Assignment role of film festivals within film industry.
Mark
assignment brief - the role of film festivals within the film industry
Conducting research using various sources such as internet, library, interviews, textbooks and journals I will outline the role that film festivals have in helping finance and distribution within the film industry:
Film festivals are events which usually occur annually for the purpose of promoting or showcasing a variety of motion pictures. The specifications of these motion pictures include independent cinema, experimental, competitive and mainstream cinema. Raindance is an indepedant film festival which aims to nurture, support and promote independent films and filmmakers from the UK and around the world outlines the importance of the film festival to film makers and the impact film festivals such as Raindance can have(2012, online) “festival programmers are vital to film makers and more important than studio heads. The strategy as a film maker is important to understand that the film festival is the portal to developing your film further." This quote outlines the importance of using film festivals as a tool to showcase your work and gain exposure to your film, Raindance in particular is a platform for film makers to gain exposure to Indepedant films which may not be exposed at other UK film festivals.
The funding sources for film festivals include national and local government sponsorship schemes, independent film networks and local councils. Chris Gore (Online - 2001) states that “The implementation of this funding helps to organize film festivals independently in the United Kingdom with the Raindance and Sundance film festivals and worldwide festivals such as Cannes and Venice which generate huge revenue from showcasing critically acclaimed films.” The core element of my research into film festivals establishes that the cost of media and film production is ever increasing and the need to attract the audience is also increasing, film festivals are a tool which helps audiences to receive films in the correct way and although this is extra costs for the budget, film festivals help connect with audiences. (Gore, C – 2001 – Film festival Survival Guide)
The origins of the film festival within the film industry began during the Italian neo-realism era of cinema during the 1930’s in Venice. Nigel Watson (Online, 2012) states the importance of film festivals for securing deals for film. “Film festivals attract a high calibre of artists and are the ideal location for film makers to attract attention from a range of companies." This outlines that film festivals are the more suitable platform for attracting attention for your film, there is no significant alternative to film festival promotion.(Watson, N – 2012 – Sense and sensationalism of film festivals.)
In a period where the silent films were prominent and films with commentary were being developed, the role of the film festival helped to increase consumer awareness of low budget films and this significantly developed the motion picture industry, this is outlined by Christopher Holland (Online - 2009) who states the increasing benefits of film festivals for film makers, “film festivals are the most important tool for promoting a film, self promotion via online means are not as accessable." (Holland, C – 2009 – Film festival secrets)this follows on from my previous comment that film festivals are the most important tool for promoting a film, the difficulty with self promotion is the vast amount of information available on the internet which can make it difficult to promote a film and market the film.
This furthers the importance of film festivals and The role of the film festival which has been pivotal throughout the world, generating revenue for production companies and offering cash prizes to the winner of the film festival which is a huge incentive for independent film makers and also offers many people the opportunity to see films which they would not be able to see at theatres or cinemas, continuing with Raindance, as an indepedant film festival is has helped to promote many film makers such as Ken Loach and Anton Corbijn.
Within my research I have constructed a questionnaire and survey to establish the quantitative research within film festivals such as the ratio of men to women who attend film festivals and also the largest age range which attend film festivals. This was significantly important to establish the largest audiences which actively seek new films and are engaged with the media. From my research portfolio folder, I collated 52 surveys and the results were 23 out of the 52 respondants were female which is 44%, 29 were male which is 56% so the proportion was more male than females. Out of the different age categories 5-16, 16-24, 24-35, 35-45, 45-60 and 60+, the results were as follows: the 5-16 age group had no respondants, 16 - 24 was 9 people out of 52 people which is 17%, 24 - 35 group was 16 people out of 52 people which is 30%, 35 - 45 age group was 20 people which is 38%, 45 - 60 age group was 5 people which is 10% and finally the 60+ age group was 3 people which is 5%. This shows that the highest proportion of the 52 people I reviewed were between the 35 - 45 age group and Male.
However my surveys were limited in their demographic as I was surveying only within the Bradford and Leeds area mainly, therefore in future to improve my results and the quality of my survey I would collate a survey around the UK, this would be a more accurate reflection of the attendees of film festivals. My survey was limited and the results should not be interpreted as reflecting a large proportion of the population as they only reflect a small target audience, during collecting results for my surveys I experienced various difficulties including many people who did not want to answer the survey, did not have an interest in the survey or did not feel that they were aware enough to answer questions on film festivals. My method of collecting results was random sampling so often I would have people who did not want to answer, in future I could choose to target sample which would give better results. Also I could choose to survey more people, had I surveyed 100+ people my results would have been a more accurate reflection, however I was limited in time to survey 100+ participants.
Importantly although my results outline that more males attend film festivals this should should not be assumed accross the world as Film
festivals will have a particular code which they adhere to which specifies who
is eligible for the film festival entry; this could include only women allowed
or only professional film makers. Roger Smith (1984, Online) expresses the
relationship between the audience and the film maker and the impact of film
festivals, “film festivals can be marketed at either male or female audiences depending on the style of films, film festivals range in their attendees." This outlines the difficulty of establishing whether there are more female or male attendees, the nature of the type of festival means it can have certain boundaries.(Smith, R - 1984 - Film festivals and audience
reception)
Moving away from age ranges and gender in film festivals and towards time, The particular time of year of the festival is important as there are sections within the year which denote how well a film will perform, Todd Oldham (Online – 2013) for example states how film festivals near Oscar award time will be significant to increase a films prospects of gaining awareness, “Amour directed by Michael Haneke was awarded the Palme d’or and due to the consumer awareness and awareness from the film academy of the united states amour was awarded best foreign language Oscar in 2013." This is a perfect example of an independant film which has had unparralled success, the success at Cannes lead to a larger consumer market for Amour. The success of Amour reinforces the idea that film festivals can prove to be life changing for film makers, equally Buzkashi boys by Sam French and Arel Nazr was originally shown at the Raindance film festival which again reinforces the power of Raindance Film Festival.(Oldham, T – 2013 – Sundance film festival)
Furthering the support of Film
festivals which can be categorized into multiple branches from competitive
specialized, competitive, non-competitive and documentary short films. Film festivals are now more available with
advancements of technology, films can be edited simply with online tools rather
than celluloid formats and the ease of online editing ensures that uploading to
film festivals is simple. This is outlined by Richard Porton (Online – 2009) who states that the
process of entering films has become much more simplified, “Submitting film has
become simpler due to the low cost and wide range of formats that films can be
uploaded from including super 8, 16mm, 32mm, VHS, Beta or DVD.” (Porton, R –
2009 – on film festivals)This is a further reason why film festivals are the best platform for promotion, the ever lower costs and wide range of formats ensures that uploading a film to a festival is convenient.
