What’s the Deal with Film Festivals - Should I Go or Not?
Photo by Jake Hills. https://unsplash.com/@jakehills
If you are an independent filmmaker, or looking for work in the film industry, the short answer to this question is yes (if you can afford the costs of travel, lodging, festival tickets, workshops, and food).
Film festivals are a great way for film industry veterans and independents to connect and collaborate. It’s a perfect way to see and meet producers, directors, actors, film crew, screenwriters, film commissioners, distributors, and even entertainment attorneys. You get the opportunity to see how people in the film industry network, how they pitch projects, how they make distribution deals, or just scope out movies being screened for the next potential big hit or the next big stars.
Obviously some festivals are better known than others (like Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, etc), and as a result are more likely to draw the big names to attend. But as a someone looking for work in the industry as an actor, screenwriter, etc., or an independent filmmaker pitching a project, you never know what opportunities you may stumble upon, or deals waiting to be made at any film festival with just the right lucky break.
Even if you are not in the industry yet but want to be, it’s a good idea to go and see what the film industry is like in reality as opposed to what you may see on tv on the various award shows or on reality tv. I have numerous law school students reach out to me each school year seeking internships because they want to eventually become entertainment lawyers. I also have clients new to the entertainment industry in general that reach out to me about how to gain opportunities in their particular field of entertainment. I always encourage getting hands-on experience within the entertainment industry of interest, and not just focusing on the job you want to do. Volunteer for any position, if possible, in established companies, festivals, etc., so you get to see how they operate from day to day or week to week, and how they make decisions.
I actually added entertainment law to my areas of practice about 10 years ago after volunteering to screen Spanish-language movies for my local film festival (St. Petersburg Sunscreen Film Festival), attending local presentations, taking continuing legal education (CLE) seminars, and networking at various entertainment-related events. So if you are serious about being in the film industry, take advantage of every opportunity you have to absorb as much information about the industry as possible, including participating in film festivals.