filmsnobbery
Member
I go to a LOT of film festivals, and all of them have something different to offer filmmakers in terms of exposure, opportunity, and just plain fun. What are some of your fav fests, and where is your film headed next?
What are your favorite film festivals you've attended?
- Thread starter filmsnobbery
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teresadecher
Active member
Honestly I haven't been to that many film festivals yet, but the ones I have gone to I really enjoy, and I want to start going to more.
Munich Film Festival -- This festival was awesome because 1) I was in Germany 2) there were a lot of foreign films playing -- I don't usually watch that many foreign films, so it was fun to see quality films from different places and 3) they had interesting talks and events -- I learned a lot about indie regional films from India.
LA Film Festival -- We saw a couple of good films here (including Attack the Block which is now my favorite movie). This festival definitely had a larger-scale, less personal feel to it since they were screening big films, but fun nonetheless.
Columbia Gorge International Film Festival -- This has been my most hands on experience; I help as staff for my friend (who created the festival). The fest continues to grow with 11 venues this year! I really believe in her ideals for creating this festival; the entire festival is free (including food) and it is about sharing, creating, and encouraging filmmakers of all levels to continue pursuing and working on their craft. We will actually be talking about (not screening) our feature Superseeds this year on August 12!
Those 3 festivals have been the majority of my experience -- except for the Niche film festival, but that only ran for 1 year in Portland. It was awesome, with cool films and guest attendees/speakers, but they ran out of money and couldn't continue for a second year.
I haven't been yet, but I also really want to check out the Couch Film Festival -- it sounds like fun. And of course, hopefully I will be able to check out Sundance next year as well.
Munich Film Festival -- This festival was awesome because 1) I was in Germany 2) there were a lot of foreign films playing -- I don't usually watch that many foreign films, so it was fun to see quality films from different places and 3) they had interesting talks and events -- I learned a lot about indie regional films from India.
LA Film Festival -- We saw a couple of good films here (including Attack the Block which is now my favorite movie). This festival definitely had a larger-scale, less personal feel to it since they were screening big films, but fun nonetheless.
Columbia Gorge International Film Festival -- This has been my most hands on experience; I help as staff for my friend (who created the festival). The fest continues to grow with 11 venues this year! I really believe in her ideals for creating this festival; the entire festival is free (including food) and it is about sharing, creating, and encouraging filmmakers of all levels to continue pursuing and working on their craft. We will actually be talking about (not screening) our feature Superseeds this year on August 12!
Those 3 festivals have been the majority of my experience -- except for the Niche film festival, but that only ran for 1 year in Portland. It was awesome, with cool films and guest attendees/speakers, but they ran out of money and couldn't continue for a second year.
I haven't been yet, but I also really want to check out the Couch Film Festival -- it sounds like fun. And of course, hopefully I will be able to check out Sundance next year as well.
I've been very favorably impressed with the Bend (Oregon) Festival. It's been growing, and last year was the best ever. The whole town gets behind it and everyone has a blast.
Check their website @ http://www.bendfilm.org
Highly recommend!
P.S. Just found out they made the top 10 @ http://livability.com/top-10-film-festivals?page=1
Teresa - great to have you back on the boards! Would love to see you and Kholi @ bendfilm - we're just over the hill from Portland - round trip from LAX to Bend only $200.
Check their website @ http://www.bendfilm.org
Highly recommend!
P.S. Just found out they made the top 10 @ http://livability.com/top-10-film-festivals?page=1
Teresa - great to have you back on the boards! Would love to see you and Kholi @ bendfilm - we're just over the hill from Portland - round trip from LAX to Bend only $200.
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teresadecher
Active member
Sounds awesome! I'll definitely keep that on the list of festivals to check out.
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
SXSW was a lot of fun. Met Gregory Bayne and Hunter Weeks and a host of others there for the first time.
Deadcenter in Oklahoma City gave us a warm welcome and it was probably the best time i've had at a fest.
Park City (Sundance/Slamdance) has been a lot of work both times I've gone, still got to make a lot of new friends, but I was exhausted by the end of the first weekend.
Deadcenter in Oklahoma City gave us a warm welcome and it was probably the best time i've had at a fest.
Park City (Sundance/Slamdance) has been a lot of work both times I've gone, still got to make a lot of new friends, but I was exhausted by the end of the first weekend.
