I read the book, "ultimate film festival guide" and while a fine book it somehow didn't really explain the set up. I have heard a thousand times that any filmmaker should go see at least one film festival before submitting as it will give him a better understanding of the process. I had the luck to once be in Cannes when the festival was on, and while i wasn't there for that reason and so did not take part in the festival, it seemed to me yes a cool tourist attraction and probably a good place to meet A and B list selebs, but for a starting out filmmaker it seemed way to upscale, to big business, to inaccessible. While i am sure ones you have been selected to a major film fest, they will chauffeur you around and all doors are open, i have my doubts that going to a place like Cannes would be of much use to a starting out person with nothing to show, but wanting to have a look. Yes i know about the film market....bla, bla, bal, i read the book. Also the book has all the dates, the tel. numbers, the people to contact a short description of the fest...but somehow it does not lay out in clear terms how this process happens. So here a few questions from a complete newby that i would like to hear some first hand experience on.
Which festival's (short list) in europe or the states are the once one should go to if one wants to get a feel for it??? (not Cannes and not the Arkansas experimental film fest)
If you told me it was Rotterdam or Berlin, is it as easy as - you buy a ticket to Berlin for the dates of the fest, you find a hotel, buy a fest badge and than see allot of movies and hang out with fellow film makers ad some dingy art bar). Am I getting it all wrong?
How much does it cost you guys to go to a festival if you are just there to network or get the feel for it?
Do you guys go to fests that are not in your immediate surrounding when you dont have a horse in the race, why and do you feel it is worth the money spent?
If anyone that actually has gone to a major festival could chime in, i am sure there are plenty of us here that would be interested to hear your story
Which festival's (short list) in europe or the states are the once one should go to if one wants to get a feel for it??? (not Cannes and not the Arkansas experimental film fest)
If you told me it was Rotterdam or Berlin, is it as easy as - you buy a ticket to Berlin for the dates of the fest, you find a hotel, buy a fest badge and than see allot of movies and hang out with fellow film makers ad some dingy art bar). Am I getting it all wrong?
How much does it cost you guys to go to a festival if you are just there to network or get the feel for it?
Do you guys go to fests that are not in your immediate surrounding when you dont have a horse in the race, why and do you feel it is worth the money spent?
If anyone that actually has gone to a major festival could chime in, i am sure there are plenty of us here that would be interested to hear your story