The Complete Filmmaker's Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching Your Film on the Festival Circuit

by Edwards, Rona; Skerbelis, Monika

• ISBN13: 9781615930883
• ISBN10: 1615930884
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-01
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

Here it is! Your fast-pass to success on the film festival circuit! Loaded with examples and inspiring yet pragmatic information, this step-by-step guide to film festivals offers filmmakers a birdÆs eye view of what it takes to have a successful festival experience.

Author Biography

Learn from industry professionals, Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis, who are in the trenches producing filsm, programming film festivals and are respected speakers, panelists and jurors, as they provide never-before-published industry tips on how you can make the biggest impact on the film festival circuit.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. xii
Introduction	p. xv
"Work begins after the film is made!ö
A Brief History of Film Festivals	p. 1
ôBefore there was Sundance, there was Veniceö
What is a Film Festival?
How Film Festivals started and their function today
Who runs a Film Festival?
Doing The Research	p. 13
ôSomeoneÆs got to be analytical even if you are the creative type!ö
Researching and Targeting Film Festivals
Top Tier Film Festivals
Short Films and student filmmakers
Niche festivals & sidebars
The Oscar: Academy qualifying film festivals & Student Academy Awards
Financial Considerations
Screen writing competitions at festivals
Submitting to Film Festivals	p. 45
ôTarget Shootingö
Importance of a logline, genre and hook
Determining the audience for your film
Clearances & Releases
Submission Process: Entry forms
The Programming Director & Film Screeners
Duplication formats
You've Been Accepted Into a Film Festival Now What	p. 70
ôYikes... What do I do now?ö
Promotion and building a press kit (EPK)
Logo, business card, postcards & cover letters
Marketing: Production stills, posters, promotional items
Websites
Press & Publicity: Press releases, television, radio, newspapers, and publications
Making The Festival Circuit Work For you	p. 96
ôConfidence goes a long way (or is that experience?)ö
The role of the filmmakers
Utilizing the talent involved with the film
Promoting yourself and your film
Contacting local newspapers, TV and radio stations
Extra tips upon acceptance into a film festival
Utilizing the post-screening Q&A session
Developing professional relationships
Networking via film organizations
Film Markets	p. 115
ôHow do you say æbuy my filmÆ in five languages?ö
Film and television markets
A film market primer for producers
Digital Film Libraries and film markets
Pitchfests and roundtables
Producers Rep Vs. Sales Agent	p. 129
ôRep, Agent, Company - WhatÆs the Diff?ö
The Filmmaker and the ProducerÆs Rep
Sales Agents-a definition
BuyerÆs Reps-oh no, whatÆs that?
Deliverables and Suggestions For Distribution in Our Modern World	p. 139
ôYou mean making the film isnÆt enough?ö
Distributors
New ways of distribution
DVD and television broadcasts
Internet video services: iTunes, Netflix, etc.
Pay-Per-View and Video-On-Demand
A word about the Internet
Libraries and educational use
Key players in Independent Film distribution
Four-walling and renting screening rooms
Following Up After The Festival	p. 156
ôKeeping the dream alive!ö
Using your film as a calling card
Securing meetings with studios and production companies
Getting an agent or manager
Following up after the festival
Q&A With Distributors, Producers, Acquisitions, and Reps	p. 161
ôIf ya gotta learn, learn from the bestö
Interviews with
Kirk D'Amico (Myriad Pictures)
Howard Cohen and Eric dÆArbeloff (Roadside Attractions)
Tony Safford (Fox Searchlight)
Laurie Woodrow (Fierce Entertainment)
Pamela Rosenberg (Hemisphere Productions)
Harris Tulchin (Harris Tulchin & Assocs.)
Advice From Filmmakers Who've Gone The Festival Route	p. 185
ôA Deal, A Deal! A Kingdom for a Deal!ö
Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair, Cyrus)
Roseanne Korenberg (Half Nelson)
Mary Jo Godges and Renee Sotile (Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars)
Beth McElhenny (Still Me)
Lorette Bayle (Bake Shop Ghost)
Jen McGowan (Touch)
Creating a Film Festival? A Primer	p. 208
ôDoes your hometown have one?ö
What it takes to create a film festival
Getting started: the business and management
Creating a mission statement
Creating a budget
Getting support: city, county, local community
Securing venues and insurance
Creating a website
Call for entries
Staff and volunteers
Film programming
Technical director and technical issues
Galas: Opening Night and Wrap Parties
Filmmaker awards ceremony, honorary awards, tributes, retrospectives
Sidebar showcase
Seminars and panels
Screenplay competitions, music and music video competitions
Sponsors and fundraising
Publicity, marketing, promotion, and ticket sales
The Festival-All hands on deck!
Post-Festival
That's a Wrap!	p. 237
"That wasnÆt so hard, was it? Now letÆs do it all over again next year!ö
The future of film festivals
ThatÆs a Wrap!
Resources	p. 244
ôHereÆs your safety net!ö
Industry Sites
Publications and magazines
Organizations and guilds
Helpful legal sites
Research sites
Film Festival resources
Raising financing the old fashion way
Film education and labs
Educational library journals and sources
Digital film and file-sharing sites
Distribution sources
Digital downloads and streaming sites
Apps and mobile phone apps
DVD/Blu-ray replication and duplication
Books and resources
Appendix	p. 264
Film Festival Listings
A comprehensive list of film festivals worldwide
About The Authors	p. 282
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