First Festival. Any advice?

F

filmgen

Member
My short film made it into the Hawaii International Film Fest Oct. 20. It's the first film festival I've ever entered so I'm going. (I wish I had an HVX and the dough to go to Jarred's bootcamp!) Anyone have any experience with this festival?

My intention for entering festivals this year was to kind of boost my confidence and to get a little feedback on my work from an audience that wasn't made up of friends, family, or co-workers. So I'm excited just to see it play in a theater. A friend of mine is ranting to me about having a networking strategy. I'm not much of a schmoozer but now I'm thinking maybe I should have some sort of pitch. Right now, all I got is, "Um, I like to make movies but I still have no idea what I'm doing nor do I know what I want to do."
 
there's a ton of advice I could give (only been to a couple myself) but most generally, I would say go to every event, screening, meeting, seminar you can, and then introduce yourself to the person sitting/standing next to you. Nothing fancy just look their direction and offer your hand and say "Hey, I'm..." after that if you want, ask if they have a movie there. "Oh really? Me too, it's called... When is your screening? Cool, mine's at..." etc. At the very least you'll make an aquintance and by the end be a popular dude. At the most, you'll meet someone who wants to buy your short for the foreign market, or someone who want's to introduce you to someone who can. You might meet someone who would like to collaborate, or maybe just a guy (or gal) who you end up hanging out with whenever you see eachother at festivals (people tend to "tour" their flicks).

So you'll learn a lot after this first one on what to do next time, but if i have 1 piece of advice it's to have THAT very easy conversation any and everytime you find yourself standing still next to someone.
 
That is VERY good advice from both Mr. Coleman and Sailor.
Withoutabox.com a is super valuable resource. And networking is also essential.
Talk to everyone and be natural about it, dont be creepy (not that you would) or clingy.
For God's sakes stock up on business cards with a website on it (dont have one? Myspace one) and make sure you give one to everybody and their momma.
Hey and maybe a handful of Demo DvD's showcasing some of your work for really important people.
 
Thanks guys, I'm going to do my best to break out of my shell and meet the people around me. Fortunately my DP's coming with me and he's a pretty good wingman.

I'm starting to get excited.
 
filmgen said:
My short film made it into the Hawaii International Film Fest Oct. 20.
Click to expand...

I'm flying to Toronto where my film is screening on the 20th! We'll have to report our experiences when we both get back :)
 
I've never gotten to go to one but no matter what happens be grateful that your film is being viewed by lots of people. Have fun and good luck!
 
Good advice!!! I'm off to my first fest this coming weekend. Don't care how well we do in the fest. Getting the chance to screen to the public is all I'm after.
 
I returned from the Hawaii Intl Film Fest last week and I have to say it was a pretty amazing first festival experience. First of all, it's in frickin' HAWAII! I'd never been to the islands before but it really is paradise. My DP and I flew in on the first day of the festival and felt so welcomed by the hospitality suite. They immediately gave us gift bags, pineapples, and free Stella Artois beer. We kind of bummed around for a bit, took in the view of Waikiki beach and tried to meet whoever happened to be standing next to us.

Then next night, my short film screened at a multiplex in front of maybe 70-100 people. It was wild to see my work on a big screen with stadium seating. I was pretty nervous before the screening but it seemed like the audience dug my film so it felt good.

I was a bit too shy to shmooze as much as I should have as there were a lot of filmmakers from around the world hanging out at the suite and the various cocktail parties the fest threw. But it was nice to be around people excited about film. My other regret was missing out on a lot of the screenings. We just got caught up in paradise, running around to beaches and taking in the sights.

If you ever have the opportunity to make it out to HIFF, go go go. Next month, my film is screening at the Ohio Indie fest. I'm out of vacation days though so my actress is attending for us. I can't wait to hear her report.

Good times.
 
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