Additionally a further benefit of film festivals is it's ability to boost sales figures and consumer awareness for films, the list of films which were shown at film festivals and then later went on to become widely acclaimed include Pulp Fiction, Taxi Driver and Apocalypse Now. Film makers have the ability to apply their craft with various digital or celluloid film formats and the exposure from film festivals to media moguls and academies increases global awareness, this is outlined by Dina Iordanova (Online - 2010) who outlines the development of film festivals “The huge role that the film festival plays is acting as a developing tool for an emerging director or artist, for example Steven Soderbergh." (Iordanova, D – 2010 – film festival yearbook) Steven Soderbergh who became established with Erin Brockovich and out of sight, created a film called sex, lies and videotapes which benefit from the success of being shown around the film festival circuit. Steve Soderbergh's success has been an inspiration for film makers without lots of money who want to promote their films, film festivals helped to raise to give him a breakthrough.
Moving towards the distribution and marketing of a film towards a film festival.
The production and distribution of a film:
The director creates the concept for his film and crafts a screenplay for a motion picture film, the huge benefits of promoting this screenplay to film festivals increases the chances of the production getting purchased by an agency. When the distributors finalize the production and send it to the studio, the best form of distribution would be to travel with the cast or your agent to promote the film. The distribution company will determine the amount of copies of the film to be produced, the final process is at the theatre where a contract is exchanged between the director, Production Company and theatre who decide how long the film should be shown for and the financial plan. Within this process the film festival acts as the promotional function tool and helps to act as the connection between director and studio, without the film festival there would be no real marketing for the film other than online viral media which is only successful on sleeper films or summer blockbusters such as the dark knight due to the huge awareness that it was Christopher Nolan’s last Batman.
The Cannes
film festival guide which is an academic text books for film scholars explores
the need for film festivals for professional and beginner film makers,
(2006 - online), “film
festivals are integral to the process of film distribution and film promotion
and help to act as the spinning cog for the film industry." This is due to the large revenue
generated from film festivals which is beneficial to the artist, the production and
the film councils which operate.(Craig, B - 2006 - Cannes a festival film
guide)
However there are areas that film festivals cannot also be sucsessful which is something which I discussed with Rob Speranza from South YorkShire film network. Film Festivals are succsessful platoforms for emerging film makers but film makers who do not have success at film festivals will have to try self promotional tools anyway such as uploading their films online via a website.
Furthermore Nigel Watson notes the limitations of film festivals(2012 - online) “film festivals despite their ability to attract large audiences and crowd members have lost numbers due to the increase in many people using streaming services, DVD’s and television broadcasts to see film premieres." Importantly this is due to the cheaper alternative method as opposed to travelling to festivals or paying entry fees which to some festivals can be extremely expensive.
In conclusion despite the high costs of certain film festivals they are the most important tool for emerging film makers, self promotion is very competitive and gaining exposure is far less succsessful than showcasing a film at a festival.
In conclusion despite the high costs of certain film festivals they are the most important tool for emerging film makers, self promotion is very competitive and gaining exposure is far less succsessful than showcasing a film at a festival.
Within this
portfolio outline I have investigated the quantitative element of film
festivals and the audience demographic, I have provided opinions from film
critics and established film festival moguls and I have analysed the connection
between independent and mainstream film distribution, I will now collate this
information and produce an 800 word report on the strengths, weaknesses of my
research methods, validity, reliability, logistics and recommendations for
future research methods. I will also assess the outcome of my results and
analyse accuracy, fitness for purpose, ethical issues and recommendations for
future changes of modifications.
800 word analysis: unit 2(L04) -
Analysis of research Methods.
Analysis of
film festival research methods:
In this
analysis of my film festival assignment I am exploring the research methods
which I implemented into my essay. Conducting research using a variety of
resources such as the internet, libraries and video footage with interviews
from film critics and stars. The analysis of my research methods includes the
validity, honesty, reliability and logistics of my research and identifying
ways in which my research could be improved. The focus includes fitness for
purpose, ethical issues and feedback from primary research.
Within my
research methods I created questionnaires and surveys which I uploaded to
social networking sites such as twitter and Facebook and also sent the
questionnaires to family members in order to achieve the largest possible
target audience. The benefit of these research methods was the quick and cheap
system in which I could collect new research and collate the research which did
not require financial support. However due to the limited numbers of people who answered the survey the result was only 52 people answered, the largest proportion being Males between the 35 - 45 age range.
The
advantages of an experiment for a research method is the cause and effect can
be readily established and determined, however the weaknesses include the lack
of conclusiveness and practical limitations in social research for example my
research involved data which represented large portions of society and the
great ease of producing questionnaires helped to make collecting research far
simpler, although collecting large enough groups of information proved to be
challenging as my sample was only based on selective sampling and did not
represent the United Kingdom as a whole.
The
alternative route for my research methods would have been to carry out an
experiment or a series of surveys in multiple countries or areas so as to be
able to signify that the research was not only a valid to a select sample but
was easily contrasted with a larger target audience. The limitations to my
research methods were the lack of financial support which I had and the
logistics of only being able to upload my survey to a small percentage of the
population.
The
limitations of my research was the inability to create statistics that
represented a large target audience as although I sent my surveys to a large number
of people I did not receive as much feedback as I had wanted. Logistically
questionnaires and surveys are a high quality form of research with high
accuracy with numerical data; however my research methods would have been
improved with a larger response from the target audience.
My main
limitation to statistical research was lack of financial muscle to market and
distribute the surveys other than to social networking and organization sites
such as survey monkey. A recommendation for future research methods could be an
experiment in which I validate reasons ‘why people dislike film festivals’ and
if the reasons for people not attending film festival is due to social factors
rather than cultural issues.
