As I typed the title to this blog, I ventured a guess that I had never written that sentence before, “Good News from Berlin.”
I wondered why?
But there’s always a first time.
And this first time is thanks to Berlin’s FilmHaus Film Festival, which honored Blake’s TV series, The Totally Mindblowing Show, with the OFFICIAL SEMI-FINALIST status.
Here’s what FilmHaus (in its 6th year) said in its congratulatory email:
Dear Blake,
Totally Mindblowing Show – SEMI-FINALIST at FilmHaus 2025
I’m pleased to announce that Totally Mindblowing Show has been recognized as an OFFICIAL SEMI-FINALIST at FilmHaus 2025! Your achievement represents meaningful progress in our competition.
The Competition This Year
This marks our 6th consecutive year, and the competition has never been more intense. Your work advanced among 1,886 submissions from 86 countries – our largest and most diverse field yet. To put this in perspective, only 146 projects were recognized as semi-finalists from this massive pool, placing your work among those who reached advanced competition rounds. From this exceptional field:
- 1,471 submissions completed initial review and evaluation
- 146 semi-finalists advanced to deeper evaluation ← your achievement
- 232 nominees were recognized for outstanding merit (top 12%)
- 76 selectees earned Official Jury Selection status (top 4%)
- 37 winners achieved top honors (top 2%)
Your Recognition
To make it this far demonstrates that your work resonated with our jury during the evaluation process. You advanced beyond the initial review against a global field that included remarkable productions. This year’s competition included feature films with Academy Award winners (Morgan Freeman in GUNNER), Emmy-nominated talent (Eric Roberts in KRUZ’), and high-profile documentaries like Zef: The Story of Die Antwoord. The caliber of work our jury evaluated was exceptional.
While Totally Mindblowing Show was not advanced to nominee status, your semi-finalist recognition reflects your commitment to the craft. The competition was extraordinarily fierce at every level, with our jury facing difficult decisions throughout the selection process.
Here’s what FilmHaus says about their festival on their website:
Join the FilmHaus revolution and fast-track your film’s journey from underground to unforgettable. Compete in one of the most elegant, professional, and aspirational film festival platforms today and give your work the recognition it deserves.
FilmHaus, the respected online film festival born in 2020, has ushered in a new era of management and innovation. FilmHaus is the home of experimental, innovative, and cult-underground films and an advocate for independent cinema.
Embracing an ethos reminiscent of a German circus, FilmHaus champions the unusual, the innovative, and the avant-garde in cinema. Its focus on eccentric films that defy mainstream sensibilities makes it a sanctuary for authentic cinematic expression. The festival is committed to being a trunk for forgotten and lost films, a treasure trove of the eccentric and unique, “home of hidden cinematic treasures”. Adapting to a growing demand for rapid recognition, FilmHaus evolved from an annual to a triannual festival. In a world where distribution deals are rapidly sealed with streaming platforms, FilmHaus acts as an immediate elevation to a film’s status.
FilmHaus, recognized by IMDb, offers filmmakers a robust virtual FilmFest, distinguished film awards, and professional reviews. The festival envisions a future physical event, albeit maintaining its dominance in the online space.
Thank you, FilmHaus, for the good news and this honor.
And as we approach the end of our film festival run, I want to thank the cast and crew of TTMBS for their dedication to delivering an excellent TV pilot.
