2011 Science Film Festival tours Indonesia
Science documentarians take note: this touring science film festival may be the place for your film, particularly if it caters to children.
Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
Webinar: Top 10 Tips for the Film Festival Circuit
One of the more popular talks I give at festivals and related events is a workshop on “The Top 10 Tips for the Film Festival Circuit.” This workshop introduces new filmmakers to some basic festival concepts and helps experienced filmmakers get more from their festival run. For the first time ever I’m holding this talk as an online seminar on Thursday, December 1st 2011 at 3pm EST. Included in this workshop is a live Q&A session with yours truly, during which I’ll answer as many questions as I can. I’m allowing 90 minutes for the full session so odds are good we’ll get everyone’s questions answered.
Some of the topics I’ll be covering in the seminar:
- Making sure your film is ready for festivals
- Setting goals for your festival run
- Getting your submissions organized
- Submitting strategically
- Saving money on submissions fees
Spots in the webinar are limited so if you’re interested, please register now using the form below.
What to do while “everyone else” is at Sundance – 2011 edition
Feeling left behind because you’re not going to Park City this week? Here are a few ideas on how to keep yourself occupied — either by distracting yourself with other business or by taking part vicariously. In no particular order:
- Hold some test screenings for your own film. Chances are you haven’t held nearly enough test screenings to really know how an audience will react to your film, so why not have a little festival magic of your own? See chapter one of Film Festival Secrets for more on holding test screenings, but it’s pretty simple: Get a bunch of strangers together, show them your movie, and gather some opinions. It feels good and it’s good for you. Read more »
Film in 140 Panel on Film Fest Tips and Tricks – Tonight
Can’t make it out to a film fest panel in the real world? Prefer to sit behind your laptop and tweet the night away? Buddy, have we got the film panel for you.
Film Threat presents the latest Film in 140 Panel – “Tips and Tricks for the 2011 Film Festival Season.” Hosted entirely on Twitter! Starts tonight (Wednesday Jan 12) at 9 p.m. EST.
Update 1/13: The panel was last night and it was a lot of fun, if somewhat chaotic. You can see the transcript in the panel link and I’ll be doing a quick write-up of the major points soon.
Panelists include:
Dan Mirvish, co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival
Hammad Zaidi, Lonely Seal Releasing
Yours truly!
Things I plan to talk about tonight:
- What NOT to include in your submission envelope
- Things you don’t realize that festival programmers are saying about your film
- The one big mistake made by (almost) every first-time filmmaker
Check out the Film Threat site for information on how to tune into this fascinating Twitter panel.
International Film Festival Summit starts tomorrow
I’m currently holed up in a hotel room at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, banging out a few words to get the International Film Festival Summit started tomorrow. They’ve asked me to be the “conference chair” for the day – which is basically a glorified way of saying I’ll be the emcee.
This is my fifth year at the Summit and I’m really looking forward to it. Festivals are terrific of course but this is a chance to retreat from the chaos of that activity and talk shop with festival directors from around the country (and sometimes around the world) about what they do. I usually come away from the experience energized and full of new ideas, just from being exposed to so many different people all focused on essentially the same idea – that independent filmmakers deserve champions, and that audiences deserve access to those films.
It’s generally pretty difficult to get away to do any writing during a conference but I hope to jot some things down to post afterwards. And who knows? Maybe you’ll see some pictures from the show floor. Stay tuned.
Speaking at SWAMP Salon tomorrow night in Houston
If you’re in the Houston area, come see me give a talk about the festival circuit tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), and it’s free and open to the public.
Here’s the event info on Facebook if you want to RSVP, but if you prefer you can just show up at Deans Montrose, 315 Fairview Street, Houston.
Come see the “Short Film Secrets” talk at South by Southwest 2010
If you’re coming to the South By Southwest film festival this weekend, you’ll have the chance to see me speak during the Short Film Secrets panel on Tuesday, March 16th at 2:00 p.m.
The official description from the SXSW guide: There’s more out there for shorts than just YouTube, despite apparently limited sales and distribution avenues. Learn to make the most of festivals, the red flags that might keep you out, how to get away with breaking the rules, and what to do with that opus afterwards.
Joining me will be:
- Todd Luoto, short film programmer for the Sundance Film Festival
- Emily Doe, associate editor & producer of Wholphin DVD
- Will Hartman, director of “Art of Karaoke” and “Food for Thought”
A SXSW Film, Gold, or Platinum badge is required to attend this event.
RSVP on Facebook or just show up!
I will also be serving on the Texas Short Film jury at the festival, and you’ll be able to buy copies of Film Festival Secrets in the bookshop on the expo floor.
Oxford Film Festival starts Thursday
Hot on the heels of Sundance, it’s the 7th Annual Oxford Film Festival, held in Oxford, Mississippi.
I’ll be in attendance Thursday through Saturday and participating on a panel on Friday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. at the Malco Studio theater. If you’re in driving distance of Oxford I encourage you to check it out. Two of my favorite films on the festival circuit, Stingray Sam and Happy Ending, are playing there.
Also check out the series of “Take 5″ interviews that the festival has been publishing with its filmmakers.
