The 18th Annual All Free
TromaDance Film Festival
at the landmark Peoples Improv Theater
New York City August 11th – 12th
Troma Entertainment, the longest running truly independent film company, proudly presents the 18th Annual All Free TromaDance Film Festival at the Landmark, award winning training center and comedy theater, The Peoples Improv Theater in New York, NY on August 11th-12th, it was announced today by Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Entertainment and creator of The Toxic Avenger.
Watch here: Highlights from 2016 TromaDance
Top right: James Gunn, (Guardians of the Galaxy) joins a panel at the 13th Annual Tromdance
Previous panelists have included Ti West, Larry Fessenden, Rose Ganguzza, Bill Plympton,
Kevin Eastman, Karen Black, Roy Frumkes, Jason Eisenor, Henry Zebrowski, and more!
“TromaDance is our humble yet influential film festival that has been a shining beacon of true independent art in the elitist culture of baby food, mainstream film festivals such as Corporate Cannes Film Festival and Smug Sundance. Now that TromaDance is 18 years old, it can go to college, go to war and vote for whatever hack politician it desires! Troma started TromaDance to give true independent artists a platform to display their hard work that they normally would not have. TromaDance has premiered visionary movies that the bland festivals are too timid to show, such as Tom Six’s Human Centipede and Anna Biller’sViva. The Peoples Improv Theater is a fantastic venue to host the 18th annual TromaDance as it itself is a hub for independent artistic expression. We thank everyone who submitted their films to the festival and we look forward to meeting all the amazing independent artists and film fans!” stated Lloyd Kaufman
James Gunn’s Lollilove , Tom Six’s Human Centipede , and Anna Biller’s Viva
all were TromaDance Premieres/Discoveries!
About The PIT:
The Peoples Improv Theater, popularly known as The PIT, is the home of New York’s sharpest up and coming comedians. Notable alumni of The PIT are Hannibal Buress, Grace Helbig, Ellie Kemper , Kristen Schaal , and Mamrie Hart.
The PIT is dedicated to the instruction, performance, and development of original comedy while striving to entertain and educate the community about the comedic arts in a safe and nurturing environment.
The PIT is composed of three elements: a school that focuses on the craft of improvisation, an eclectic variety of electives, and an unparalleled professional writing program; a theater that presents original comedic shows seven nights a week; and a corporate and educational workshop program that offers team building, leadership, and business training.
TromaDance is an All-Free Film Festival! Read more here: tromadance.com
More information on TromaDance and the films selected for the festival will be released in the coming weeks.
About TromaDance:
The Tromadance Film Festival is now in its 18th year and was first developed by Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Entertainment and Creator of The Toxic Avenger. South Park co-creator Trey Parker, whose debut film “Cannibal! The Musical” is distributed by Troma Entertainment, suggested the idea for Tromadance to Kaufman in 1999. Kaufman felt that the Sundance Film Festival, and similar exclusive big wig festivals, had become too “Hollywood” by charging high entry fees, showing multimillion-dollar “independent” movies, and practicing an elitist structure and film selection process. Parker urged Kaufman to create his own festival -the direct independent opposite of Sundance – that would be free to enter and attend, focusing on independently produced films made without the Hollywood system. From 1999 – 2010 Tromadance operated concurrently alongside the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah and acted as a true independent alternative to Sundance’s mainstream offerings.
Lloyd Kaufman with Trey Parker and Matt Stone who inspired TromaDance
Unlike every other film festival, Tromadance does not charge filmmakers to submit their work and entrance to all screenings and panels are free to the public. There are no VIP reservations or preferential treatment regarding Tromadance’s films or filmmaking panels. The organizers of Tromadance believe films are meant to be seen, especially the work of emerging filmmakers. Art – in all its forms – is for everyone. Tromadance is the first film festival of the people, for the people, and by the people!
After 2010, Tromadance expanded to multiple fan fueled locations across the country in order to spread the TROMAtic word of truly independent art. Fan’s have held a satellite TromaDances in Detroit, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Brooklyn, and New Jersey.
The poster for the 17th Annual Tromadance in 2016
Tromadance has enjoyed great success throughout its almost two decade run and has been covered in various international publications including IndieWire, Brooklyn Vegan, The AV Club, Fangoria, Bloody Disgusting, Dread Central, Rue Morgue, Famous Monsters of Filmland, Forbes, Noisey, MirrorUK, the New York Daily News, Page Six of the New York Post, and many more. Past sponsors include Kodak, Sega, G4, Drafthouse Films, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Lomography, and Kitsplit.com, just to name a few.
Besides world premiere screenings, such as the first U.S. showing of “The Human Centipede” in 2010, another highlight of every Tromadance Film Festival is the annual panel discussion. Panels in years past have included industry professionals, such as James Gunn, Ti West, Larry Fessenden, Rose Ganguzza, Bill Plympton, Kevin Eastman, Karen Black, Roy Frumkes, Jason Eisenor, Hery Zebrowski, and more!
