The Film Salon will be accepting film submissions between June 1 and August 15, 2004. Entry fee for unsolicited shorts is $10; films (on DVD or VHS) will not be returned. Email the Festival if you would like to submit. More details and submission form will be posted here shortly.

Robot Boy, a film short by Ted Passon of Temple University, was selected for screening in the 2003 Black Bear Film Festival Film Salon as part of "The Cutting Edge from the Cutting Edge."

Here are Ted’s thoughts about the wonderful experience he had:

I must say when I got the call from the Black Bear Film Festival, I was extremely flattered that they were so interested in screening my work. That kind of personable enthusiasm is really remarkable from a festival, especially when you're only a student, because usually that kind of attention is saved for the pros. However, after I talked to them I realized that I knew nothing about the festival. The name sounded familiar but I had no idea to expect.

When I showed up at Black Bear it was completely different from anything I expected. The festival was as far from pretension as you can get and had this really warm community feel. It was so nice to see a festival that was actually part of the local community outside of the filmmakers. There were families and people of all ages who were genuinely excited to see these films that would never have come to their area otherwise. Milford itself was beautiful and, much like my hometown of Philadelphia, still had much of its original old architecture and design that so many strip malls have decimated these days. I took lots of pictures.

I was nervous about the time slot that my film was showing in - 3:30 in the afternoon - which didn't sound like an ideal slot by any stretch, but to my surprise the screening was completely full and there were even people standing in the back. The Q&A was extremely lively and engaging and I received the respect, attention, and priority that is not often bestowed to student filmmakers. The fact that they provided me a room (in the beautiful Milford Inn) was amazing and really made me feel welcome.

The biggest kick I got personally was going to the drive-in theatre. I had never been to a drive-in and was so excited to hear that there was a drive-in double feature as part of the festival. Thanks to the hospitality of the festival organizers, myself and my partner in crime got in for free as well (the worst thing is going to a festival and not being able to afford to see any of the films). The program at the drive-in was fantastic and I am so happy that it was my first drive-in experience. I was really sad to learn that it would be closing down shortly after as I was hoping to bring some friends back up there.

I had a great time at Black Bear and will be happy to submit in the future. I am honored to have received the "Best Student Film" award film scholarship from Kodak and will definitely be putting that towards my next project.

Since Black Bear my film Robot Boy has screened at the DC Independent Film Festival where it won "Best Student Film" as well, and it will be featured in the Philadelphia Film Festival in April. I was also just recently named "An Up and Coming Philadelphia Artist to Watch" by the Philadelphia Weekly (the issue came out March 24). Other than Robot Boy I have been doing work curating film screenings. In the past I had curated for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and for the New York Underground Film Festival and this past January I was invited with two friends to curate a show of short American socially conscious films for the Rotterdam Film Festival in Holland.

Since then some friends and I started a monthly film screening series in Philadelphia called Small Change which shows underground, mostly experimental, contemporary films and provides a place for touring filmmakers to showcase their work in Philadelphia. At some point soon I will be directing a music video for ex-Moldy Peaches singer, Kimya Dawson. In the meantime I have been doing whatever I can to get some money in my pocket while still having time to make my own work. I also just sold an older documentary of mine to WYBE's "Philadelphia Stories" program for their 2004-2005 season.
-- Ted Passon, March 2004

3.30pm Temple University (Programmed and moderated by screenwriter Grace Woodard)

• Robot Boy directed by Ted Passon (18 min) A young boy is born to 2 very particular parents who decide to improve his less-than-perfect human parts with robot ones, and a remote control. He spends all of his time mowing his parents' lawn until he meets a friend with an escape plan drawn in crayon. Winner, Best Director, Best Senior Thesis Film, Temple University. Film Website