My survey was
collected as a sample survey and was systematic in its design which I aimed to
achieve finding out the highest portion of people who attended film festivals.
The results collected were not a complete representation of the United Kingdom
as a whole and only show insight into the area of Yorkshire. A possible
recommendation for future research methods would be to carry out a social
experiment to investigate whether males enjoy films more and therefore would go
to more film festivals.
The success
of my research was the concise, quick and clear approach that questionnaires
and surveys can achieve, however the disadvantage was the lack of depth to the
answers from questionnaires and the lack of validity of not being able to
measure the response from the questionnaire. The future solution and amendment
of this could be to introduce more quantitative research methods and conduct
interviews at film festivals asking questions ’such as who do you think most
attends film festivals?’ and ’what do you want from a film festival?’.
Quantitative
data requires strict parameters in order to validate research, whereas
qualitative data does not impose strict regulations and instead seeks to study a subject’s
behaviour and ideas as naturally as possible which is a far more accurate
approach as the participant is not under stress or manipulation.
My research
methods into film festival included a range of sources including
academic
journals such Cannes a history of film festivals, Christopher Holland
film festival secrets and Richard Porton on film festivals. My research
method also includes data from interviews which
I will continue to link to my blog media playbook and I have also
uploaded my
surveys and questionnaires to my blog for research evidence.
My research methods lacked a big enough target demographic; although my peers, tutors and family received the questionnaire I did not have a huge sample. To improve my research methods in future I will conduct interviews at a film festival and conduct higher levels of primary research. On my blog I will upload videos of film festivals for research into why film festivals are as integral to the development of a film as they help to increase consumer awareness. Although my method of research was accurate as my questionnaires were clear and concise, I did not receive the feedback as I needed to have more promotional material for my survey.
A future recommendation for my research method would be to go to local film clubs or film school and hand out surveys. The research process which I undertook to gather information included me visiting libraries and searching for academic books, reading online sites such a film festival blogs and all of the Raindance information which my tutor uploaded to my HND blog. Furthermore I created surveys and questionnaires and emailed them to people via my Hotmail and uploaded them to sites such as Twitter and Facebook. My final research method was researching interviews from media sites such as YouTube which I upload to the blog to present research material.
My research methods lacked a big enough target demographic; although my peers, tutors and family received the questionnaire I did not have a huge sample. To improve my research methods in future I will conduct interviews at a film festival and conduct higher levels of primary research. On my blog I will upload videos of film festivals for research into why film festivals are as integral to the development of a film as they help to increase consumer awareness. Although my method of research was accurate as my questionnaires were clear and concise, I did not receive the feedback as I needed to have more promotional material for my survey.
A future recommendation for my research method would be to go to local film clubs or film school and hand out surveys. The research process which I undertook to gather information included me visiting libraries and searching for academic books, reading online sites such a film festival blogs and all of the Raindance information which my tutor uploaded to my HND blog. Furthermore I created surveys and questionnaires and emailed them to people via my Hotmail and uploaded them to sites such as Twitter and Facebook. My final research method was researching interviews from media sites such as YouTube which I upload to the blog to present research material.
Methods of research:
Research: I am conducting research, using a number of different sources - internet,libraries, archives, interviews, text books for the criteria of Unit 2: LO1, into the role of the film festival
within the Film industry and the types of films that are selected for screening. One of my research methods is Questionnaires which I have uploaded to various forums online including student-films-online.com available at - http://www.studentfilms.com/threads/film-festival-questionnaire.20650/
As a part of my research portfolio the criteria states that I must use a range of sources, this is an internet source which features Elliot Grove the creator of Raindance film festival talking about the impact of Cannes on the BBC, this video shows that Cannes is still a viable film festival for audiences.
Importance of film festivals.
Roger Mayer director of downtown film festival explains the importance of film festivals and Stephanie Jones outlines how film festivals are very beneficial to the independent film maker and the up and coming actors. This is further video evidence of research methods into the importance of film festivals.
Film Festival Assignment Research
Filmfestival research
Definition of a film festival:
Britannica encyclopaedia (2013) [Online] outlines that Film festivals are
an annual occasion, for the purpose of evaluating new or outstanding motion
pictures. Sponsored by national or local governments, industry, service
organizations, experimental film groups, or individual promoters, the festivals
provide an opportunity for filmmakers, distributors, critics, and other
interested persons to attend film showings and meet to discuss current artistic
developments in film. At the festivals distributors can purchase films that
they think can be marketed successfully in their own countries.
Case study of a director who started in the film festival circuit
(Online, 2013): Steven Soderbergh –
Steven Soderbergh began his passion for film making when he enrolled in
the university's film animation class and began making short 16-millimeter
films with second-hand equipment, one of which was the short film
"Janitor". After graduating high school, he went to Hollywood, where
he worked as a freelance editor. His time there was brief and, shortly after,
he returned home and continued making short films and writing scripts.
Soderbergh’s major break was during a period whereby he subscribed to
entering his directorial debut into Cannes film festival, Sex, Lies and videotape
made in 1989 was a film that earned Soderbergh the Cannes film festival Palme D’or
and the independent spirit for best director, Sex, lies and videotape revolutionized
the independent film movement, the film was a breakout for Miramax which was a decade
old at the time. Sex, lies and videotape also won the audience award at the Sundance
film festival and helped to raise awareness to the importance of the film
festival network.
Sex, lies, and videotape not only kick-started Soderbergh’s career but
provided a gust of wind in the sails of the then budding American independent
film movement, this is outlined by Pajiba (Online, 2011) Indie film had been a
driving force in the 1960s and 70s with companies like BBS (Five Easy Pieces)
and Roger Corman’s company, which had given a start to so many now famous
filmmakers (including Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme,
Martin Scorsese, and James Cameron). Yet, through the efforts of some of those
same filmmakers brought up with the indie spirit, most notably George Lucas and
Steven Spielberg, the blockbuster became a rival form to the auteurist art
cinema. When auteur art films like Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate (1980) and
Coppola’s one from the Heart (1982) tanked at the box office, studios became no
longer willing to put their faith in the director. The blockbuster had become a
much more cost effective proposition, thanks to its ability to both capture a
wide demographic and spawn sequels. Soderbergh changed all that, for better and
for worse, sex and lies and videotape highlighted the power of marketing a film
and the success that can be achieved from film festivals.
