Manhattan Film Festival
The Manhattan Film Festival (MFF) is an annual film festival that was founded in 2006 by filmmakers: Philip J. Nelson and Jose Ruiz, Jr and is currently operated by Mr. Nelson and a team of filmmakers, journalists and exhibitors. It was founded as the Independent Features Film Festival. MFF is an annual event held at such venues as Symphony Space, Quad Cinema, the Academy Theater at Lighthouse in addition to smaller venues like the Producers Club and the Hunter College Lang Auditorium, where the festival holds its closing awards ceremony. In 2012, the Manhattan Film Festival was  named "25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee: 2012" by MovieMaker Magazine. In response to increased submissions, the festival expanded its program from just under 150 selections to 163 in 2013. Festival mission. According to the festival's press materials: "The goal of the Manhattan Film Festival has always been to help independent filmmakers find an audience for their work and connect with like minded individuals in the indie film community. Every year, the festival works to program a diverse film lineup ranging from student filmmakers and first time directors/actors to the industry's most accomplished talent." To further  support the independent film community in New York, the festival offers a widely popular revenue sharing program through their affiliate sponsor ScreenBooker, a rarity with most American film festivals and one of the features of MFF that accounted for its inclusion on multiple "Top Fests" lists, including two lists from MovieMaker Magazine. Notable incidents. In July 2010, Manhattan Film Festival founders Philip J. Nelson and Jose Ruiz filed a lawsuit against the Tribeca Film Festival for unfair competition. The founders accused Tribeca Film Festival of stealing their idea for a virtual film festival. An Indiewire article in 2013 quoted former  festival participants as saying the festival was "rampantly disorganized". The article cited examples of last-minute venue changes, screening the wrong version of films, and failing to communicate with filmmakers. The article was quickly refuted by numerous readers of the publication. One article contributor noted the writer "works for the Tribeca Film Institute and is likely representing Tribeca by writing this ridiculous and bias article. Some of the filmmakers he interviewed have come forward and verified that Guerrasio left out important, positive statements, in an effort to slander the Manhattan Film Festival."