u/tandemelevator

I've been a Bluehost client for more than a decade. Today all my websites were blocked because some Malware scan had detected compromised files. I deleted the files, but the scanner keeps flaging the files that aren't there. When I hit up the Customer service chat, they try to sell me a protection plan.

This seems like a deliberate action, an attack to their own clientele.

They basically are asking for a ransom to provide a service I already pay..

Hi there!
I’m currently in post-production on my first feature, a survival thriller with a budget under $1M.
I’m trying to figure out a festival strategy for next year. Our current schedule is aiming for picture lock in late September, with the finished master ready by January.
We’d love to premiere at a strong, genre-friendly festival next year. My dream shortlist would be SXSW (March), Fantasia (July), or Sitges (October). I’ve attended all three before, so I’m familiar with their vibe and how they work.
We’re particularly interested in festivals with a strong industry presence, where we could increase our exposure to sales agents and distributors.
SXSW’s final deadline is October 1, which means I’d have to apply with a locked but unfinished cut—no final mix, color grade, or VFX. Does it make any sense to apply at that stage? I know I won’t be applying for 2028, so I figure I have nothing to lose other than the submission fee.
What other festivals might be a good fit for this kind of project? I’m also open to generalist festivals, not just genre-focused ones.
Thanks!

Edit: typo

I’ve just wrapped an indie feature and I have a question about depicting real car brands on screen.
A specific car appears throughout the film and is fairly important to the story. The portrayal isn’t exactly flattering: the vehicle gets stuck in mud a couple of times, and there’s also an implied crash where the airbags apparently fail to deploy.
The car was legally owned/used for the production, and the manufacturer had no involvement with the film.
My questions are:
How realistic is the risk of receiving complaints or legal pressure from the manufacturer over this kind of depiction?
Do productions typically worry about this sort of thing, or is it generally protected as expressive content?
Would you recommend removing or obscuring the logos in post-production to reduce risk?
Has anyone here dealt with clearance issues related to negative portrayals of recognizable vehicles or brands?
I’m interested in both legal considerations and practical real-world experiences from indie productions.
Thanks.