I have never been to a film festival. Have you? What happens there?

Question

SixFootSexy · Accepted Answer

I have been to many film festivals from NYC to Austin to LA. They're all different, but they all have one thing in common. They show films. Many of the filmmakers are trying to get their film shown to network or get a distribution deal. Some of them are good, and some of the films are very, very bad.

Once I had a film that won an Emmy, however the festival decided to screen another film that was essentially soft porno before ours, literally everyone in the theatre walked out prior to our film showing but the director of the other film. There was probably 100 people in there prior.

Another film I was screening at a college festival had the projector bulb burn out without a replacement available halfway through our film. Of course there are many other positive experiences like one festival had a multi-course, farm-to-table meal for the filmmakers, then afterwards, they literally had a parade where we rode one of the floats. Of course there was also a red carpet event. Which was incredible.

The best encapsulation of the festival experience could be summed up in one SNL skit:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oTZvpydmsIs

Maybe_Maybe_not · Accepted Answer

I have, it's just when the cinemas around you are broadcasting movies according to a specific theme instead of the usual blockbusters.

I remember one festival in particular, a few years ago, Russian theme. I've watched there a documentary about the evolution of sex in USSR, it was fascinating lol, especially the part about their gov imposing a country wide sexual revolution in the 1920s. It was a disaster 😂

If you're interested, here's an article https://www.rbth.com/history/328265-russian-sexual-revolution

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

They are industry events where sales reps and distributors go to see and buy independent films, mostly for international markets, and studios will try to push upcoming releases. They give out a series of awards based on audience reactions that are supposed to help distributors choose the films they will buy, but really they've become very political and are about what films and stars movie studios want to push.

In their heyday in the 1970s you could go to the best festivals in the world for about $1,000. Nowadays it runs around $100,000 per person by the time you're done. Lots of skiing or beach activity depending on which one you go to, and Toronto is just, well, Toronto. Lots of food and stars.

Abbycado · Accepted Answer

Pretty sure they are just viewings of different films. Probably depends on the festival. Not sure. There should be info online about a specific one and what events there are.

CuriousMufuxka · Answer

I have not. Sometimes great films get an actual theater release!

Kaneki05 · Answer

I would rather go see a film I want to see than a festival which may make me watch something terrible so never have

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Yeah, smaller local ones. They show brandnew movies directly after their production and before their large-scale theater runs.

NathanDavis · Answer

I have not... but I am sure... they do show movies in them, lol

Still-alive · Answer

I never been to one either but i imagine films are shown there… while people watch them… im so smart!

I have never been to a film festival. Have you? What happens there?

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