[QA - Article] This is a FTW Article

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Have branding materials to bring with you.

I am a big fan of fliers for films at festivals. Nothing bigger than a postcard size with a bright eye-catching image. Festival laurels and a website. Maybe a logline or link to a trailer. Keep it clean but the basic info that will catch someone’s eye so that they can take it home. They can use that as a talking point when meeting people. It’s more interesting than a business card. Bring something that captures the essence of your film in an artistic way.

I always carry my business cards, but I encountered someone a few years back who was really good at striking up conversations with people then working their way into asking for a picture with them to follow up later with the picture to remind them of the interaction. I thought that was very effective. I don’t think I could ever do that ‘cause it requires a lot of timely follow-ups. But I was impressed by that level of organization and system.

There is no right or wrong question to ask when networking.

I don’t think there are a set number of questions to be asking. It’s unique and should spring organically from what you want to achieve and how that person can connect to those things. Those are going to be very different depending on who you are talking to. Whether they are industry or not, the trick is to speak passionately about whatever it is you are passionate about and the person you’re with will find their way organically.

Remember that each festival provides a unique experience.

Every festival is a learning experience. It is not necessary to attend an identity-based festival, but the experience you will have at one of these festivals will be completely unique. I watched a film about M.I.A. a few years ago at its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival and then watched it again at the Asian Pacific Film festival in LA. The experience was so much more meaningful in that setting because everyone was taking it in a completely different way. So, whether you are networking or watching the film, doing it in a way that is specific to your identity is a rewarding experience.

Don’t forget: film festivals are worth the cash.

I don’t see any cons. You make a film for people to see it. So festivals provide an environment to connect the work with the people. The pros are seeing the impact of your work on your audience. Also, the Q&As at festivals are very important. Hearing the questions the audience has after the credits roll help in understanding the impact you have. A lot of those things end up being things that you can talk about when you’re doing press and promoting your project on social media. You discover all these other avenues and a new language to talk about something that was before on paper and is now a living, breathing thing that has been interpreted.