The problems began when I was picked up at the airport. The driver handed me a program, and then dumped me at the hotel, with no explanation or guidance. OK, I figured there must be a welcome bag or orientation packet in my hotel room...
No, nothing. What to do now? No one called about what I should do. OK, maybe I'll run into someone on the street. (It's a small but historic town on the Cape Fear River.) Fortunately, I found someone with a badge, and he directed me to the check-in area. But once I checked in, I was again met with indifference.
Maybe I'm spoiled, but usually when I attend a film festival, people are happy to see me and get very excited. Here, it was like I was a bum off the street. Where's the famous Southern hospitality? There was no orientation or welcome. Only later, by accident, did I find the filmmakers' lounge. It was like they were trying to keep it a secret from me.
And then when my screening came up, they weren't sure whether they wanted to introduce me. What?! They flew me there, put me up in a hotel, and then didn't want me to talk to the audience? That's crazy! Finally, they relented and let me appear on stage.
I point all this out not to criticize Cucalorus, but as more of a "what not to do" if you're running a film festival. The films and the filmmakers are the reasons that people come to a festival. So it really behooves the organizers to show some hospitality to the visiting guests.
I just hope my bad experiences at Cucalorus were unique to me. Unfortunately I have to give this year's Cucalorus a C-.
Bill
The U.S.S. North Carolina, on the Cape Fear river,
right across from my hotel
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