The importance of film festivals within the industry:
Film festivals are
integral to the circulation of a film as outlined by the research department of
the University of Toronto (Online, 2013) “film festivals are very important
within the industry as they are central to increasing the marketing of a film,
film festivals help connect the film maker to the target market, especially in
the current film festival era whereby the industry is shifting from a mass
market audience to hyper targeted audiences. The system is not dominated by one
country and film makers have the ability to aim their film at any country.” This
explains that film festivals are changing platform and it is important for
filmmakers to be aware of that change.
Another important question to ask is does critical success in film
festivals guarantee a career in the industry: An online article by script mag
outlines what film festivals can do for your career, (online, 2012) “WHAT A FILM FESTIVAL CAN DO FOR YOUR CAREER:
With the
digital age, filmmakers no longer need festivals to get their work seen, but
incorporating festivals into your distribution
strategy is wise. Film festival success allows a buzz to be created
about your film, get people in the industry’s attention to your work, and allow
you to network with other filmmakers and screenwriters in person.
However,
don’t get hung up on larger festivals like Sundance as the be all and end all.
There are countless film festivals
around the globe that will help raise awareness of not only your film, but also
your talent.
As in any
area of this industry, rejection is part of the process. Just because you
didn’t get into a top festival, doesn’t mean your film isn’t good. It could be
as simple as scheduling conflicts, or too many films submitted in that genre.
Some
questions to consider:
- Are you submitting it to the right festivals for your film?
- Are you waiting until the end of the submission process when the programmers are exhausted from watching thousands of films, or are you taking advantage of catching a programmer’s eye by submitting early?
- If you created a short film, is it the proper length for convenient programming, or is it too long to easily be placed in between features?
Most
importantly, if a film gets great reviews at a festival, even a short film, it
will add credibility to your voice and possibly find you an agent or a manager.
WHAT
MAKES A GOOD FILM FESTIVAL?
Size
and focus: Some
small town festivals shouldn’t be overlooked, especially ones near large
cities. While many executives flock to Sundance, Toronto, and Austin, some like
the thrill of finding a diamond in the rough in unexpected, more tranquil
places. Also consider the quantity of films being shown. No one can watch 100
films. Less is more.
Potential
of exposure of your film: Quality exposure is as important as quantity. Make sure press will be
at the event to review your film or to interview you. PR is critical.
Special
events: Be sure
the festival offers more than just films. Often times, the parties, panels,
discussions, Q&A’s, and networking events are where your best connections
are made.
Networking
potential:
Research to see if quality executives and filmmakers attend or if people just
send their films in and don’t bother going to the event personally.
Face-to-face meetings are the best way to make lasting connections.
Organization
of the moviegoer’s experience: Films should be organized by genre, venue, and/or country
of origin. Maps should be provided for different venues, as well as places to
easily find food and restrooms. If the moviegoer is happy and well-cared for,
their viewing experience will be that much better.
FILM
FESTIVAL STRATEGY:
How to
find the right one?
Consider
the location: Can
you afford to get there? Expenses add up quickly the more festivals you submit
to and attend. Weigh out what is the best bang for your buck in terms of how
each festival can benefit your career and connections.
Politics: Many film festivals have politics
surrounding them. Some have policies about being the chosen “premiere” of your
film. You can unknowingly put yourself out of the running by entering and
showing at a smaller, unknown festival. Be aware of what the submission
guidelines are for all you apply to.
Industry
connections and distribution: If you’re looking to connect with agents, managers or
distributors, be sure those festivals are well attended by executives.
Prizes
and recognition:
Does the festival have good prizes? Who are the people sitting on the juries?
Factor these in if prizes and networking are important to you.
How
many do I enter?
That depends on your budget and ability to attend. Most festivals have a
submission fee, but there are some valuable festivals that waive the fees. Some
filmmakers are even creative enough to reach out to programmers without paying
a fee at all!
What
do I do once I get accepted?
Hire a
PR firm: They will
get the buzz going about your film, set up interviews with press before, during
and after the festival, and secure invitations to special events.
Creating
marketing materials:
As an independent filmmaker, it’s essential you are comfortable marketing your
film. You’ll need a marketing strategy
and materials to promote your film, such as business cards, movie posters and a
press kit.
Build
a website for your film: Distributors and executives need a place to go to learn more about
you and your film. A Facebook page or Twitter account isn’t enough. Create a dedicated website for your
project. It can be either a site solely for the film chosen for the festival or
a site containing all of your projects, highlighting the festival film.
What
do I do at the festival?
·
Network. Network. Network.
·
Bring screeners for the press to
view in the press office.
·
Distribute your marketing materials
everywhere you can.
·
Have a party and go to parties.
·
Invite everyone to your film’s
screening.
·
Give away extra tickets to your
screening.
·
Invite press, reviewers, and
distributors to your screening.
·
Offer to do a Q&A at the
screening with the crowd.
·
Make sure you have a new project in
the works to talk about!
Although film festivals are a successful way to market your film in the
digital age, it does not guarantee success in landing a job in the industry
immediately, as a filmmaker it is important to remember that rejection and
scheduling conflicts are the main reason why a successful film does not
necessarily garnish critical acclaim, if too many films are submitted within
the same genre this can also decrease the chances of a filmmaker being
selected.
As a filmmaker it is important to outline and focus on the following
aspects:
Targeting the right festivals; - Film festivals range widely in format,
these different forms of film festivals include –
Competitive feature film: Competitive film festivals will display films
which are accredited and often likely to be nominated for awards, Christopher
Holland (2008) outlines the different film festivals which are competitive,
“Competitive film festivals are attributed to successful directors and
acclaimed producers, these festivals include Berlin, Cairo, Cannes, Goa,
Karlovy Vary, Locarno, Mar del Plata, Montreal, Moscow, San Sebastian,
Shanghai, Tokyo, Venice, and Warsaw are accredited by the International
Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) in the category of
competitive feature films.” The list of films which are showed at competitive
film festivals would be publicised and prestigious for example with Cannes film
festival the films are critically acclaimed and commercially widely available,
similarly with film festivals such as Venice and Berlin, Cannes reputation is
built on the history of French Film and the image of French cinema. Cannes is
popular and attended by film stars and critics alike and is a popular
destination for producers to launch their newest works, for example Cannes film
festival (2013) [Online] outlines the films which will be competing at this
year’s event:
Opening Film
Baz LUHRMANN THE GREAT GATSBY
(H.C.) 2h22
Valeria BRUNI-TEDESCHI UN
CHÂTEAU EN ITALIE 1h44
Ethan COEN, Joel COEN INSIDE
LLEWYN DAVIS 1h45
Arnaud des PALLIÈRES MICHAEL
KOHLHAAS 2h05
Arnaud DESPLECHIN JIMMY P.
