A film festival is an annual event that showcases new independent or newly shot films, showcases established or undiscovered talent, established and upcoming filmmakers, film students, and films from around the world. Festivals usually have several venues for screenings. Eligible filmmakers do their best to get their film noticed in hopes of getting a distribution contract, positive press reviews and a presentation of their film, or showing quality acting and directing. Festivals are a great place to start a new independent film project and discover new talent.
Festivals also provide an opportunity for filmmakers to make useful contacts and get feedback from film fans. Some festivals offer educational and informational programs, holding press conferences for students and locals, hands-on workshops on directing and workshops on scriptwriting, music copyrights, acting, etc. The educational component of the festival allows potential funders to understand exactly what the money and services they are investing in the film industry are spending on. Studios see the advantage of major film festivals in being able to advertise their new film there before it is released. Countries see the advantage of film festivals as a way to advertise their region and to draw attention before films are nominated for an Academy Award in the United States.
Another fresh addition to festivals is the integration of new media technologies and the screening of the latest innovations in digital technology and mobile content. More and more festivals are hosting pitchfests and roundtables, where writers and directors can present their projects or listen to others and talk to film industry professionals in a small circle.
The mission of most film festivals is to draw attention to those films that have unique artistic value and to directors from around the world. They give filmmakers and audiences alike the opportunity to enjoy an eclectic range of films they wouldn’t see anywhere else.
Official film festivals began to appear in the early 1930s. They arose out of people’s desire to enjoy going to the movies together to see films by unknown and famous directors, to discover world cinema and broaden their horizons in a relaxed environment in a very short time (3-12 days on average). The intense atmosphere of the festivals, when the days are filled with films, press conferences, buffet meetings, can’t be compared with anything else! There are opportunities for new connections and acquaintances, intellectual debates and conversations. As long as there are films, there will be festivals. We can only speculate what the next stage of their evolution will be, but one thing is clear, thanks to the Internet, the world is getting smaller. And as the number of films produced by studios decreases, the demand for independent cinema begins to grow, and where better place to show than a film festival, no matter where it is located?
Usually festivals are organized by someone who dreams of having a film festival in their city, or it could be a film society, a local organization of independent film enthusiasts, the city’s film promotion department to attract tourists to their city and nurture new local filmmakers, or a nonprofit arts organization. Most film festivals are non-profit and stay afloat thanks to sponsors. Festivals like Sundance, AFI Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival receive funding from corporate sponsors like Audi, Southwest Airlines, Hewlett-Packard, American Express, American Airlines, Microsoft, Apple, etc. Other film festivals may receive some financial support from the government.
Most festivals are non-profit organizations and most countries also have an equivalent of this charitable status. They are organized and run by a group of tireless and dedicated volunteers, and run by a board of directors who can bring in additional staff to help with ongoing tasks.