So the LoliGirls crew is super excited about being accepted into the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival!! Film festivals are an important part of the film making process...not only is your film open for public viewing (and scrutiny), but it's often judged (Buff/Niag does have a film contest) and can be awarded special recognition. Festivals are a place for film makers to see what others are working on. It's a good way to see trends developing in the film industry. It's a great way to network and secure a distribution deal too!

Now as I'm sure you all know, the reason "LoliGirls: The Story Behind the Frills and Bows" has been kept off the internets is so it has a chance on the festival circuit. Festival organizers often consider YouTube to equate a 'world premiere' and so the film won't be accepted into a festival. Definitely keep this in mind if you've worked on something with your friends that you think can go the extra mile. By keeping it offline you create an air of mystery around the project and, let's be honest here, seeing your film premiere on the BIG screen is much more satisfying than watching your view count rise on YouTube.

From the very beginning I wanted "LoliGirls" to act as a long funding trailer to jump-start a bigger, more ambitious and more comprehensive project that will look at Lolita fashion as it exists here in America. This will be a 60-minute feature-length documentary that will once again examine the lives of our 3 loligirls (Julia Aly and Victoria) but will use their stories as a way to segway between various parts of the film. Yes, I'd love to film in Japan. Yes, I'd certainly like to visit some key lolita communities across the U.S. Will this happen? Gosh, I hope so, but I'm hesitant to put a timeline on anything. Money is a big concern...so this is way the Buffalo Niagara film festival is a big deal. It's the first festival (so far!) that LoliGirls has been accepted into, and the first time the general public will be invited into the mysterious, poufy, whimsical and frilly world of lolita.

And now for some details!

LoliGirls will be screened at the Riviera Theater on April 24th at 12PM (Address coming soon!).

If you would like to come to see the film, you only have to pay $10 for a pass ($8 dollars for students). LoliGirls will precede a feature film, and is the first film of the day at the Riviera Theater...so get there early! It'd be wonderful to see a group of girls dressed in their finest at the premiere!

Thank you to all who attended the premiere of LoliGirls: The Story Behind the Frills and Bows!!

I hope everyone had a good time and enjoyed the film. So far I've received a lot of positive feedback, and with that confidence boost I've doubled my efforts in searching for film festivals in the area. So far I've found the Kent Film Fest and the Hartford Film Fest, and I'll be sending out those submission forms this week. I'll post an update here when I hear whether or not the film will be screened at either festival. Also, if you know of a festival near you where LoliGirls could fit in, please let me know! You can contact me through our contact us page:)

A couple of people have approached me asking 'what's next?' And also whether any copies could be for sale. Answer: My next step in this project (after doing the festival circuit) is to write up a film proposal for a feature-length film on lolita fashion. I have a few ideas about how to structure the film, but, again, I'd welcome any and all feedback on the concept! As for DVD distribution, I am looking into it. I will not be selling DVD copies. I haven't figured out quite yet the best way to get the film out to those of you who aren't from CT and are keen on seeing it. Rest assured I am figuring something out! I cannot put LoliGirls up on YouTube or a related site right now because it will hurt our chances of getting accepted into a film festival. But once we've done the festival thing, I do believe the film will be available on an internet site. Sorry for being vague, but the project has just been completed and I'm still wrapping my mind around that concept!

This has been such an amazing experience, and I really have to say thank you for all the help and support the lolitas have given me. You gals rock:)