.

Priority 1 for this show is to make the life of it's main character, Rufus, a living hell. The story is relentless in it's desire to punish Rufus with one humiliation after another. "Festival's" continuing downward spiral is a scriptwriting 101 set up a redemption that never comes. How this furthers the satire is only known in Price's mind. Fortunately for him, Wright is up to the task, throwing himself entirely into every one of Rufus' obscenity-laced meltdowns. Wright's performance is the highlight of the show, but that doesn't mean it's funny.

"Festival" is more frustrating, than entertaining. And I'm far from opposed to humiliation-themed comedy or shows without happy endings. Similar mockumentaries like HBO's underrated "The Comeback" and BBC's legendary "The Office" traded in main characters that suffer a series of humiliations. However they deserved it in one way or another or were given a victory (all be it a small one) now and then. What is Rufus' fatal flaw? Being passionate about film? Being a pretentious self-indulgent film maker with stars in his eyes?

But "Festival" is also a large scale ensemble, featuring Sarah Carlsen as Rufus' feminist lesbian roommate (and director of "My Vagina Scares You"), Miranda Handford as the documentary's producer who takes a shine to Rufus, James A.Woods as Lance Rawley a Hollywood star loved by all and Rob DLeeuw as Vic Morgenstein sleazy producer who Price smartly picks to headline his sequel series "The Business". The ensemble is just spread too thin and the show doesn't delve into these characters fully. Great ensembles have distinct characters that bounce off of each other, "Festival" just has a bunch of people in it.

"Festival" takes aim at a satirical target that has been beaten to death several times before – heartless, chew-you-up Hollywood – and still manages to miss the mark. It flies all over the place setting up bits that it doesn't pay off: a tobacco sponsorship, the warring producers, the increasing incompetence of the festival organizers, the true story behind "Butterflies". The show gets lost in a fog trying to figure out what it wants to say and then just as quickly takes a hard left turn into desperate scatological college-humor where Vic is showing us the aftermath of his circumcision and the frequent use of the acronym MUFF for comic effect.

"The Festival" isn't a bad show, it just reeks of familiarity in the shadow of similar shows (rent the spectacular "The Comeback" instead). There are a lot of amateur mistakes that come together like a cocktail and keep it from working. Price gets it together and finds a sense of humor in humiliation with his funny, sequel series, "The Business". But that's another review...

* * / 4

Amazing!!!!

[tpalat10 · 9 September 2005]

I have been watching The Festival on IFC for a couple of weeks now. The show is really brilliant. Everybody should check it out you wont be disappointed. If you are into film festivals you will most definitely enjoy this series. It's witty and so smart, a typical show you expect to see on IFC. I love this network because they have shows that are so different from the dull and boring reality shows on the other networks. Actually tonight 9/9 on IFC at 8pm is a Film Festival. Check it out, let me know your thoughts. Also IFC has Greg The Bunny and Hopeless Studios, both are absolutely hilarious. It is one of the funniest blocks of television that I have watched in sometime.