(PSYCHOTHERAPY OF A PLAINS INDIAN) 2h
Amat ESCALANTE HELI 1h45
Asghar FARHADI LE PASSÉ (THE
PAST) 2h10
James GRAY THE
IMMIGRANT 2h
Mahamat-Saleh HAROUN GRIGRIS
1h40
JIA Zhangke TIAN ZHU
DING
(A TOUCH OF SIN) 2h15
KORE-EDA Hirokazu SOSHITE
CHICHI NI NARU
(LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON) 2h
Abdellatif KECHICHE LA VIE
D’ADЀLE
(BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR) 3h07
Takashi MIIKE WARA NO
TATE
(SHIELD OF STRAW) 2h05
François OZON JEUNE &
JOLIE
(YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL) 1h30
Alexander PAYNE NEBRASKA 1h50
Roman POLANSKI LA
VÉNUS À LA FOURRURE 1h30
Steven SODERBERGH BEHIND THE
CANDELABRA 1h58
Paolo SORRENTINO LA
GRANDE BELLEZZA
(THE GREAT BEAUTY) 2h30
Alex VAN WARMERDAM BORGMAN 1h58
Nicolas WINDING REFN ONLY GOD
FORGIVES 1h30
Closing Film -
Jerome SALLE ZULU (H.C.) 1h50
UN Certain Regard:
Opening Film -
Sofia COPPOLA THE BLING RING 1h30
Hany ABU-ASSAD
OMAR 1h37
Adolfo ALIX JR. DEATH MARCH
1h45
Ryan COOGLER
FRUITVALE STATION 1st film 1h30
Claire DENIS LES
SALAUDS 2h
Lav DIAZ
NORTE, HANGGANAN NG KASAYSAYAN
(NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY) 4h
James FRANCO AS I LAY DYING 2h
Valeria GOLINO MIELE 1st
film 1h36
Alain GUIRAUDIE L'INCONNU DU LAC
1h32
Flora LAU BENDS 1st film 1h32
Rithy PANH L'IMAGE MANQUANTE 1h30
Diego QUEMADA-DIEZ LA JAULA DE
ORO 1st film 1h42
ANONYMOUS 2h14
Chloe ROBICHAUD
SARAH PRÉFÈRE LA COURSE
(SARAH WOULD RATHER RUN)
1st film 1h34
Rebecca ZLOTOWSKI GRAND
CENTRAL 1h35
Out of Competition -
J.C CHANDOR ALL IS LOST 1h45
Guillaume CANET BLOOD TIES 2h24
Midnight Screenings
Amit KUMAR MONSOON
SHOOTOUT 1st film 1h22
Johnnie TO BLIND DETECTIVE 2h07
Jerry Lewis Tribute
Daniel NOAH MAX ROSE 1h26
Special Screenings
Stephen FREARS MUHAMMAD ALI'S
GREATEST FIGHT 1h3
Roberto MINERVINI STOP
THE POUNDING HEART 1h38
Roman POLANSKI WEEK
END OF A CHAMPION 1h33
James TOBACK SEDUCED AND
ABANDONED 1h35
Cinéfondation:
Taisia IGUMENTSEVA OTDAT
KONCI 1st film
(BITE THE DUST) 1h41
This is a comprehensive list of films from the Cannes festival and
ranges from art house films to critically acclaimed films such as the Great
Gatsby which stars Leonardo Di Caprio, the huge prestige of this film will be a
huge attraction for film critics as the film is tipped to win many awards.
Experimental films:
Experimental American Film began as an art movement in the 1950’s, as
outlined by Chris Gore (2009) , “The movement began in San Francesco heavily
influenced by the German Expressionists F.W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, Robert Wiene,
the Soviet Constructivists Alexander Dovzhenko, Sergei Eisenstein, Vsevolod
Pudovkin and the early French film makers Georges Melies, Emile Cohl, Ferdinand
Zecca, experimental work in the 1950s and 1960s matured out of a yearning to
expand beyond the rules of orthodox narrative and invent a new language for
film. Indifferent to the labels of "avant-garde,"
"underground" or "non-narrative" film, the
"experimental" genre, has two qualities that distinguish itself from
other forms of filmmaking: a desire to deconstruct, or entirely ignore, the
Hollywood aesthetic and a complete exploitation of the range of tools available
to filmmakers.” This denotes that experimental film making defies the
conventional system adhered to in Hollywood.
Greencine [2005 – online] outlines the types of experimental film
festivals; Ann Arbour Film Festival was started in 1963. It is the oldest recurrently
operated experimental film festival in North America and has become one of the
premiere film festivals for independent and, primarily, experimental filmmakers
to showcase their work. The types of films which are experimental include
Mulholland Dr. by David Lynch, Dogville by Lars Von Trier, Wild Grass by Alain
Resnais and the wild blue yonder by Werner Herzog to name a few. These films
will displayed at experiment al film festivals which include Boston underground
film festival, Chicago underground film festival, Melbourne underground film
festival and Sydney underground film festival; these are an example of a few
experimental film festivals.
