What's the point of film festivals anyway?

Hey honeys and hustlers,

Today is the first day of the Magnolia Independent Film Festival. This is the 5th film festival screening for Trail Therapy and my 3rd time in Mississippi (but only my first time spending the night so wish me luck). It would be easy for me to sum up the answer to the question in the title by saying: I love film festivals and I think every film lover and filmmaker should attend one and try to get a film screened in one. But it's more than that.

Film festivals often get dismissed as exclusive events where industry insiders pat each other on the back, but they serve several functions in the film ecosystem that benefit both filmmakers and audiences. From a filmmaker’s perspective, film festivals serve 4 main functions:

• marketing and audience generation (the filmmakers accepted into the festival aren’t solely responsible for selling tickets and generating awareness about the film screening.)

• culture and film genre exposure (I saw some of my first indie documentary films at the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama. Incredible work I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.)

• cinematic innovations (so many filmmakers push the boundaries of what they create and even screen experimental films at film festivals because there’s little to no pressure to make a film that’s commercially viable.)

• community building (you meet other filmmakers who specialize in different areas and aspects of filmmaking. From sound designers, boom operators, camera operators, special effects animators, and editors to colorists, writers, and directors.)

Let’s face it – most creators are terrible at building an audience or personal brand. We’re so consumed with the craft, and most likely doing freelance video work for clients, that we make little time to create space for ourselves online. Film festivals are a way to get your work in front of an audience who’s excited to fall in love with an undiscovered artist. You don’t have to really advertise the festival or try to sell tickets; once you get accepted, the hard part is over. But let’s be honest, getting accepted to film festivals can be really hard so it’s no small effort to make and package a film that people want to screen. One thing that’s been helpful for me is looking at past lineups to see if they've had themed film sessions. These are sessions that group film screenings according to a theme (i.e. North Carolina-made films, horror/thriller, shorts, queer-made films, etc). There are even themed festivals, like Surfalorous. This can help you submit films that have a higher chance of being accepted.

Many of the first films that filmmakers create are what I like to call films of convenience. We create from our lived experience and perspective. Film festivals introduce you to people from all walks of life. Being exposed to different cultures, film genres, and filmmaking styles makes us better creators. It’s hard to compare our work to things we watch on Netflix, Hulu, or Apple TV. And unfortunately, there aren’t many short films, feature films, or series currently on YouTube. But film festivals allow you to meet folks who are at a similar point in their filmmaking career, which gives you a healthy place to learn from others with similar resources.

Many film festivals have film labs, where selected filmmakers will be placed in an environment meant to elevate their filmmaking knowledge. These labs and fellowships often pair you with a mentor, have space for deep and constructive critiques of your current works in progress, and allow opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. Many labs and fellowships give you entry to that year’s film festival. Some have pitch competitions that get you in front of film investors (i.e. Blackstar in Philadelphia). My favorite parts are the VIP-only access areas for exclusive networking opportunities. If you prefer a more relaxed networking environment, I don’t think anyone facilitates this better than a bunch of filmmakers. I’ve never felt any pretentious energy, and everyone’s excited to be nerdy and creative.

I’m clearly a fan of film festivals, and I think even non-filmmakers can have positive experiences learning from filmmakers at these events like:

• how to do a video-centric marketing campaign

• how to use visual media for community-building, advocacy, or fundraising

• how to package ideas in a way that intrigues people who have never met you (from film posters and BTS photos to loglines, trailers, and film synopses)

So what are the downsides?

Film festivals can be expensive to submit works to and attend. Some festivals help with travel accommodations, some don't. Many festivals also have complex submission requirements and deadlines that can be challenging for independent filmmakers to navigate. There's valid criticism that some festivals have become too commercial, focusing more on star-studded premieres than truly independent work. Slamdance was made in opposition to Sundance and Single Frame was made as an alternative to Full Frame Film Festival.

Many times, an entry denial to a film festival has nothing to do with the film itself. It could mean that they didn’t have enough slots to accommodate all the submissions they received. It could mean they prioritized a certain type of film (i.e. feature-length documentaries over narrative short films). It could mean they give priority to filmmakers who live in the state of the film festival.

It can be really hard to hear no believe me, but they’re a net good in my opinion. They're not just about celebrating films, which they do extremely well - they're about nurturing the future of filmmaking itself.

The next time you hear about a film festival in your area, consider attending. You might just discover your new favorite filmmaker before the rest of the world does. At a bare minimum, I’m willing to bet that you’ll get inspiration for your next film or find your next filmmaking partner.

Happy creating on this chilly Thursday (if you’re in South, bundle up!).

P.P.S. I usually share an exclusive article for paid members on Saturday, but this Saturday marks 3 months since I migrated my newsletter to beehiiv. I’ll be sharing my experiences, growth, hopes, and gripes about the platform for all subscribers in the next newsletter. Let me know if there’s anything in particular you have questions about related to writing a newsletter on beehiiv and I’ll try to answer it in that article.