Attention, Filmmakers: Essential Film Festival Tips
IndieWire Staff
There are countless film festivals out there, but which one is the right one for you? And once you get accepted to a film festival, what’s the next step? Let Indiewire serve as your resource to film festivals. Below you’ll find articles covering everything you’ll need to know from how and where to apply, to what festivals expect from you and how to follow-up after the festival’s over.
Applying to Festivals
Attention, Filmmakers: Don’t Submit to Festivals Yet: In a guest post, Michael Chaney, professor of film and television at SCAD, explains why you should hold off on submitting your film to film festivals until you consider these points.
5 Questions You Always Wanted to Ask a Documentary Festival Programmer: You’ve submitted your documentary to festivals and are waiting to hear back. Here are the questions you’re dying to ask – and get answered.
How to Get into Sundance (and Other Festivals): Here’s what you need to know when applying to film festivals.
Why You Shouldn’t Care About Getting Rejected from Film Festivals (and Some Tips for Succeeding): One of the worst feelings for filmmakers is the disappointment that surrounds the opening of a dreaded rejection letter from a film festival. But here are some reasons you shouldn’t feel so bad about getting rejected.
5 Tips for Filmmakers on How to Navigate the Film Festival World: Follow this succinct advise from festival programmer Tom Hall.
How Filmmakers Should Decide Which Festivals Are Worth Going To: Documentary producer Daniel Chalfen has offered his two cents on what festivals do for his films.
Why Sundance Isn’t the Only Answer for Indie Filmmakers: Don’t panic if you didn’t get into Sundance. In this guest post from producer Randy Finch, he explains why it won’t necessarily make or break your career.
Preparing for Festivals
9 Tips or Maximizing Your Film’s Success on the Festival Circuit: Festival programmers share their tips and advice for making the most out of the film festival experience.
10 Things Every Film Festival Wants Filmmakers to Know: They may be gatekeepers but festival programmers definitely do not want to lock you out of the process. Here’s what they wish filmmakers knew.
5 Things You Should Always Do When Attending Film Festivals: Before you attend your next film festival, read this guest post from Scarecrow VFX Director of Business Development Taylor Kephart.
5 Film Festival Survival Tips for Introverts: Not the most social filmmaker? No worries. In this guest post, Rachel Tucker advises introverts on how to survive film festivals.
Diary of a Slamdance Festival Juror: In a guest post, filmmaker and festival director Josh Leake shares his experience being a juror at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival – and tips for filmmakers who want to get noticed.
Why Filmmakers Need the Festival Forum: Deirdre Haj, director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, writes about how The Festival Forum works to make sure that the filmmaker experience at festivals is the best one possible
Here’s the Distribution Strategy You Need Before Sundance (Or Any Festival): Distribution strategist Peter Broderick provides advice about how to use film festivals as a platform for your film and to land a strong distribution deal.
And if you’re feeling entrepreneurial…
11 Tips for Starting Your Own Indie Film Festival: Fantasizing about starting your own film festival? Read how Josh Leake started The Portland Film Festival and what he learned in the process.