DadinWestchester
Well-known member
We followed my kid to Sundance and SXSW for a film he was in. He did a great job in PR. Hopefully he will have films he did production on entered in the years to come.
filmsnobbery
Member
I'm heading over to the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birminham, AL at the end of the month. From what I've heard it's a good time. I can definitely recommend the FirstGlance Film Festivals (Philly and Hollywood) *FULL DISCLOSURE - I work with them throughout the year doing interviews of their official selections and I do their red carpet interviews as well...But I wouldn't do it if I didn't think they had a great fest!
Another couple of good ones are the New Hampshire film festival (It's like a mini-Sundance....Totally packed! They take over the whole town while still maintaining that small-town feel!) I went there 2 years in a row and enjoyed everything Portsmouth, NH has to offer. Another great fest for filmmakers is the Orlando Film Festival. Great parties, they treat filmmakers well, and good projection w/ GREAT audience attendance!
What do you guys/gals look for in a good fest? Attendance? Freebies? Parties? Networking Opportunities?
Another couple of good ones are the New Hampshire film festival (It's like a mini-Sundance....Totally packed! They take over the whole town while still maintaining that small-town feel!) I went there 2 years in a row and enjoyed everything Portsmouth, NH has to offer. Another great fest for filmmakers is the Orlando Film Festival. Great parties, they treat filmmakers well, and good projection w/ GREAT audience attendance!
What do you guys/gals look for in a good fest? Attendance? Freebies? Parties? Networking Opportunities?
The Eerie Horror Film Festival is my favorite. Of course, it helps that it takes place right in my town (Erie, PA).
But in all seriousness, it's a stellar weekend every October. The films chosen span the spectrum of horror and are generally fantastic; the guests are always wonderful; and the people who run the festival are amazing human beings.
I was planning on entering my short film this year, but it still sits unfinished, as life has gotten in the way.
But in all seriousness, it's a stellar weekend every October. The films chosen span the spectrum of horror and are generally fantastic; the guests are always wonderful; and the people who run the festival are amazing human beings.
I was planning on entering my short film this year, but it still sits unfinished, as life has gotten in the way.
filmsnobbery
Member
Life does tend to get in the way at inopportune moments doesn't it? I'm trying really hard to put myself in a situation where life coincides with the places I need to be or the projects I need to finish! 
Keep at it!
Keep at it!
Lammy
Well-known member
My favourite festival is Cannes Film Festival, been there twice now. It's really cool seeing the best movies early and chilling with the stars and random people in the most unexpected places.
Next up is Encounters Bristol Film Festival. Great looking city and great atmosphere. Same with Raindance.
And London Film Festival and Leeds International Film Festival are cool too.
I'd like to check out Sundance, Toronto and Hong Kong sometime when I have a bigger reason to go =]
Next up is Encounters Bristol Film Festival. Great looking city and great atmosphere. Same with Raindance.
And London Film Festival and Leeds International Film Festival are cool too.
I'd like to check out Sundance, Toronto and Hong Kong sometime when I have a bigger reason to go =]
sonofaresiii
Well-known member
i've always wanted to go to fantastic fest
I attended for the first time SXSW this past year. I have lived in Austin for over 4 years now and I always associated SXSW with music, I don't think film even occurred to me as part of the allure of attending SXSW. I got a Gold badge which got me into only film and interactive (no music), so I got to really experience it as film student, instead of a music fan. It was an incredible experience that I highly recommend to anyone who is interested and able to attend. The interactive badge gave me opportunities to see an intimate Q & A session with Willem Dafoe and Seth MacFarlane I also attended many panels about various film making aspects as well as social media and just about anything else you could imagine.
Interactive was cool, but clearly the filmmaking is what this is all about. Many films had their world premiere and filmmakers were more than happy to have Q & A sessions after screenings. I got to learn so much about various processes just by listening, and not just about full length feature films, but shorts and there were even screenings of music videos.
As a young, (broke), student, I cannot vouch for any other film festivals, but I think SXSW should definitely be considered as a top selection. Plus it's unique and beautiful Austin, Texas in March. It's an experience that will be hard to beat.
Interactive was cool, but clearly the filmmaking is what this is all about. Many films had their world premiere and filmmakers were more than happy to have Q & A sessions after screenings. I got to learn so much about various processes just by listening, and not just about full length feature films, but shorts and there were even screenings of music videos.
As a young, (broke), student, I cannot vouch for any other film festivals, but I think SXSW should definitely be considered as a top selection. Plus it's unique and beautiful Austin, Texas in March. It's an experience that will be hard to beat.