What does it take to get one's first no budget feature into Cannes?

Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez

Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez

Well-known member
What does it take to get one's first feature into Cannes?

Any tips?

Any list of must have or dos? Obviously this would be an enormous task and would be rare if one's first feature gets into Cannes, but lets think positive, how would it be possible? But on a realistic indies terms, with no budget.
 
Festival or market?

Festival or market?

What do you mean when you say market? As in distribution deals?

I simply mean into the festival, for it to be accepted and screened.
 
Thanks Michael IP.

Thanks Michael IP.

Thanks for that link, I actually have been keeping a good eye on that same page for almost a year now, trying to ensure I make all deadlines and preselection conditions.

I guess my question is more of an opinionated one.

But this question applies to Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, the best film festivals out there, what does it really take for a no budget filmmaker to make it into one of these with his/ her first feature? There are best first feature awards at all of these, but are any of these given out to no budget films? Or it doesnt matter as long as its a good film in general.

I ask only because films with big stars and bugets win awards at these, but what about those with good stories and storytelling abilities without the millions of dollars to dump into a film, especially the first feature.
 
Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez said:
Thanks for that link, I actually have been keeping a good eye on that same page for almost a year now, trying to ensure I make all deadlines and preselection conditions.

I guess my question is more of an opinionated one.

But this question applies to Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, the best film festivals out there, what does it really take for a no budget filmmaker to make it into one of these with his/ her first feature? There are best first feature awards at all of these, but are any of these given out to no budget films? Or it doesnt matter as long as its a good film in general.

I ask only because films with big stars and bugets win awards at these, but what about those with good stories and storytelling abilities without the millions of dollars to dump into a film, especially the first feature.
Click to expand...

Uhhhh "Slumdog Millionaire" is a low budget film without big stars and it ain't doing too bad at the festivals <g>.

I can't speak from personal experience so I'm just gonna offer a guess here but I think the way a no-budget gets into those festivals is to be 100% professional, no compromises. It may cost a lot of money to make a film big and shiney but quality of acting, story, photography, editing, score etc is more dependent on attention to detail and refusal to compromise one's standards than it is on money spent. Adhering to the highest professional standards both in what's visible on the screen and heard in the soundtrack and with the mundane behind the screen details such as music clearance (remembering another thread) is a matter more of attitude than it is of money.

I am reminded of an men's clothing store display window I saw in San Francisco years ago. Armani suit, Dior shirt, Bally shoes, Vuiton briefcase, etc. The only ad copy was a small engraved card that read simply "To get where you want to be, you must look like you're already there." You may not be able to do as much as the major players do, but what you can do, you have to do just as good as the major players would do.
 
I'm sorry to tell you this, but a no budget feature film just ain't going to get into Cannes, Sundance, or Toronto. Films that make it into those festivals are of very high quality visually (maybe not plot-wise!) and a no budget, DV feature is going to make it in. The DV features that might make it in are made by people in hollywood who actually spend quite a bit of money to make their films. Realistically, it is just not going to happen. But there are plently of festivals you can get in much easier as long as you make a very good film--which to be honest, isn't probably going to happen with your very first feature unless you've shot a ton of shorts which have done well in festivals.

Matthew
 
Steve House said:
Uhhhh "Slumdog Millionaire" is a low budget film without big stars and it ain't doing too bad at the festivals <g>.

The only ad copy was a small engraved card that read simply "To get where you want to be, you must look like you're already there." You may not be able to do as much as the major players do, but what you can do, you have to do just as good as the major players would do.
Click to expand...

Okay, this is a silly comparison. Danny Boyle Directed and Simon Beafoy wrote this script. Both are professionals who've been highly respected for many years. DB is an excellent filmmaker and while its story of winning an Oscar is amazing...what's not even close to being amazing is that it gets into festivals.

My answer to Clint's question is that it will take LUCK or CONNECTIONS to land the major festivals.

Yes, make the best movie you can. It'll need to be superior quality and it will also have to have some intangible "impact" on the screeners to elevate it above the masses going in blind.

If you were connected, you'd need less luck and sadly less superior quality of the film.

There are many intangible factors as well. If your movie meets with a subject matter trend, you may ride the wave into the festival. Like every year, major fests talk of some "organic" trend. "There were so many films that tackled the concept of loss this year, I think it has to do with the economy," Or some other statement will inadvertently come out of a festival programmer's mouth this year. So if you made a decent film that tackles loss, drugs, self-actualization, or whatever theme they decided would be relevant that particular year, then you may be able to find your way in over similar quality films that do not fall into that category.

Of course, none of this means you should try to shape your choices to fit a festival...because unless you know them you're not going to know where they plan to go year to year. There are lots of festivals. Smaller ones do sometimes discover gems that the big ones wish they'd discovered and that may lead to your next endeavor getting more attention the next time at larger festivals.

For example, I met a filmmaker at Slamdance who's film 'Virgil Bliss' was playing there. The film got good reaction and release to acclaim, etc.

His next movie which I think was simply nowhere near as good as the first one got programmed at Sundance a couple years later. Now, was it connections? Possibly. But it also may have been due to his enhanced status from the Slamdance film.

At the end of the day, you can only do your best work and take your chances.

I've never screened in a "MAJOR" festival, it doesn't stop me from submitting to them (Sometimes). However, I've had many other festival screenings and am grateful for those.

Just put your best foot forward at all times and let the chips fall where they may.

You might just get lucky.

-M
 
Macville said:
I'm sorry to tell you this, but a no budget feature film just ain't going to get into Cannes, Sundance, or Toronto. Films that make it into those festivals are of very high quality visually (maybe not plot-wise!) and a no budget, DV feature is going to make it in. The DV features that might make it in are made by people in hollywood who actually spend quite a bit of money to make their films. Realistically, it is just not going to happen. But there are plently of festivals you can get in much easier as long as you make a very good film--which to be honest, isn't probably going to happen with your very first feature unless you've shot a ton of shorts which have done well in festivals.

Matthew
Click to expand...

Perhaps in general. However, I don't think it's impossible. If a film has some intangible relevance to programmers it might just make it in out of the blue. I know that will be a very rare example, but it certainly could happen.

However, that is more likely to happen if a phone call from a well connected Champion of the film draws extra attention to such a film.

Like John Pierson making calls about films he reps to the programmers. I'm sure it didn't hurt "Clerks" or "Go Fish" chances at getting into Sundance back in the day.

-M
 
I honestly would take all the time that you're focusing on festivals and what to do afterward and put it towards making a great film.

The only time super low budget films get into those festivals is when they are really really amazing.
 
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