I jumped out of my chair when reading: "filmmakers should provide even more access and more support to a range of community-based film organizations". It is so unfair to put that on the back of filmmakers while we know that film festivals work for themselves rather than for the filmmakers.
Regional film festivals are answering their constituents first. They are often struggling with local politics that have nothing to do with cinema. As you wrote, they are UNABLE to provide filmmakers with either press coverage or distribution opportunities.
A lot of NYC filmmakers I know shared their frustration about regional festivals during private talks. For the anecdote, I've experienced this odd feeling of talking at a regional festival with the crowd vanishing once the buffet opened next room. So much for the 'community of film-lovers'. And did I mention films selected because the lead actress is gorgeous and will look good at private receptions? Sometimes you wonder if the films selected aren't just based on the cast to create a young and glitzy enough 'scene' that will keep sponsors entertained and pay for the next year festival. It is an economy but somehow an economy that serves filmmakers last.
Of course, your experience is spot on and absolutely right. There are multiple terrible festivals out there. My point there was to suggest that, if filmmakers want to reach audiences, they should partner with regional festivals and film orgs and explicitly, those that have a proven value to them. I didn't mean to imply they should pay money or give resources or work with everyone, but more, develop a strategy that avoids exactly what you are talking about-- which is 100% a real problem and why I dedicated the second half of these suggestions to film festival specifically to professionalize and provide data and real marketing service to films and filmmakers.
That said, there are several regional festivals that care deeply about providing meaningful, professional engagement for filmmakers and distributors. But I also know that there needs to be alignment with filmmaker and distributor expectations, which is also what I am proposing here.
Anyway, I couldn't agree with you more and everything you describe here is everything my own regional film festival seeks to avoid 100% of the time. Thanks for this, Estelle-- an important reminder that mutual benefit must be built upon professionalism and quality work, not self-serving bullshit. Sorry that happened to you!
I take the good wherever I go so no worries and, looking back, I found the whole rather hilarious. There is definitively a Fellini movie to be filmed about this journey.
I do not put in question the good will and honesty of most of the people working for regional film festivals. Plus the one thing I am not discounting is that meeting a new audience is a great gift even when it's only 5 people in a room (make Q&As longer!).
PS: I never heard negative talks about Montclair FF so there is that.
You've provided a great service over these three articles on the current film festival leg of the film ecosystem, how we got here, and where we have to go. I love the dive into solutions. Keep it up!
I jumped out of my chair when reading: "filmmakers should provide even more access and more support to a range of community-based film organizations". It is so unfair to put that on the back of filmmakers while we know that film festivals work for themselves rather than for the filmmakers.
Regional film festivals are answering their constituents first. They are often struggling with local politics that have nothing to do with cinema. As you wrote, they are UNABLE to provide filmmakers with either press coverage or distribution opportunities.
A lot of NYC filmmakers I know shared their frustration about regional festivals during private talks. For the anecdote, I've experienced this odd feeling of talking at a regional festival with the crowd vanishing once the buffet opened next room. So much for the 'community of film-lovers'. And did I mention films selected because the lead actress is gorgeous and will look good at private receptions? Sometimes you wonder if the films selected aren't just based on the cast to create a young and glitzy enough 'scene' that will keep sponsors entertained and pay for the next year festival. It is an economy but somehow an economy that serves filmmakers last.
Something else has to be created.
Of course, your experience is spot on and absolutely right. There are multiple terrible festivals out there. My point there was to suggest that, if filmmakers want to reach audiences, they should partner with regional festivals and film orgs and explicitly, those that have a proven value to them. I didn't mean to imply they should pay money or give resources or work with everyone, but more, develop a strategy that avoids exactly what you are talking about-- which is 100% a real problem and why I dedicated the second half of these suggestions to film festival specifically to professionalize and provide data and real marketing service to films and filmmakers.
That said, there are several regional festivals that care deeply about providing meaningful, professional engagement for filmmakers and distributors. But I also know that there needs to be alignment with filmmaker and distributor expectations, which is also what I am proposing here.
Anyway, I couldn't agree with you more and everything you describe here is everything my own regional film festival seeks to avoid 100% of the time. Thanks for this, Estelle-- an important reminder that mutual benefit must be built upon professionalism and quality work, not self-serving bullshit. Sorry that happened to you!
I take the good wherever I go so no worries and, looking back, I found the whole rather hilarious. There is definitively a Fellini movie to be filmed about this journey.
I do not put in question the good will and honesty of most of the people working for regional film festivals. Plus the one thing I am not discounting is that meeting a new audience is a great gift even when it's only 5 people in a room (make Q&As longer!).
PS: I never heard negative talks about Montclair FF so there is that.
You've provided a great service over these three articles on the current film festival leg of the film ecosystem, how we got here, and where we have to go. I love the dive into solutions. Keep it up!
I also wanted to share this post I wrote earlier, but you've inspired me to go longer on the subject and I aim to provide a larger utopian vision of the perfect festival IMO. Stay tuned. https://tedhope.substack.com/p/what-would-a-perfect-film-festival