Film festival advice?

L

Ldogg

Active member
I have recently completed a documentary and need strategy advice on applying to film festivals. If money is no consideration when applying and this doc, which deals with muscular dystrophy, needs to be seen by as many people as possible, should I apply to as many festivals as I can? Even ones with overlapping dates?
 
I'm not sure about film festivals as of yet, I'm currently reading some books on it like Chris Gore's "Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide". But from what I've read, you just need to try applying to festivals, but try to aim for the bigger ones like Vermont, Sundance, ect. and just hope basically. Also, be sure you've got the legal rights to everything before applying, especially music rights, they stress this a lot in the books I've read.

If one festival calls and it's not the one you ideally want, hold off on that one unless you're desperate, try to get their number and call them back (but ask if that's okay first).
 
Jack_Felis said:
I'm not sure about film festivals as of yet, I'm currently reading some books on it like Chris Gore's "Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide". But from what I've read, you just need to try applying to festivals, but try to aim for the bigger ones like Vermont, Sundance, ect. and just hope basically. Also, be sure you've got the legal rights to everything before applying, especially music rights, they stress this a lot in the books I've read.

If one festival calls and it's not the one you ideally want, hold off on that one unless you're desperate, try to get their number and call them back (but ask if that's okay first).
Click to expand...
Vermont? Is this a big festival? i'd never even heard of it and I live in Burlington... I'd be interested to hear how significant it is.
 
Ldogg said:
I have recently completed a documentary and need strategy advice on applying to film festivals. If money is no consideration when applying and this doc, which deals with muscular dystrophy, needs to be seen by as many people as possible, should I apply to as many festivals as I can? Even ones with overlapping dates?
Click to expand...

If getting it seen by "as many people as possible" is your goal, then film festivals may not guarantee that. If money is no consideration, why not arrange a four city limited two day screening through Landmark, making your picture eligible for Oscar consideration. Alternately, you may want to seek out your audience directly, building from a base of people directly affected - perhaps advertising on a muscular distrophy blog?
 
IanBJohnson said:
Vermont? Is this a big festival? i'd never even heard of it and I live in Burlington... I'd be interested to hear how significant it is.
Click to expand...
The Vermont International Film Festival (http://www.vtiff.org/index.html) bills itself as "the World's Oldest Human Rights and Environmental Film Festival since 1985." FWIW, Ben & Jerry's among others, is a sponsor. I was very happy that "Desert Gold", one of our environmentally-oriented films, screened there last October.

Also, if you are looking for festivals, consider Withoutabox (http://www.withoutabox.com/05home/login/05_login.php)
 
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