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SoCal Film Fest & Market



Last Updated: 11/17/2009

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Status: Married
City: HUNTINGTON BEACH
Country: US
Signup Date: 5/17/2006
Saturday, November 07, 2009 

Category: Blogging
Yes, every festival is different.  There are thousands of different festivals each serving unique communities.  This article will address the smaller to mid-sized festivals where a majority of filmmakers will have their best shot at a theatrical run.

I think I heard Scott Sampila (Producer of Remarkable Power with Kevin Nealon, Tom Arnold, Kip Pardue) say the purpose of festivals best when he was on the festival circuit with Power.  Sampila noted that movies outside the Hollywood studio system get their theatrical run with festivals. 

Do they make money at festivals?  No, not in most cases, but it is a chance for audiences, critics and buyers to view the projects.

So, a movie like Power has Kevin Nealon, it must be guaranteed to get into a festival, right?  Wrong.  Even though it has the recognizable face and the strong cast, most festivals don't rely on star power as much as distributors, especially not the smaller festivals.  Most festivals try to find their unique niche. 

Sure, if you enter your movie in Palm Springs or Santa Barbara, then celebrity is expected.  These are festivals whose communities have come to expect at least a percentage of famous faces to be up on screen and to be in attendance.  Does this mean they will show pure junk just because an A-lister is in it?  Of course not.  A festival's reputation is constantly on the line for the quality of movies they show. 

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE AT THE SOCAL FILM MARKET