There have been a lot of film festival conversations among filmmakers recently. At the SDF Convening in Durham, N.C., this month, a few of us developed our theories about what's happening and how to shift our distribution plans. In an industry that is constantly changing, it can be tough to keep up with everything you need to know as a filmmaker. That's why I appreciate events like the SDF Convening and workshops about filmmaking.
At the SDF Convening, Dan Brawley, Executive Director of the Cucalorus Film Foundation, was on a panel about immersive experiences at festivals. The conversation helped me think through ways we can make our own screenings special. I had a few epiphanies within the last month, thanks to all of the great conversations.
Brawley recently hosted a Film Festival Strategy Workshop, too. The workshop description said it was:
An in-depth workshop covering strategies for developing a successful film festival submission plan for your film. Brawley will lead attendees through a brief history of the film festival industry along with tips for increasing your chance for success when navigating FilmFreeway and the submission process. This 90-minute workshop will feature time for attending filmmakers to ask questions and get individualized insights related to submitting new films and developing a detailed plan for festival success.
In the workshop, Brawley went through a bit of film festival history. He talked about how there were about 30 film festivals in the 80s, 300 film festivals in the 1990s, and about 12,000 in North America today. There are more film festivals than ever, and things are shifting all the time. Sundance is moving to Boulder, Colo., in 2027, for example.
Cucalorus, a festival held in downtown Wilmington, N.C., each November, also started in the 90s. You can read more about their history at cucalorus.org. Don't forget, the extended deadline to submit your film to Cucalorus (on FilmFreeway) is June 29, 2026. Learn more about how to get involved with the festival here.
The workshop also touched on how to make the most of a film festival strategy. It was really affirming to hear his suggestions. I took notes and I've had a minute to let everything sink in.
Here are a few suggestions to share:
- Browse FilmFreeway to research the festivals.
- Read the festival descriptions, deadlines, etc. carefully.
- Visit the film festival websites and read everything carefully.
- Look for clues. Have they screened films like yours in previous years? Will your ideal audience be attending this particular festival? Do you have a unique connection to the film festival or city where it's hosted?
- Reach out to the film festival organizers—but not during big deadlines or the festival. Be kind. Think about it as a long-term relationship, not a transactional one.
- Check your settings on FilmFreeway so that they can reach you, if needed. Are you sending conversations to an old email address you never check? Fix that.
- Attend festivals you think are a good fit, even if your film isn't ready yet.
We also talked about cover letters, and where they can give you an edge (sometimes) when you're submitting a film. Electronic press kits can also help. So be sure you're uploading helpful things like production stills or movie posters to FilmFreeway. When it comes to total run times, try to focus on making the best film you can and not stress about the timecode.
The conversation about film festival strategy was really helpful. I was excited to step back and hear what's happening while simultaneously thinking about our strategy for Picturing Pigs, a short documentary I've been working on for years. I wanted to make sure my goals are calibrated with what's shifting in the industry.
Huge thanks to Dan Brawley and Cucalorus for making it happen!