Independent films:
The definition of an independent film festival is outlined by Rona
Edwards (2012), “An independent film is a specialized film production resulting
in a feature film that is produced totally outside of the major film studio
classification. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent
entertainment corporations, independent films are also produced and distributed
by businesses of major film studios. Independent films are unique in their
content and style and the way in which the filmmakers' personal artistic vision
is grasped. Often independent films are made with considerably lower film
budgets than major studio films as competitive films such as Jaws, Jurassic
Park and Mission impossible require large budgets for effects whereas
independent films such as Before Sunset by Richard Linklater, Mysterious Skin
by Gregg Araki, Requiem for a dream by Darren Aronofsky and Donnie Darko by
Richard Kelly are examples of films produced outside of the major studio
system. The marketing of independent
films is characterized by limited release, but can also have major marketing
campaigns and a wide release; this is the case with Donnie Darko and Requiem
for a dream which were both commercially successful. Independent films are
often screened at local, national, or international film festivals before
distribution, a list of independent film festivals include Telluride Film
Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Austin's South by
Southwest, New York City's Tribeca Film Festival and Slam dance Film Festival
are all considered significant festivals for independent film.
Animation: Animation is a simulation of movement created by displaying a series of
pictures, or frames. For example Cartoons on television is one example of
animation. Animation on computers is one of the chief ingredients of multimedia
presentations, Stacey Parks (2012) outlines animation film festivals and the
impact they have on audiences and the demand for animation films in cinemas, “animated
films such as toy story by John Lasseter, Topcat by Alberto Marr, Aladdin by
John Musker, Monsters INC by David Silverman and Finding Nemo by Andrew Stanton
have been commercially successful, animation film festivals such as Animex
international animation festival in Middlesbrough, Bradford Animation film
festival, Hiroshima International film festival and Melbourne international
film festival to name but several.” Furthermore big screen animation [2010–
online] outlines the emotional impact of animation films, “Animated film is one
medium of instruction that can be used to deliver learning materials to
children, with an interesting picture, attention will be immediately drawn to
the children there so that the learning process by using the animated film will
bear a pleasant atmosphere for the children, animated films have deeply
resonated in children’s memories and also provide pleasure for adults so it is
very commercially viable.”
The reasoning behind the successes of animated films is the improvement
of the vocabulary of children. Animated film is a medium that presents a
message which is audio-visual and gives the audience real connection. Media
film is generally liked by the children because the characters are interesting
animated images and also provide a happy trigger of childhood memories of
freedom and youth. Excess use of animated film in the process of learning can
complement the basic experiences of children when conversing, frequently asked
questions describe a process that can be watched over and over again if
necessary.
Moreover founded in 1960, the Annecy International Animated Film
Festival is the oldest international film festival dedicated exclusively to
animation, equally the others are: Zagreb, Ottawa, Hiroshima, KROK, and Anima
Mundi.
Asian Film Festival:
Most distinguished between the Asian Film Festivals is the Annual
Mumbai Film Festival in India, with its 200,000 USD cash prize, Osian's-Cinefan
Film Festival, which was newly extended to comprise Arab Cinema as well, and
the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) Ma Boli International Punjabi
Film Festival Vancouver. These films festivals are significant in Asian and
help to promote Asian cinema.
African film festivals:
Festivals which are Significant in African territories are festivals
based on the continent , these are outlined in Greencine [2010 – online] which
includes the biannual Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
FESPACO in Burkina Faso, the annual Durban International Film Festival which
has grown in importance for industry with the addition of a co-production forum
and Talent Campus.
European festivals:
The biggest European festival is the Cannes film festival in France
along with Berlin and Venice.
Promotion and marketing of a film:
Creating a press kit; as a film maker there is an importance in
creating a press kit for your productions, this acts as a resume for your
company, this should be relevant to the target reader or audience. This
includes Information on the company: This includes your company's history, a
company profile, and profiles of the chief officers, senior management and
ownership. Entrepreneur by Al Lautenslager [2002 – online] outlines the
functions of a press kit, “ Important things to include in a press kit is
Product and service information, including a product, service or performance
review: This will let editors see what others are saying about you or help the
editor write his own review. This should also be supported with product or
service fact sheets, sell sheets or company brochures that are specific to your
product or service. For a film maker this will include an outline of the film
and production. Recent press publications and articles: Copies of recent press
coverage is very appropriate for a press kit. After all, what other media have
done will be of interest to current media targets. This can include article
reprints and printouts of online press that a company might have received.”
This will help to establish the market of your film and which film festival to
target your film to.
Promoting and branding your film;
Entertainment promotion [2007 – online] outlines the new age phenomena
of promoting your film, “Day by day new age technologies are exploited to give
a movie an added edge over others. Promotion is the buzzword. Movies are
promoted with a target audience, which eventually determines the box office
success rates. Marketing strategies are constantly evolving. Bhagam Bhag was
launched amidst much hoopla with a race conducted before the movie release in Mumbai,
and an added surprise whereby the runners had to unearth gifts hidden at
various points. Vivah went on to greet the audience at the theatres with
mouth-watering laddoos true to the spirit of the wedding depicted in the film. This
signifies that the process of film promotion is evolving and film makers are
increasing marketing strategies, downloads are increasing and other features
targeting modern audiences and this is an important tool for modern film makers.
Promoting and branding yourself;
Wahm [2012 – online] outlines the best strategy for branding yourself
and creating a company portfolio, “If you are a sole proprietor, personal
branding can help you expand your client base and earn financial success.
Having a personal brand should make your name or the name of your business
instantly recognizable and memorable so that potential clients will be able to
easily find you. Some successful personal branding examples include Michael
Jordan or Wrigley's. These are successful because they are sole proprietorships
which eventually became household names. Although your small business might not
attain worldwide fame, you can still become well known locally with successful
branding.” This outlines the importance of gaining a base for your branding
which will increase the chances of your film being produced.
