Film Festivals 101: The Essentials to Film Festival Success. (2012, September 11). Retrieved January 8, 2015, from http://www.scriptmag.com/resources/film-festivals/film-festivals-101
Though film festivals aren’t often used to help films gain success, it is especially wise for independent filmmakers to take advantage of publicity available through festivals.
If you have decided to enter your film into a film festival, there are specific things that you should pay close attention to. Some of these include the size and location of the festivals. Sometimes, smaller, less popular festivals are better. Be aware of the types of people that attend these festivals. Check if any well-known executives are known to show up, these are the people that you want to make sure you establish a connection with. Research the festival, look up its history and get well acquainted with their rules and any possible prizes that you could be eligible to win. If you attend a film festival, it is vital that you take advantage of the exposure that you could potentially gain; look into hiring a public relations firm, make marketing material for your production- both physical and virtual.
“Just because you didn’t get into a top festival, doesn’t mean your film isn’t good. It could be as simple as scheduling conflicts, or too many films submitted in that genre.”
“However, don’t get hung up on larger festivals like Sundance as the be all and end all.”
This is article is incredibly helpful and informative for people that are looking into entering their productions into film festivals. This article could serve as a great tool for independent filmmakers that are looking for ways to promote their films. I think people often forget that aside from going to film festivals to compete, it is also a great place to network, regardless of what the result is at the end of the competition. Connections you make at a film festival could be more valuable than expected. This article does a great job of outlining some of the most important steps filmmakers should take if they attend film festivals.
I completely agree about the networking aspect of film festivals. Networking is a huge part of the film industry. Getting a film out into the industry takes connections. Great point!
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