When filmmakers are deciding if their movies are festival-ready, they need to \u201cmake sure they\u2019re putting their best foot forward,\u201d says Wendy Mitchell, a delegate for the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and consultant for the Berlin International Film Festival\u2019s European Film Market and Cannes\u2019 Film Market.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are marketing materials and a festival budget in order? Is the film truly over the finish line? Is the right promotional strategy in place?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is how to get your film ready to shine on the fest circuit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even before shooting has started, filmmakers need to start planning their marketing. Mitchell suggests hiring a photographer. \u201cFilm stills are so important,\u201d she says. \u201cCapture the behind-the-scenes and submit [these photos] to festivals. I know sales companies who won\u2019t sign a film unless they have over 100 film stills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The photographs could also be used for the movie poster, which can play an integral role in grabbing programmers\u2019 interest. Filmmaker and festival consultant Bears Font\u00e9 admits that posters can do a great job of getting her excited about a submission by giving her a sense of the director\u2019s style. \u201cA cool poster will also help me remember the film later,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the right way to use social media for film promotion is a topic of much debate, Gray Rodriguez, a film festival organizer who worked for the Sundance<\/mark><\/a> and Bentonville<\/mark><\/a> film festivals, says that, at the very least, having an active account where you share photos, clips, teasers, and updates, shows festivals your level of seriousness about your work, and gives an indication of the target audience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rodriguez also suggests having a QR code that links to the film\u2019s website or social media account. These codes can be used online, or put on stickers and placed in strategic locations at film festivals, like in cinema foyers, on the back of movie theater seats, or at popular bars and restaurants. Since most filmmakers still use printed materials for their movie posters, screening details, and business cards, QR codes can be an efficient informational supplement. \u201cSomething like that might really help the film to stand out and is also more cost effective,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One aspect of marketing that regularly gets overlooked is the cover letter for a film. This is where a director can really open up about their creative journey, explain who they are, why they made their film, its themes, and why they\u2019re submitting it to this festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve been hearing more and more from programmers emphasizing how important cover letters are,\u201d says Rodriguez. \u201cFilmmakers should put some thought and care into it, and be as interesting and creative as they can with it.\u201d Font\u00e9 warns that it should be as succinct as possible and filmmakers should aim to cover the above in four to six sentences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n After completing the edit and locking picture, filmmakers need to ensure that the technical specifications align with each festival\u2019s specifications.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check the aspect ratio, audio, file size, and format of your film. More often than not, converting the file into a Digital Cinema Package (the file format used for digitally projecting movies in theaters), will not be required. But Font\u00e9 insists that \u201cdirectors need to know what all these things mean,\u201d adding, \u201cWe\u2019re not in the day anymore where you can get along without knowing that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Albert Chow, who has worked in technical roles at the New York<\/mark><\/a>, Tribeca<\/mark><\/a>, and Seattle International<\/mark><\/a> festivals, says that most fests will tell accepted applicants the required technical specifications in a welcome letter\u2014or at the very least, will share them when requested.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n When budgeting, technophobic directors should consider funds for a postproduction supervisor who can help remind you about the film\u2019s sound, color, and special effects, says Chow. \u201cBy engaging the services of a postproduction company, they can help get your film finished\u201d by coordinating these departments and making sure that their work aligns with the filmmaker\u2019s vision. They\u2019ll also ensure that when the film is finished, it\u2019s properly formatted for each festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Filmmakers working on microbudgets can also turn to YouTube tutorials for advice on how to alter technical specifications, says Font\u00e9.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s essential that filmmakers watch their work on the largest screen possible so they can approximate what viewers will see at festivals. Chow recommends renting out a screening room, as \u201cyou might not notice blotchiness, pixelation, or a boom microphone being in-shot on a computer screen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other specifications to consider are having:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Filmmakers need to ensure that there\u2019s nothing onscreen that will take viewers out of the story. \u201cIf the audience sees a bad exhibition, that\u2019s what they\u2019re going to think of your movie,\u201d says Chow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, directors need to reflect and consider what they\u2019re looking to achieve from their festival experience before<\/em> submitting, says Rodriguez. \u201cThey might want to meet people, have the film seen by as many people as possible, or even to try and sell their next project. Once you\u2019re accepted, you need to have a plan, know why you\u2019re there, prepare, and have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Make sure you\u2019re not blowing your submission budget by submitting to the wrong places\u2014or before you\u2019re ready.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":1496,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCover letter<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Technical specifications to get right\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ratios<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Screenings<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Submission strategy\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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