By Gary Ferrington
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A lot of effort goes into the planning and production phases of a indie film or video. The fact is that one can become so involved in the execution of a project that it is only in post-production that the question begins to be asked, "Now that I've my work is completed how do I get it screened?
A lot of effort goes into the planning and production phases of a indie film or video. |
The fact is that one can become so involved in the execution of a project that it is only in post-production that the question begins to be asked, "Now that I've my work is completed how do I get it screened?"
One of the best places to get your video, film, animation or multimedia work exhibited and known by distributors and the public is at a festival. There are hundreds such events around the world each year that welcome, most often for an entry fee, new work by young media professionals.
But festivals can be a touchy subject. Some new artist make a film or video thinking all they have to do is submit their work to a major festival and soon they will be rich and famous. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way. If you think you can make a low-budget film with no connections and no stars, submit it to Sundance and be accepted, you're probably daydreaming. Plain and simple, Sundance and other festivals of this size are an insiders game, and if you're not somehow connected you won't be invited to the party."
Where do you start to get your work screened and known. One place is to explore local venues such as art and media centers, coffeehouses, and independent movie theaters.
Many artists hit the road making a circuit from one town to another showing their films and videos along the way. For example, some artists that have come our way here in Eugene include: The Free Form Film Festival, Lo Fi Landscapes: Pictures From the New World, and Jericho's Echo: Punk Rock In The Holy Land, to mention a few. Each artist is driving the freeways or riding the rails to show their projects wherever possible. The idea being that the more known a film or video becomes the better the chances of it being picked up for distribution.
The Internet has provided a welcome avenue for the distribution of microcinema and short films. Some sites specialize in documentary work such as folkstreams.net and the Archaeology Channel. Other Internet sites welcome short works often through online competitions. Some examples include: Ten Second film Competition, 120 Second digital film festival, Atom Films and many others.
As you can see, although efforts may not initially qualify for a Sundance or Cannes, there are many opportunities to get a film or video out there and know which brings us back to festivals.
Probably the first question to ask is, Why enter a festival? Recognition through a festival does several things. First, it exposes your work to the viewing public. Second, it may be picked up by a distributor which leads to the third point - making money to cover costs and hopefully enough to make a next production.
There are hundreds of festivals throughout the world that one can enter. Any of these can provide you with exposure and potential contacts. They also provide a means for getting critical feedback about your work. Having the opportunity to have your work viewed by peers will help you become a better film or video producer. Some of the festivals will also provide the opportunity to be seen by those who may want to invest in or distribute film and video projects.
You will find festivals of all sizes from something as small and localized as The OpenLens Short Film Festival to large events such as South by Southwest and of course the really big venues like Sundance, Berlin, or Toronto.
If you are seriously interested in competing against a wide array of films an entry in something less ambitious that Sundance or Montreal would be a good place to begin. However, if you have developed a project around a particular issue such as water pollution, the art of noise, or other topic, then select a festival that gives emphasis to the topic. An example is the Philadelphia International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival or the Environmental Film Festival.
Once you've decided that the festival route is for you, the question of how to locate a festival event appropriate for your particular production is next. There are many online resources to help you find an event appropriate for your work. Here is a brief list of festival directories and databases:
- Film Festival Source -Searchable database of international film and television festivals.
- The Film Festivals Server - Searchable database of international film and television festivals. Listings include news, articles, interviews, film details, and multimedia.
- International Directory of Design - Links for schools, organizations, conferences, festivals, journals, and magazines.
- International Film Festival Calendar - Search for festivals by name, location and date, then view by year, month, week.
- Moviemaker.com: Film Festivals - Links arranged by country.
- Wildlife Film Makers - Magazine and directory for wildlife film makers. Includes wildlife film festivals and events diary.
This short overview has provided a number of opportunities to get your work out before the public. From showing in locally or on the road, to using the Internet or entering festivals, there are many ways in which your work can move from a finished product to one that gains recognition through screenings near and far.
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Photo: Micky Hulse |
