ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 11 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

For networking, take yourself of to Cannes in May. You actually stand a chance of sharing a fag with the right person, whereas at an expensive buyerless festival do the only people you'll meet are other aspirant filmmakers.

9 years, 11 months ago - afia nkrumah

Hi Neil,

For smaller festivals you have to make your own way there, but once you get there, you get all access festival pass, invitations to parties, awards ceremonies, press interviews etc. Sometimes, you have a Q & A session with the audience after your film has screened. Some festivals will pay for flight and accommodation for you to attend like the ABFF. For major festivals, there are organisations such as The British Council who will contribute towards your expenses for attending the festival.

Any film festival that charges the filmmakers it has selected to attend is taking the piss in my opinion. Well run festivals simply do NOT do that. They treat filmmakers with respect and don't charge you to attend! One rule I use when applying to festivals is that the festival must have been running for at least 7 years and If i have to pay an entry fee above a tenner then the festival has to be on the BFI/Film London Approved list.

If you are thinking of applying for funding to screen agencies like the BFI, Creative England, Film London (who funded my current film Shadow Man), your previous films must have got into one of the festivals on their list, which this festival is not. I am putting together a small booklet on film festivals which includes the approved list, i am happy to send you a copy when it is finished.

I agree with Roy, stay at home and use your money on a better run and more established festival and Good luck with the rest of your festival run :)

9 years, 11 months ago - A D Cooper

Hi I got my short selected by them (it opened the 2013 festival) and nominated for two awards, and there was a well run glitzy dinner and presentation at Southampton Football Club stadium. It was a fun evening but not especially good for networking. Not a cheap either as I recollect. If you win, there was a bit of razz, photos etc. but they seemed for local use.The standard of films seemed good though. I know of other films selected this year that are well made (a feature called Containment), so you are in good company.

9 years, 11 months ago - Roy Hanney

This group have two websites where they advertise "international" film festivals in Portsmouth and Southampton. To my knowledge these festivals are not scams they are a genuine attempt to run a festival, that is what it appears like. Strange though that no one I know in the local filmmaking community really knows anything about them. What I understand is that they are very local actually, and not "industry" events where you will get lots of press. If you are lucky you might get a mention in a local newspaper. As for a networking opportunity I would say you are better off staying at home. Its very easy to set up and run a film festival these days and you can easily attract people to enter even if you are charging and these people seem to be doing just that. They have not reached out to the local community at all (I am involved in two events in Portsmouth and one in Southampton) and that makes me suspicious. They don't respond to emails. I don't know what their game is but I wouldn't waste your money on these festivals when there are so many good ones to enter.