If you’re going to a film festival, you MUST carry around these film festival essentials to make the most out of the event.
Aside from having a lot of fun and meeting a lot of awesome people, our primary goal as filmmakers when we go to festivals is to sell our films or ideas. If you have that goal in mind, you will certainly need the following to increase your chances of getting your film bought or green lighted:
PRESS KIT
No filmmaker should go to a film festival without a press kit. Your press kit should contain a copy of your trailer, a DVD screener, stills, FAQ, write-ups, synopsis, and other necessary items that film buyers or journalists would need from you.
POSTCARD
If you’re to bring only one thing to a film festival, make it film postcards. Here are the reasons why.
BUSINESS CARDS
It’s a waste of opportunity if you’ve met someone really important yet you don’t exchange business cards. Handing a business card shows that you are not a newbie; It shows that you somehow know the ropes and that you really mean business.
Writing down your number on any piece of paper is just a no-no. Here are some very creative business cards for you to get inspiration from.
DVD SCREENERS
It is not everyday that a LOT of film buyers and programmers are in one place at once. And in those rare moments, you cannot not have a DVD screener with you! These people are very busy and they’ve seen tons of wonderful work. If you have no screener to give them, chances are they will just look for the next best one.
Enjoy the film festivals you’ll be attending but don’t forget, you go to these festivals with a mission. We can help you reach your goals with our custom printing and merchandise. Visit our website to know your options.
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD/vinyl and merch company in LA.
