Film festivals have sprouted up in communities large and small around the globe. What compelled the founders of some of North America's most distinguished festivals to create their events? What were their goals and expectations? Their successes and failures? Explore the genesis stories of 16 film festivals - hear the honest tales of heartache and passion - and discover the lasting impact of their events on their communities and the film industry. Interviews with the founders of: - AFIDocs - CineKink - Citizen Jane Film Festival - Cucalorus Film Festival - EcoFocus Film Festival - Edmonton International Film Festival - GI Film Festival - Holly Shorts Film Festival - Pasadena International Film Festival - Portland Film Festival - ReelShorts Film Festival - SF IndieFest - Sidewalk Film Festival - SXSW - Tribeca Film Festival - WAMMFest - Woods Hole Film Festival

Every year thousands of filmmakers like you unleash their newly completed movies upon the film festival circuit. Whether you're a first-timer with a comedy short or a seasoned veteran with a documentary feature, you all face the same set of problems. You all ask the same questions. You all want the pleasure of seeing your film play before a festival audience and gain the recognition it deserves. This is your book. Film Festival secrets will help you select the right festivals for your film, prepare your festival screener, save money on festival fees, create marketing collateral, and craft a screening sell out plan. And that's just the beginning.

The last decade has witnessed an explosion of interest in film festivals, with the field growing to a position of prominence within the space of a few short years. Film Festivals: History, Theory, Method, Practice represents a major addition to the literature on this topic, offering an authoritative and comprehensive introduction to the area. With a combination of chapters specifically examining history, theory, method and practice, it offers a clear structure and systematic approach for the study of film festivals. Offering a collection of essays written by an international range of established scholars, it discusses well-known film festivals in Europe, North America and Asia, but equally devotes attention to the diverse range of smaller and/or specialized events that take place around the globe. It provides essential knowledge on the origin and development of film festivals, discusses the use of theory to study festivals, explores the methods of ethnographic and archival research, and looks closely at the professional practice of programming and film funding. Each section, moreover, is introduced by the editors, and all chapters include useful suggestions for further reading. This will be an essential textbook for students studying film festivals as part of their film, media and cultural studies courses, as well as a strong research tool for scholars that wish to familiarize themselves with this burgeoning field.

Have you ever wondered...What's the deal with film festival programmers? What do they really think about your film? How do they make their decisions? And how can you improve your own film's odds of being picked? Why your film gets picked depends on a complex set of reasons, And it comes down to a single fact: film festivals, and programmers, aren't necessarily what you think! Jon Gann, founder of the DC Shorts Film Festival, questions his peers about their selection process, reactions to filmmaker behavior, industry concerns, and ultimately, how they create a festival experience that enriches both filmmakers and the audience. Insights by programmers from some of the world's leading festivals: - Ashland Independent Film Festival - Byron Bay International Film Festival - CineSlam/Pride of the Ocean - DC Shorts Film Festival - LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival - Napa Valley Film Festival - New York Film Festival - Prescott Film Festival - Razor Reel Fantastic Film Festival - Scottsdale Film Festival - Seattle International Film Festival - SILVERDOCS - Sonoma International Film Festival - Sundance Film Festival - Tallgrass Film Festival - Washington Jewish Film Festival

Chris Gore reveals how to get a film accepted and what to do after acceptance, from putting together a press kit to putting on a great party.

"Storytelling through entertainment is one of the most powerful forms of mass communication--informing, enlightening, and inspiring audiences to get involved. Filmmaking for Change shows artists how to produce movies that matter--from story ideas to production, film festivals to distribution."--Back cover.