The Importance of Film Festivals

Film festivals are a good way for upcoming and aspiring filmmakers to get noticed and show their work, which is a main benefit of the festivals. It can be a great way to meet other people in the industry, both professionals and those in the same position as them. This may open up future opportunites for them.

"Film Festivals provide moviegoers with the first exposure to cinema's best new films." Fauth. J and Dermansky. M (About.com, 2013). This allows audiences to keep up to date on upcoming films and filmmakers so can be very beneficial to both. Filmmakers can gain a following from festivals, if people like your films at festivals they will follow your work later on.

Jon Gann of Script Magazine stated that"Film festivals are a business to showcase outstanding films to established audiences, attract new audiences, and provide a solid platform for filmmakers to meet and connect with these audiences ad one another."(2013) which really sums up the importance of film festivals for filmmakers.The BBC said "Festivals are vital as they bring an audience to your film, give it exposure and promotion within its territory, and bring it to the attention of distributors /buyers and other producers." (2013).

McHugh"Each festival has Opening Night Galas and awards banquets that offer the opportunity to network under relaxed conditions." (film underground, 2013). Going up to people higher in the business can be very

Coop Cooper (Small Town Critic) has listed the importance of film festivals from his experience of attending them. 

Here Cooper talks about networking at film festivals, doing so can give filmmaker the oppportunity to share ideas and meet people who could be looking for talent to work with. The contacts they make could lead to further opportunities. 

When I considered what a film festival offers, how important it is and what you can gain from attending them. I thought networking and showcasing work was the most important aspect, from an aspiring filmmaker point of view this seemed the most useful part. I also thought gaining an audience or a new, wider audience was a really useful part to film festivals because then they stick with you when you make more. I did not think about how it increases tourism in the town where the festival is held but after reading that is something it results is it makes sense.

From the research I've conducted here and through the survey responses, I can see people have the same thoughts and experiences at film festivals and list the same advantages to them. The main things coming up is show casing work and networking. I think this makes the research valid as there have been a variety of sources including festival goers, news articles and the festivals themselves.

Bibliography

About.com (2013) Most Influential Film Festivals. Available at: http://worldfilm.about.com/od/filmfestivals/tp/filmfestivalhub.htm [Accessed: 14 March2013].

BBC (2013) Filmmaking Guide. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/filmmaking/guide/distribution/festivals-and-awards [Accessed: 14 March 2013].

Film Underground (2013) Networking at Film Festivals. Available at: http://www.filmunderground.com/175/Article/NWFS/Networking-at-Film-Festivals.htm [Accessed: 14 March 2013].

Script Mag (2013) Film Festivals 411: Why Did My Film Not Get In?. Available at: http://www.scriptmag.com/features/film-festivals-411-why-did-my-film-not-get-in [Accessed: 14 March 2013] 

Small Town Critic (2011) 10 Reasons Why Film Festivals are Important. Available at: http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/09/10-reasons-why-film-festivals-are-important/ [Accessed: 14 March 2013].