Last year was the first time I really tried putting a film into fests. And we got in 16 of them. So I thought it might be a good thread idea to speak about your positive personal fest experiences and which ones you'd recommend other filmmakers try and get into.
Miami Int'l Sci-Fi Film Fest - http://miscifi.com/
Last year was their first year and you really wouldn't know. I've been to other first year fests and often times they start very meager. MiSciFi did not feel like a first year fest at all. I had a lot of fun attending and am lucky to be going back again this year with a new film.
Love Your Shorts - http://www.loveyourshorts.com/
This is right in my backyard (Sanford, FL - outskirts of Orlando) and I've tried to get in for years. I finally made it last year and wow do they treat the filmmakers right. Free drinks (beer/wine, too) and snacks all day. Lots of opportunity to rub elbows with other filmmakers. They even had me speak on a panel. A very fun fest to hang out at.
The 48 Hour Film Project - http://48hourfilm.com/
I know there are other threads about it here, so you all know the concept. And what happens at your local level can be a hit or miss proposition. But it you win your city (like I did last year) and move on to the international Filmapalooza fest, it's tons of fun. Four days of short films and fun. Mark and Liz do it up right. Last year the event was in New Orleans the weekend after Mardi Gras. So I went early and had fun even before the festival. This year it's at Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood! Should make for a fun time again.
Florida Film Festival - http://www.floridafilmfestival.com/
Probably Florida's pre-eminent film festival. A week of activities, films, and parties. They, too, know how to treat the filmmaker right. I live in the same city and I only had a short film accepted, but even I was offered two free nights a local hotel, just like all the other filmmakers in attendance (I declined). They always have some Hollywood celebrities in attendance, as well.
I went to other good fests last year, as well, but I'll let others chime in. What fests do you recommend trying to get into based on your experiences?
Miami Int'l Sci-Fi Film Fest - http://miscifi.com/
Last year was their first year and you really wouldn't know. I've been to other first year fests and often times they start very meager. MiSciFi did not feel like a first year fest at all. I had a lot of fun attending and am lucky to be going back again this year with a new film.
Love Your Shorts - http://www.loveyourshorts.com/
This is right in my backyard (Sanford, FL - outskirts of Orlando) and I've tried to get in for years. I finally made it last year and wow do they treat the filmmakers right. Free drinks (beer/wine, too) and snacks all day. Lots of opportunity to rub elbows with other filmmakers. They even had me speak on a panel. A very fun fest to hang out at.
The 48 Hour Film Project - http://48hourfilm.com/
I know there are other threads about it here, so you all know the concept. And what happens at your local level can be a hit or miss proposition. But it you win your city (like I did last year) and move on to the international Filmapalooza fest, it's tons of fun. Four days of short films and fun. Mark and Liz do it up right. Last year the event was in New Orleans the weekend after Mardi Gras. So I went early and had fun even before the festival. This year it's at Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood! Should make for a fun time again.
Florida Film Festival - http://www.floridafilmfestival.com/
Probably Florida's pre-eminent film festival. A week of activities, films, and parties. They, too, know how to treat the filmmaker right. I live in the same city and I only had a short film accepted, but even I was offered two free nights a local hotel, just like all the other filmmakers in attendance (I declined). They always have some Hollywood celebrities in attendance, as well.
I went to other good fests last year, as well, but I'll let others chime in. What fests do you recommend trying to get into based on your experiences?