Bibliography:
Online Sources
Film Festival (2013) Brittanica Encyclopaedia. [Online] Available athttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/206977/film-festival
[Accessed 3rd August 2013]
Greencine Experimental Cinema (2005) Experimental Films. [Online] available athttp://www.greencine.com/static/primers/experimental.jsp
[Accessed 7th July 2013]
Animation Films (2013) Webopedia. [Online] Available at - http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/animation.html. [Accessed 11th July 2013]
Steven Soderbergh (2013) IMDB. [Online] Available at - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001752/bio. [Accessed 12th July 2013]
Film Festival (2011) Sex, Lies and Videotape. [Online]. Available at - http://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/reviewing-sex-lies-and-videotape-the-film-that-relaunched-the-independent-film-movement.php
[Accessed 10th July 2013]
Impacts of Animation Films (2010) Bigscreen animation. [Online]. Available at - http://www.bigscreenanimation.com/2010/10/emotional-impact-of-animated-films.html [Accessed 29th June 2013]
Ingredients of a Press Kit (2002) Marketing and Distributing Films. [Online] Available at - http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/57260
[Accessed 26th June 2013]
A hit of recipe film promotion (2007) Film Animators.[Online] Available at http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/2007/krrish-promo-080107.html. [Accessed 22nd June 2013]
How To Brand Yourself (2013) Personal Branding. [Online] Available at http://www.wahm.com/articles/promote-yourself-through-personal-branding.html. [Accessed 21st June 2013]
Importance of Film Festivals (2012) Film Festival Hub. [Online]Available at - http://www.research.utoronto.ca/what-is-the-importance-of-film-festivals/. [Accessed 9th June 2013]
Gaining Experience for Film (2012) Essential Film knowledge. [Online] Available at http://www.scriptmag.com/resources/film-festivals/film-festivals-101. [Accessed 27th June 2013]
Greencine Experimental Cinema (2005) Experimental Films. [Online] available athttp://www.greencine.com/static/primers/experimental.jsp
[Accessed 7th July 2013]
Animation Films (2013) Webopedia. [Online] Available at - http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/animation.html. [Accessed 11th July 2013]
Steven Soderbergh (2013) IMDB. [Online] Available at - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001752/bio. [Accessed 12th July 2013]
Film Festival (2011) Sex, Lies and Videotape. [Online]. Available at - http://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/reviewing-sex-lies-and-videotape-the-film-that-relaunched-the-independent-film-movement.php
[Accessed 10th July 2013]
Impacts of Animation Films (2010) Bigscreen animation. [Online]. Available at - http://www.bigscreenanimation.com/2010/10/emotional-impact-of-animated-films.html [Accessed 29th June 2013]
Ingredients of a Press Kit (2002) Marketing and Distributing Films. [Online] Available at - http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/57260
[Accessed 26th June 2013]
A hit of recipe film promotion (2007) Film Animators.[Online] Available at http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/2007/krrish-promo-080107.html. [Accessed 22nd June 2013]
How To Brand Yourself (2013) Personal Branding. [Online] Available at http://www.wahm.com/articles/promote-yourself-through-personal-branding.html. [Accessed 21st June 2013]
Importance of Film Festivals (2012) Film Festival Hub. [Online]Available at - http://www.research.utoronto.ca/what-is-the-importance-of-film-festivals/. [Accessed 9th June 2013]
Gaining Experience for Film (2012) Essential Film knowledge. [Online] Available at http://www.scriptmag.com/resources/film-festivals/film-festivals-101. [Accessed 27th June 2013]
Book sources:
Edwards, R (2012) The Complete Film Maker’s Guide To Film Festivals.Chapman University Singapore: Michael Wiese Productions.
Gore, C (2009) Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide. 4th Edition.
Watson Guptill.
Holland, C (2008) Film Festival Secrets: A Handbook For Independent Film Makers. Stomp Tokyo Publishing’s.
Parks, S (2012) The Insider’s Guide To Independent Film Distribution. Focal Press Publishing’s.
Film Festival Research.
In industry
terms, film festivals are usually used as launch pads for films. Attended by
acquisition executives and talent scouts, festivals are full of new product and
fresh talent. Acquisition executives rely on the choices made by festival
programmers to filter through the vast array of material in circulation.
Individual festivals have built reputations based on their programming. In Europe,
Rotterdam, Berlin, Raindance and Cannes all make unique programming choices
that distinguish each festival from the other.
A film
festival’s role is to provide an audience of receptive and appreciative
filmgoers to view your work. Distributors can also use the festival to build
publicity for their film before its commercial release. A festival is also a
place where acquisition executives can discover new talent as they have a
platform to screen their first shorts and features.
So why should
you be there too?
Four Reasons
to Attend Film Festivals
1 Do a deal
The primary
reason for submitting your film to a film festival is to have it screened in
front of acquisition executives who will ‘discover’ your film and make you an
offer on the spot. If you are attending one of the smaller festivals, it is
unlikely that this will happen. Film buyers travel through the major and
mini-major festivals and would only consider a side trip to your screening at a
smaller festival if you carefully planned the publicity surrounding your
screening. They might reasonably ask why you had not been accepted into a
larger, more convenient festival.
Raindance
Film Festival Open For Submissions
2 Win awards
If you read
bios of filmmakers, you will often see the phrase ‘an award-winning filmmaker’,
but the names of the awards are never mentioned. That is because there are only
three awards worth naming on a CV.
The most
prestigious award is the Oscar™. Even a nomination is mentioned on a
filmmaker’s CV. The Academy has carefully presented itself to the industry as a
credible event, although in recent years it has become known as a marketing
contest with the cleverest and most expensive marketing campaigns winning the
awards.
Following
that, the Palme d’Or at Cannes is highly esteemed. Its cachet has become
established because it is judged by very high profile industry jurors at the
most important film festival of the year. The third most sought-after award is the
Golden Bear presented at the Berlin Film Festival.
Many
festivals offer awards to any filmmaker attending their festival as a means of
attracting entries. A friend of mine, Dov Simens, had a 20-minute live action
short starring William Forsythe. He submitted to the Montreal Film Festival
knowing that they had a 35mm live action science fiction short film category
and gave out gold, silver and bronze medals. There was one other entrant – Dov
won the bronze. A few weeks later he did the same thing at the Cincinnati Film
Festival and now calls himself a multiple award-winning filmmaker.
3 Sit on a
panel / do Q&As
If award
winning is not your thing, then get yourself invited to sit on a panel. Not
only will it help you hone your public speaking skills, but you can then claim
that you were directly involved with the festival. Alternatively, agree to a
post-screening Q&A. Audiences are always keen to ‘meet’ the filmmakers and
a personal appearance will help sell tickets.
4 Getting
reviewed
Film
journalists really do not enjoy film festivals. Suppose your first film
festival is a small regional film festival, a mom and pop film festival. The
local weekly newspaper will have a film journalist who creates the weekly
centre spread on movies from the press kits supplied by the major distributors.
