With more film festivals than ever before, the opportunities to make meaningful connections are manifold. But that also means more chances to stick your foot in your mouth while trying your darnedest to help yourself out. That’s understandable. At any festival, you’ll be meeting an endless barrage of new people at an exceedingly fast pace. We’ve already covered how to prepare for your premiere, network with ease, navigate industry pitches, and even rock any general meetings that come about afterward.
But possibly even more important than knowing what to do is understanding what not to do. For the unaware, read on.
Should I tell an executive that I have a feature-length version of my short?
That depends: Do you? If so, great—go right ahead! But are you assuming that you can quickly churn out a movie just to have something to show? Don’t promise anything that isn’t finished yet.
It can be very tempting to sell a product that doesn’t exist when a legitimate opportunity presents itself, especially when a studio is curious about profiting off of your idea. To that end—never lie! And further, don’t assume executives aren’t as interested in a film idea as they are in a finished product. In fact, some studios may want to cultivate the script with you.
RELATED: How to Network at a Film Festival
Should I mention someone I know who works at their company?
That depends on who that person is and how close you are to them. Do you know someone who works in the mailroom at United Talent Agency? That’s cool, but they probably aren’t going to help you get signed by a senior agent. Is Bob Iger your mom’s friend’s cousin? Yeah…don’t tell them you’re friends with Iger (but maybe see if you can get your mom’s friend’s cousin to grab a coffee).
Perhaps this sounds obvious, but in the moment, it might feel like a good idea to exploit every connection you have, no matter how tenuous. After all, we hear “It’s who you know” all the time. But the operative word there is “know.” Never drop a name unless you’re confident that person will vouch for you and your work.
Should I expect the film festival to take care of my marketing needs?
The extent to which a festival promotes your project varies greatly. If the event has tiered categories, it may advertise competition films over non-competition selections, or opening night screenings over those sandwiched between blocks. Other fests have more egalitarian approaches and offer programs with films listed in alphabetical order.
The bottom line is that you (and your producer, if you have one) will always be the main pusher of publicity. Everything other than that is an added bonus. Some festivals do pride themselves on going the extra mile, but don’t assume anything (or worse, get upset).
This applies to Q&As and meetings, too. Even if you’re invited to participate in a post-screening conversation, it’s up to you to prepare your talking points. And be aggressive about garnering meetings; ask the festival to supply you with a press guide and contact people yourself. Never presume that these things will happen solely on the virtue of your artistry.
Remember: Don’t just show up for yourself.
It’s easy to get overeager and feel like the only people worth your time at a festival are executives, distributors, and/or agents (basically, anyone who can elevate your career). But there are scores of like-minded creatives around you, and you never know what could come from every conversation. The aspiring screenwriter you bond with over Nora Ephron movies could one day be staffing their new rom-com series. Go to screenings, watch films, and network with other artists, too. It’s good professionalism and smart foresight.
And don’t get caught up in the buzz.
You’ve worked hard to get here. You’ve scraped and crawled and funded all the way to the finish line. You’ve filmed a badass film on a tight budget (or even no budget). If your work doesn’t get an award, or your screening doesn’t sell a ton of tickets, don’t fret. That doesn’t mean your work is bad or that you won’t garner any attention. Stay proud of what you’ve done, and don’t bail on your art.
