Spring has sprung, and that means the spring film festival season is upon us. You might be attending your very first festival as a filmmaker, whether you’re there with a film in the fest, or just as an audience member.
My first film festival was SXSW in 2004. It was a bit overwhelming, and also more inspiring than I ever imagined. Very little of that had to do with the movies being shown, and everything to do with the creative people in attendance. No, not every fest has the same concentration of creativity as SXSW, but a small fest offers its own unique opportunities.
First tip: Talk to people. I’m trying hard to not use the word “network” here because I tend to think of that in the business world, and it feels a bit more transactional than it is for filmmakers. Let’s go with “Connect.” Connecting with filmmakers can be as simple as complimenting their work, or asking a question about production. If you have a film showing in multiple fests, there’s a good chance you’ll run into some of the same people again. Sharing those festival moments can lead to friendships, and perhaps collaborations.
Next: Take notes. Whether its notes about certain things you liked about a film, or someone you met at a screening, this can be super helpful later when you’re trying to remember the name of that movie with the DP you’d love to work with. And I can’t stress this enough: Take notes in the moment. I can’t count how many times I thought I’d be safe to wait until I was back in the hotel at night, to try to recall something I saw at 10AM, five screenings earlier. I generally try to jot down notes within ten minutes or so, and note anyone I might want to try to follow-up with, either at the festival or later on social media, etc.
Oh, and lastly, have fun. Burn out, especially at a bigger festival is real. Pace yourself, enjoy the parties, enjoy the camaraderie, but we’re talking about your first festival: you don’t have to try to meet everyone and do everything right out of the gate.
Film festivals are about more than the screenings: they’re about the spark that happens when creative people cross paths. Breathe it in, make a few genuine connections, and let the inspiration energize you and your projects.