Film Festivals and the Independent Film

There’s been a lot of talk about studio films versus independent films. But what exactly is the difference? Basically, an independent film or “indie” is a film that is financed outside the studio system. They used to be called “Art House Films.” Generally, they are on the lower budget side but not always: case in point – The English Patient (1996) was an independent film, meaning it was financed by independent money outside the studio system. Independent films usually tackle edgier subject matter outside the normal, mainstream, high-concept, and commercial fare of the studios. They offer actors and directors a chance they wouldn’t normally get from a studio film to showcase their talents, and, most times, the filmmakers have artistic control over their end product.

Most independent films you see at film festivals are financed by individuals via credit cards, family, and friends, all with the hope of getting a distribution deal at some of the major film festivals. For a lot of these independent films, the work begins after the film is in the can. The producer and director strategize on the best distributors (a company that will release the film in various marketplaces) to target and film festivals to submit the film. They will have to prepare promotional material to market the film and strategize not only this film but also how to get their next film on the boards. It is also important for filmmakers to use their film to promote themselves and meet industry professionals all with an eye toward elevating their careers.

Goals for the independent filmmaker are:
• To obtain a distribution deal
• To gain attention for the film and filmmaker
• To secure representation from agents and/or managers
• Notoriety so filmmakers are considered for other projects by independent production companies, studios and/or networks
• To gain financing for the filmmaker’s next project
• To win an Academy Award, Independent Spirit Award, or film festival award, which will help create buzz

Film Festivals – So Many of Them to Choose From, What do I Do?
While film festivals have been around for a long time, in recent years, you can’t drive through a city without seeing a poster for an upcoming “International” Film Festival. This gives independent films and the filmmakers behind them a great opportunity to be showcased. A lot of these festivals are attended by industry insiders and thereby give filmmakers a chance to network in a more intimate way with them, thus helping them get their foot in the door with agencies, studios and production companies. There are five major film festivals independent filmmakers should focus on first before moving on to other festivals:

• Cannes Film Festival
• Sundance Film Festival
• Toronto Film Festival
• Berlin Film Festival
• Venice Film Festival

Those festivals have very strict guidelines and some require premieres – meaning you can’t have your film in another festival before it appears at that festival first. So filmmakers have to strategize and juggle the deadlines of all the festivals based upon the ones they get accepted to and which ones require premieres.

For short films, the following festivals are important because industry professionals such as agents, managers, producers, executives and distributors attend these festivals to scout for new talent:

• Sundance Film Festival – Park City, Utah
• Festival de Cannes – Cannes, France (Short Film Corner)
• Palm Springs Festival of Short Films – Palm Springs, California
• Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand, France
• Aspen Shorts Film Festival – Aspen, Colorado
• Toronto Woldwide Short Film Festival, Toronto, Canada
• International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Germany
• Short Shorts Film Festival, Tokyo, Japan
• Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, Sydney, Australia

While these are the major festivals, don’t hesitate to enter your film in other festivals around the country. Check out who is behind those festivals – who comes to them, and what kind of industry panels, seminars, and gatherings each festival sponsors. Festivals can get expensive so plan accordingly and do your homework on what festivals make sense for your film.

Since 2000, Monika Skerbelis has been programming films for the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival. Prior to that, Monika was a studio executive for 10 years at Universal and worked at 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures.

Together, they wrote the critically acclaimed book, I liked it, Didn’t Love It: Screenplay Development from the Inside Out and founded ESE Film Workshops Online, which offers a 4-week course, Maneuvering Film Festivals. This summer, ESE will present a brand new 6-week online workshop for UCLA Extension called Film Festivals From The Inside Out.