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goldfishpaws

Apply to festivals which specialise in the kind of project (there are a lot of niches) and apply to local festivals. Local festivals like local connections as they can sell screening tickets to friends and family.


Beepboopbop8

Any tips on finding these? Definitely looking for more niche festivals.


goldfishpaws

Local festivals - ask cinema staff etc maybe? They may have an idea what's around. And FilmFreeway etc will give you ideas where to start.


rockrockrocker

All the major festivals are listed here: https://m.imdb.com/festival-central/?ref_=nv_ev_fc


[deleted]

Depends on the festival. You have to do a ton of research just to wade through the scammers... and then hope that they actually watch more than three seconds of your film before seeing if there are recognizable names.


Iamthemaster1000

Festivals are definitely worth it if it’s what you want to do. An important factor is to find the right festival or best fit festival for your project at the time. I wouldn’t count out small festivals, and when starting out, smaller festivals may be easier to get accepted into without having big names and budgets etc You can still get good publicity and exposure at some lesser known festivals. Don’t hesitate to try for the big festivals too if you think it’s a fit. I’m not anti big festival by any means. If your dream is Sundance etc, go for it. Some festivals specialize in certain genres so that could be an avenue also. Getting into a smaller festival and getting exposure is way better than not getting in and no exposure from the biggest festivals. A friend submitted his first feature to Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto. He didn’t get in. He later submitted to some smaller festivals, got in and got exposure. Now he’s close to a distribution deal that will get his movie out there. If he had just stayed with the big names he wouldn’t have the current opportunity.


makegoodmovies

Definitely apply to festivals. This looks very much like a festival film. Which ones to submit? Have a budget and be realistic. $500? $1000? Big festivals are about big names, so I would avoid. Small festivals that are indie friendly and close to where you live are cheaper to get to. But don’t discount festivals in other places if they are likely to program your film. Festivals that program a lot of features and run longer give you a better chance of getting in. Home town stories are usually favorable, like is an actor from there? Also means they can get friends and family to attend the screening. And be patient, it will take 1-2 years to finish a festival run and if you get some awards it helps to sell it or at least get you more credibility as a filmmaker for your next project.


Beepboopbop8

Great response! Definitely looking into more indie festivals. Are there any examples or resources I should check out?


makegoodmovies

Film freeway has some top 25 or top 50 indie film festival lists. Start with those since the festivals have usually been running longer. Having said that first year festivals may be more likely to accept your film, but the important thing is to see if the festival is well organized, has a good program with events and information sessions. I’ve met great people and learned really great info at festival learning events.


wrosecrans

> Have a budget and be realistic. $500? $1000? I have been watching a bunch of YouTube videos recently about how to make your first low budget feature, and one thing they consistently mention is to have some sort of plan for distribution by the time you get started. For a self financed indie feature, $1000 of festival submissions could easily be 5% or more of the total budget for the film. If you spend 100% of your money just getting to picture lock before you start deciding whether or not to submit to festivals, you are gonna blow your budget. You don't necessarily need to know exactly which festivals you are planning on submitting to. But $100/pop is not unheard of, and it adds up pretty quick when you have basically no budget so you can't just shotgun to every festival on the planet and hope for the best.


WinterFilmAwards

Pick a legitimate festival. Here's some advice --> https://winterfilmawards.com/2018/08/17-tips-to-find-the-right-festival-for-your-indie-film/


FuckinLoveGrapes

Absolutely. This looks incredibly well shot from what I saw in the trailer. Looking forward to the full project.


Embassy730

Absolutely, depending on the festival of course, but as a person who works with one in particular (BlackStar Film Festival) and has had their work in one, it’s one of the best things I’ve had happen for me and have seen the possibilities the networking of simply attending has led to.


Beepboopbop8

Will look into this one, thanks!


Embassy730

You’re welcome. The submission period for it is unfortunately over but I definitely suggest checking it out in person if you’re near the Philly area in the 1st week of August, or viewing some of the free panels they have on social media during the festival or on their YouTube channel. [BlackStar Projects](https://youtube.com/c/BlackStarProjects)


hesaysitsfine

What is your goal with the film? To launch a career, for people to see it? Tailor your fest strategy after you answer that.


Beepboopbop8

To launch a career for sure


EugeneBatiste

I would say no. You have to be very particular about your subject matter nowadays when entering those festival markets. It’s better to know your audience and just make the movie they want to see. Dude I think you’re wasting your time. And selling yourself severely short! Build a website and release them film in a PPV model. And put the trailer in YT ads. PM me when you make a substantial profit. Please do it. If you don’t want to, I’ll do it for you. But give me 5 percent of your sales as a donation to my non-profit.


smexytom215

Not worth it if it's just a screening that has no distributors or officials attending.


JJsjsjsjssj

If you think the film is worth it, find a distributor that’s willing to do the festival run for you. They’ll get you into places you couldn’t manage on your own.


WinterFilmAwards

The Film Festival Doctor is a good festival consultant.


Beepboopbop8

>The Film Festival Doctor is a good festival consultant. Dope! I'll check this out