Former World Class Figure Skater Turned Entertainment Executive Benjamin Oberman Launches Film Festival Flix

Benjamin Oberman is the President and CEO of Film Festival Flix and MouseTrap Films, LLC.

Helena: Tell us about your companies and how you got started in the film industry?

Benjamin: When I initially started out, I was producing independent films, documentaries, visual video, etc. Along the way I became frustrated and concerned by the amount of great films selected by film festivals that where cutting through the clutter and would win awards at the film festivals but never be seen again. I knew there was an audience out there but the two weren't being connected. MouseTrap Films was started for the purpose of bringing those great films to the North American audiences. I quickly learned that if there wasn't an A-List star attached to the project, it wasn't very cost effective to market. In addition I discovered why other distributors did not bring the films out was because in absence of an A-List celebrity, best selling novels, or current event it was very difficult to cost effectively market a great film. I took the idea of the Film Festival and Red Carpet and applied it to the model we put together called Film Festival Flix. Film Fesival Flix is a combination of monthly theatrical series in select cities across the country where people come out one night monthly to experience the Red Carpet, photos, see a film premier, and have a Q&A with the film maker who we bring in live from around the world or via Skype. The after parties consist of socializing and networking and we use this to drive audiences to our online studio. We also do a monthly online film competition for short films. We are a bridge between being a distributor and Film Festival.

Helena: How has the response been to the Festivals?

Benjamin: The response has been wonderful. People who have attended the events say it has an intimacy unlike anything they have experienced inside major festivals. Attendees adore the films, the atmosphere and meeting the filmmakers. Filmmakers have been able to get their future films financed as a result of Film Festival Flix and what we have done for them. The films we have put out beyond our platform have gone on to be picked by iTunes, PlayStation, Redbox, X-BOX, along with cable VOD platforms. We attended South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) this year and had over 700 attendees stop by our booth at the trade show.

Helena: What's the process of getting a film submitted to be considered for Film Festival Flix?

Benjamin: We take direct submissions, so anybody who has finished a feature film that has been accepted by any film festival in the world or types of films expected to be in a festival, you can go to the website there's contact information and submission forms, along with other information on http://mousetrapfilms.com/. We work in partnership with multiple film festivals and we go to film markets, we have over one hundred sales agents that submit to us from all over the world. We also have a very dedicated team that watches thousands of films to choose ones that we believe are worth watching. It's not to cut down the other films but in today's market time is a big deal so we choose the good ones that inspire you, engage you, challenging you or simple entertain you.

Helena: What inspires you?

Benjamin: The art because I was a performer first, became a producer then I started writing and directing. I know how hard it is to make a good film, and how hard it is to raise the money needed. We meet people everyday that are spending five, ten, fifteen years of their lives and have saved money to put into their films, we help people achieve success and the people are what keep me passionate.

Helena: What are your latest projects?

Benjamin: On the film side we opened up a Tehranian comedy by writer & director Mohsen Abdolvahab titled, " Please Do Not Disturb", it's a slice of life film that tells three different stories about everyday life in Tehran, the capitol city of Iran. It shows that people really are the same worldwide without using religion, politics, etc.

We are also in the process of launching our affiliate network where film festivals, non-profits, expert curators and even the individual person who just adores films and wants to tell the world will be able to go to our website, have a branded page and curated channel.

They will choose films from our library that they can promote out to their audience and the world and in turn they will be rewarded with commissions on the sales that come through their channel back to them. We want to engage people in discovering these films, sharing it and recognizing that there is value in asking them to do it. Anyone whose passionate about film can have their own rental store but on-line under the umbrella of Film Festival Flix. We are working to have a library that's kind of like iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon rolled into one but specifically geared towards the Independent Art House, and Foreign film genre.

Helena: Is there anything else you want the world to know and how can someone contact you including via social media?

Benjamin: Please join our email list, stay informed we are doing great parties and giveaways and rolling out our resources including an App. The final thing we think is unique about us is we also have a guarantee that if you watch a film and you don't like it, email me at [e-mail] and I will credit your next film purchase on our platform,

You can find us on the web and social media:

http://www.filmfestivalflix.com/

http://mousetrapfilms.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FilmFestivalFlix

twitter@festivalflix

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/FilmFestivalFlix

Email:

[e-mail]