I found this article today that is further proof of my comments re: preselected titles for festivals.
This is sometimes a reoccurring issue within the industry.
https://deadline.com/2021/08/sheffield-doc-fest-programmers-let-go-from-...
Don't misunderstand, I have loved and do love the Festival industry, it's just a one sided game and only one side profits. It's not the filmmaker...
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Thanks for the share! What has been your experience on the festival circuit, if you don't mind me asking? Did you see that AFM is sticking to a digital market this year? Do you think digital festivals could be an improvement on this situation? Would love to know your thoughts!
I'm happy to hear AFM is being prudent with the current health climate! I have not had an opportunity to read that news.
Film Festivals and Indie Filmmakers need to evolve with the changing times. Streaming is an emerging viable solution for content delivery for Festivals.
We ran 16 different events/festivals in 2020 and I can tell you it's a carbon copy of a live festival, it's just playing on your TV or computer. The one loss is the "in person vibe." You are still having a Q & A with the viewers who wish to attend. The filmmakers create a 1 minute intro video so they can introduce their film. It plays prior to every "click." and the beauty of virtual is, filmmakers can be present at every screening for any festival anywhere in the world. Follow the screening up with a live
Q & A and it's the same protocol as a live event.
It boils down to who you use for your platform and what services they provide. Our festival clients are going hybrid (while they can still have live events.) They're having live opening and closing weekends with the mid week being virtual. I don't think virtual festivals are going anywhere. Now Fests & their BOD see how cost effective they are, they may rethinking the mold.
Technology has evolved by leaps and bounds and I think festivals realize they may need to get on board if Covid continues and they want to stay alive. Last year there were a ton of inquiries but some of them didn't seem to be pioneers and decided not to have a festival at all. Once again the Indie Creative gets the short end.
The bulk of our clients last year were clients of our DCP business and they know the quality and reliability of our work. It doesn't hurt that we also have 2+ decades of experience in the Tech Dept. We know what they need, when they need t and we're their built in tech crew for their virtual needs. We get them because we are them...
Hybrid is here to stay. Virtual will be as well if they can't get covid under control. Be a part of the solution folks...
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I have been in the film distribution business for many many years and unless you get your film in one of the big festivals, the chance of being picked up by a distributor of any note is minimal. I attend all the film markets ...AFM, Berlin, Cannes and its there that the real commercial activity of selling indie films happens.
I agree with John Rodsett.