Newsdate: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - 10:00 am
Location: TRYON, North Carolina

Tryon International Film Festival (TRIFF) has announced a cooperative partnership with EQUUS Television Network. TRIFF, now in its ninth year, has been listed on IMDb as a festival and has been gaining recognition from notable directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors. TRIFF offers a variety of films on an assortment of topics and is looking to expand its selection of equine films. EQTVN is excited to help with this expansion.

Engaged, active, colorful, frisky horses as focus of EQUUS Film Festival

The film festival debuted in 2015 and has expanded its categories to include a Best Short Equestrian Feature and Best Full-Length Equestrian Feature, accommodating dramatic features and documentaries.
© 2016 by Pavel K' New window.

EQUUS Television Network (EQTVN) is a Worldwide OTT Television Network that is dedicated to equestrian lifestyle programming. The network is headquartered in Wellington, Florida, and is available subscription free.

TRIFF is in Tryon, NC, with a large equestrian interest and is not far from the Tryon International Equestrian Center. The film festival debuted in 2015 and has expanded its many categories to include a Best Short Equestrian Feature and Best Full-Length Equestrian Feature, accommodating both dramatic features and documentaries. It also offers a selection of other categories that equine filmmakers can enter.

Kirk Gollwitzer and Beau Menetre are the co-founders of TRIFF, and the festival is programmed under the umbrella of the Polk County Film Initiative (PCFI), a 501(c)(3) organization.

In addition to doing advance zoom interviews with equine filmmakers and other key representatives and showcasing trailers for the equine films entered, EQUUS Television Worldwide Correspondent Diana De Rosa will be on location to conduct interviews, report on behind-the-scenes activities, as well as social and educational opportunities giving viewers an inside look at the preparation and hard work that goes into making this annual film festival a success. She interviewed Beau and Kirk to kick off this partnership and give its viewers the history behind TRIFF, the plans for this year and the vision for the future. You can find those interviews here https://equustelevision.com/watch/2436 and the TRIFF promo here: https://equustelevision.com/watch/2426

EQUUS Television CEO John Barlett is excited about this partnership with TRIFF and sees this collaboration as an opportunity to promote independent filmmakers and equestrian content to a broader audience. Barlett founded EQUUS Television in 2020 with the aim of providing a platform for equestrian enthusiasts to access high-quality content free of charge from around the world. Prior to starting EQUUS Television, Barlett spent over three decades in the broadcast and technology sectors, where he held various executive positions.

"We aspire to expand the boundaries of the EQUUS Television Network coverage up to, during and even after the Tryon International Film Festival," said Barlett. "With De Rosa on location, we know that our viewers will be treated to an unparalleled viewing experience. We are privileged to share all the excitement of this premier film festival and our mutual goal to provide more equine films to its audience.”

Beau Menetre and Kirk Gollwitzer are excited about the partnership with EQUUS TV and the opportunities it brings for filmmakers. "We're thrilled to have EQUUS TV promote TRIFF to their audience and potentially help our filmmakers gain exposure and distribution opportunities," said Menetre.

Gollwitzer echoed Menetre's sentiment, adding, "This partnership allows us to expand our reach and connect with a wider audience who shares our passion for equestrian-themed films. We believe this collaboration will bring tremendous value to the filmmakers and the TRIFF community."

TRIFF is not linked to EQUUS Television Network in any legal sense, and all negotiations between the filmmaker and EQUUS Television Network are between the filmmaker and EQUUS Television and not TRIFF. Submitting filmmakers will have the opportunity to have a direct conversation with EQUUS Television and hopefully gain exposure and perhaps distribution with EQUUS Television. Trailers and news about their film's involvement with TRIFF can be shown on EQUUS Television prior to, during, and after the film festival, which runs October 6-8.

Equine Filmmakers don’t miss this opportunity to enter your film into this treasured annual film festival to share your work with both the TRIFF and EQTVN viewers. If you are an equine filmmaker that has a film you want to submit, head on over to the Tryon International Film Festival website to find out how to enter. And it’s not too late to finish that film you always dreamed about producing. Entry is already open, and the regular deadline ends on August 1, 2023. Filmmakers can also submit them directly by going to www.filmfreeway.com/TRYON2023.

For more information about the Tryon International Film Festival and how to enter, please visit TRIFF Online at tryoninternationalfilmfestival.org and for the EQUUS Television Network go to www.equustelevision.net.

ABOUT THE TRYON INTERNATONAL FILM FESTIVAL: Polk County Film Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Tryon, NC located at 285 N. Trade Street, Tryon, NC 28782. Its signature event, the Tryon International Film Festival (TRIFF), is offered annually in Tryon, NC. In 2023 the festival will be held from October 6 – 8, 2023. Contact Debra Torrence directorpcfi@gmail.com for more information about sponsorships, volunteering and more. Visit tryoninternationalfilmfestival.org for festival details.

About EQUUS Television Network: EQUUS Television Network is available subscription-free on Apple TV, LG, Samsung, Roku, Amazon Fire and streaming live at www.equustelevision.net. Get your FREE subscription by downloading the all-new EQUUS Apps at https://equusiphone.link/app for your iPhone and iPad and for your android go to https://equusandroid.link/app.

Press release by Diana De Rosa