The best film festivals are not always the biggest

With worldwide attention focused on the Toronto Film Festival, you would think that being in the selection would be enough to breakthrough, think again.

Film Festivals around the world are vying for audiences with bigger premieres, more glamorous red carpet screenings, extravagant parties and special events, but can filmmakers get the most out of their selected films?

When entering any film festival, filmmakers, whether shooting documentaries or features have to consider what they want to achieve if they make the selection. Short filmmakers entering major film festivals face stiff competition, but have the opportunity to have the prestige of being in an official selection. However, being selected for lets say Toronto, Cannes, Berlin or Sundance, doesn't quite give you all the keys to enter the film industry.

Successful short filmmakers have managed to garner critical acclaim through tireless networking prior to major festivals, creating relationships and establishing a following which in turn provides them with a stronger purpose should they have a major projection.

The bigger film festivals tend to be more difficult for independent filmmakers to get any attention because the media and industry focus is looking at such a diversity of films. Those with a media spark, a controversial story, or a star-studded film tend to get all the press. Yes, celebrity is an industry wide phenomenon that cannot be undone, so there will always been a strong media presence at any large film festival, as long as film premieres will pack red carpets with top A list stars.

Independent filmmakers can succeed at smaller film festivals because distributors and talent scouts often turn to them to find hidden talent particularly if there is a niche genre in focus. Film festivals which have short film markets such as AFM and Berlin provide an opportunity for short filmmakers to have their films on display, but don t get you an automatic viewing if there are 5000 films competing for distributor eyeballs.

How does one make the most out of a big, or small festival? It all comes down to prep, and most of the time, indie filmmakers that truly gather momentum before any festival, big or small, can achieve great odds. After all, the film industry is a who you know kind of world.

Iain Alexander

Founder - Film Industry Network

Share

Recent news

Mahdi Al-Sharshani Ali Brings Fresh Ingredients to the Film Production Industry

Madhi directed, wrote, and produced over 30 short films at the Doha Film Institute.

March 28, 2024

How to make your entertainment business look more professional

Whether you are new to the business world or not, it's essential to make a…

February 8, 2024

6 Career Tips for the Aspiring Sound Editor

Embarking on a career in sound editing is an exciting venture, filled with opportunities to…

January 17, 2024

Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival reveals 2024 lineup

The International Competition is set to showcase 66 films representing 52 nationalities.

December 19, 2023

Short film ‘Bridge’ to receive world premiere at Norwich Film Festival

NHS Receptionist receives BBC Talent Development Commission to make Short Film 'Bridge' which receives its…

November 8, 2023

On the Hunt with Aaron Taylor-Johnson in a First Look at ‘Kraven The Hunter’

Kraven the Hunter is part of Sony's broader strategy to build out its Spider-Verse, focusing…

October 30, 2023