About the Festival
We are visionaries who believes in the possibilities of New York, the greatest city in the world. We have seen how film, as a powerful medium can make a direct impact on lives or facilitate change. We also have seen the unique diversity of New York's culture and its people. The city's appreciation for film and ability to make things happen. Our vision is to help merge the two, creating an opportunity for filmmakers and artist to showcase their works in New York. Support will be given to all filmmakers to help find their audiences, and at the same time, through opportunities in sharing part of the sales, alleviate some of their expenses.
IFFM is committed in showcasing entertaining and diverse films in all genres and scope to equal the diversity of New York. It is also committed in exploring all opportunities to promote the artists, his work, his vision, and his cause if he has any, during the showing of the films and the events during the festival.
Luis Pedron
Co-Founder
Luis Pedron is the co-founder of IFFM. He has been in a business of supporting artists in the Tri-State NYC/NJ/CT area and from around the world. He has Co-Produced International Events that has helped out the community socially and economically since 2004. As a Media Person, Luis Pedron has been a freelance film critic and journalist who has covered the NY Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Slamdance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, AsianAmerican International Film Festival (Asian CineVision) and NYC Horror Film Festival to name a few since 2004.
Luis Pedron owns the Multi -media company and PR Marketing firm - LFP International Production Inc. that produced international events and published Fanclubx.com, an online entertainment site (2004 - 2010), Planet Philippines NY NJ , an entertainment newsmagazine (2007 - 2009). He is also the Co-Producer of the International event, Queens Asian Fest (2010 - present). He produced the Fanclubx.com Filmmaking Contest at the ImaginAsian Theater NYC (2006 -2007). Luis Pedron is the Programmer for Soho International Film Fesitval NYC (2009 -2011) which he co-founded in 2009.
Luis is also an award winning short filmmaker his films had played in film festivals all over the world. This include "Receptionist Smart" ( co-directed with Mark Levitt ) which won 3 awards and was screened as part of the International Festival of Cinema and Technology World Tour 2004 in NYC, Toronto, Canada and Brisbane Australia. Best Directing award and Best Documentary Video at the NYIIFVF for his documentary, "VIP Very Important Pinoys" honoring Filipino American seniors in Elmhurst Queens NYC. "Party Games" (co-directed with Mark Levitt) won the Best Director Award - Short at the NYIIFVF 2004.
Gerry Balasta
Co-Founder
Gerry Balasta is the co-founder of IFFM, with his production company, InspireChange Films. For years, Gerry Balasta has been involved in using films, media andthe arts to facilitate change. He f ounded The Mount Hope Project, Inc. (MHP) a philanthopic organization based in arts, media to help alleviate poverty. It started when he held an acting workshop (MHP acting workshop) for the scavengers of one of the biggest dumpsite town in the world (Payatas, Philippines). The graduates of the acting workshop acted in his award winning feature film THE MOUNTAIN THIEF which has become an agent of philanthropy and a plea for change. After a successful and multiple award winning, 17- city festival run, a direct impact for the actors has been made through the film. Two of the children from the film, who lives in the dumpsite town had medical help and surgery and one had an academic scholarship.
Through MHP, a current campaign is on-going to raise money for micro-financing for the scavenger-actors of the film and more impact will be made. It is with this vision of using films, media and the arts to facilitate change that he works (produce, write and direct) on different projects. He also supports and collaborate with other filmmakers and artists as he help make and promote works that is positioned to make a direct impact in lives through films and the arts.