But with the film festival approaching, s/he will have to watch all the films
entered into the festival and write reviews. As a producer, you want a good
review, and hope and pray that the pictures you sent to the festival with your
press kit are attractive enough to get printed in the newspaper.
The film
journalist for this small weekly newspaper also has career aspirations. S/he
would like to work on one of the daily papers, or get a job reviewing films on
a radio or television station. Because the newspaper is so small they also have
to cover the horse racing, but a festival really gives them some hope of a
ticket out of Smallsville. Journalists have learned that they should always
print a superlative in their review, even if they hate it, because they know
you will quote their review out of context. For example: ‘Elliot’s first film
is a fine example of how not to make a movie’ becomes ‘Elliot’s first film is a
fine example’.
When you
quote the journalist out of context they then can include your quote in their
portfolio. If their quote makes it onto your poster, be certain you include
their name and publication and send them a copy!
Research Methods:
Questionnaires:
Questionnaire for Film festivals – Mark’s assignment research:
1. What age range do you fit into? (please circle)
5-16 35-45
16-24 45-60
24-35 60+
2. What gender are you? (Please circle)
Male
Female
3. Are you interested in film as a subject?
4. Would you attend a film festival in your local area?
Yes –
No –
5. Are you aware of film festivals or public events within your area?
6. What is it that you feel film festivals bring to the film industry?
7. What is the importance to you of film festivals within the role of the film industry?
8. Do you feel there are sufficient film festivals for independent film makers and emerging film makers at the present moment in time?
9. What is your view of financial support from local councils and government schemes; do you feel enough contribution is being given to the arts and media sector of society?
Questionnaire Reply from Elliot Grove - Raindance Film Festival Founder.
For my current research criteria, I have been assigned to contact film festival planners and organizors to investigate the importance of film festival within the industry.
Below I have outlined a copy of a questionnaire which was completed by Elliot Grove the creator of Raindance film festival.
Below I have outlined a copy of a questionnaire which was completed by Elliot Grove the creator of Raindance film festival.
| From: | Elliot Grove (elliot@raindance.co.uk)This sender is in your contact list. |
| Sent: | 10 June 2013 21:16:10 |
| To: | Jake Regan (kingsofleon08@hotmail.co.uk) |
Film festival research questionnaire
11.What is the purpose of a film festival?
A film festivals goal is two fold:
To a filmmaker: To deliver a room full of people to appreciate their work
To an audience: To deliver entertaining work
2. What does it mean to you to be involved in film festivals?
Running a film festival is mountains of hard work and the occasional burst of joy when a filmmkaer breaks through and is discovered
3. Why is it year on year UK Raindance film festival achieves record levels of attendance?
I guess its our marketing mainly these past few years via our social media which is 9they tell me) the 10th largest of any festival in the world.
4. Can you tell me how film festivals have benefited your career?
I suppose running Raindance has made me known to filmmakers
5. Are film festivals integral to the film industry?
Festivals are the new launch pad - the place where filmmakers and their films get their first blaze of publicity.
6. What advice would you offer to film makers who are starting out on the festival circuit?
I have written widely on this subject and have written "The 4 reasons Filmmakers Attend Film Festivals"
7. What happens to film makers who are not successful on the festival circuit, how do the market their films?
There are two routes:
Attend film markets
Self distribute
8. What is the importance of film festivals to the film industry?
As above, festivals are an important first step in the PR campaign for a film, and a place where the marketing efforts/plans of a distribution company can be tested
Hope this is detailed enough
Elliot Grove.
Interviews with Hussain Currimbhoy and Rob Speranza.
This link is for the interview that I conducted with Hussain Currimbhoy the Sheffield Doc festival programmer -
https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/R09_0002.MP3?w=AACkEo7lIUhe1BBJyuyBLA9N6uajusLx2_E7OuK2EwaSmg
This is an interview which I conducted with Rob Speranza from the South Yorkshire film festival, this was for the purposes of my research into the role of film festivals.
For the purposes of my current assignment unit 2 - I have to use research methods to collate information on film festivals, I have currently recorded two telephone interviews which are available via my dropbox site - https://www.dropbox.com/home
I have also uploaded my questionnaire and survey to various blogs and forums, below I will paste the links to the forums and blogs.
http://www.studentfilms.com/forums/film-festivals.43/ - student film forum, I have uploaded my survey and questionnaire into the film festival forum.
http://focusfilmfestival.com/contact/comment-page-1/#comment-31 - This is the link to where I uploaded my questionnaire to the focus film festival.
http://www.indietalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=59 - This is the link for the indie talk film forum where I uplaoded my questionnaire.
I have also uploaded my questionnaire and survey to various blogs and forums, below I will paste the links to the forums and blogs.
http://www.studentfilms.com/forums/film-festivals.43/ - student film forum, I have uploaded my survey and questionnaire into the film festival forum.
http://focusfilmfestival.com/contact/comment-page-1/#comment-31 - This is the link to where I uploaded my questionnaire to the focus film festival.
http://www.indietalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=59 - This is the link for the indie talk film forum where I uplaoded my questionnaire.
Interviews
To find out more on the inside of Film festivals I decided to do a call out asking different companies if they could give me some information on film festivals and how they feel about them. I tweeted a great deal of different film makers and film organisations including creative england, BBC studios, South Yorkshire film network.
I also asked some people who had won or been nominated awards such as Garrett Sammons and Larry Smith. Importantly I tweeted independant film festivals in the United Kingdom including Raindance and UK Independant shorts.
Film festivals are a great platform to distribute your film and often having a film on a festival circuit is a recognized way to promote yourself a film maker. Film festivals do not guarentee that you will secure a job as there is not guarentee's, however it does help that your film is being showcased to commissioners or distributors. Independant film festivals such as Raindance has significantly changed the outlook of independant cinema.
- Larry Smith, film festival blogger.
Festivals are integral to the film industry as they help to establish young film makers onto the film network. Film festivals are the easiest way to promote a film as self distribution is not currently easy to do, with the vast amount of films online, self distribution is not an alternative to film festivals.
- UK Independant shorts.
I found this beneficial as it outlined the importance of film festivals in the industry.
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