ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years ago - ALEXANDRA BOYD

My short film was invited to the market and 'screened' there. I was approached by some 'consultants' who wanted $350 to help me market my film to some of the US cable channels and online short film platforms. Needless to say, you can submit your film to those yourself (for FREE) once its done its festival run.

I was at Hollyshorts in LA a few weeks later and attended a panel about how to market your short film and of course they told me to give those guys a wide birth... having said all that all the comments here about networking and meeting people who like your work are valid. Anywhere you can get you film seen is a bonus. And PS FF is a big one. Lots of people go from LA (it's only a 3 hour drive) and look for the new up and comers!!
Alexandra

10 years ago - Daniel Cormack

Didn't mean to sound derogatory by using the word 'crow'.

It doesn't give you any extra credibility, but it gets your film out there and potentially seen by more people; in particular buyers.

What annoys me the most is people who say their short film has 'screened at Cannes' when in fact it is simply available in the market videotheque and screened on loop with every other film whose makers have paid the extortionate entry fee (which is in addition to your fee to enter to the competitive festival) to get into the market.

PS Fest charges no extra fee for being in the market videotheque and the festival market is actually attended by short film buyers. Cannes are debasing themselves and cannibalising their own reputation by their exploitative offering.

10 years ago - Chris Bogle

Hey Dan. No I won't be going from the UK, the travel expense would swamp the film's budget! Anyway - if anyone's at Palm Springs it's called Turn Of The Screw - go see it at the market ;)

Thanks!!

10 years ago - Chris Bogle

@Daniel Cormack
no offence taken Daniel, I phrased my initial post badly :)

Yeah I hate that about Cannes too - which is why I was asking really, I didn't want to sound like a rank amateur by posting about my film being accepted into the PS Film Market. It's a 4 min, £500 short which I'm proud of, it's had some festival success but not sure if it's good enough for the sales agents to look at. Maybe it is - I don't know. My first short film outing so I wouldn't know where to start with sales agents!

10 years ago - Dan Selakovich

The PS film market is BULLSHIT. Don't do it. It's basically computers set up in a room for people to sit down and watch what didn't make it into competition. A waste!

10 years ago - Adam Ethan Crow

I got rejected, then accepted to the film market too. I didn't go but they showed my film somewhere there anyway and I got a distribution deal with Gonella out of it. http://www.imdb.com/company/co0293308/ mu short has now covered it's costs and made me money. So totally your call.

10 years ago - Howard Lukk

Dan is correct about the set up for the film market but I wouldn't call it bullshit. We made it in with our short and we were able to attend. I have to say we had a good time networking with other filmmakers and also were able to get some programers there to watch our film. Getting into festivals is all about networking with programers.

10 years ago - Chris Bogle

Cheers Paddy, yeah that's kinda what I thought. Was hoping there was some cachet to it but maybe not. :)

C

10 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I don't know PS but it's probably a minor vote of confidence - they'll weed out anything unsalable (first person webcam rants and ilk).

10 years ago - Daniel Cormack

I think that Dan is normally spot on with his advice, but in this case is being a bit unfair to the Palm Springs Fest.

It's nothing to crow about because anyone who pays the entry fee for their submission gets their film into the market. Nonetheless, there is some significant outlay for the festival to provide this resource.

I had a short film in the PS film festival some years back and also got funding from the estwhile UK Film Council to attend. I made no sales or other deals there, but the market is cetainly trafficked by serious buyers. If you're there in person you can often make good contacts which may pay off in future, even if they don't want to buy your current film.

I would also say that I met my short film sales agent after he saw my films in a Spanish festival market in which none of my films had been selected for screening, but were languishing in the market with so many others.

Rather than crow, you might be better off getting a delegates list and, if you're not attending, emailing the sales agents and buyers to encourage them to view your film.

10 years ago - Chris Bogle

Yeah they've been great Howard. I was offered full festival credentials which I thought was awesome considering I was rejected, if I lived in the States I would have jumped at the chance to go.

10 years ago - Dan Selakovich

Eating my hat. I'm glad some of you got what you wanted out of the P.S. film market service. But being in L.A., I know many that got nothing out of it. Absolutely nothing. But if it's included in your entry fee, why not? I still don't think it worth the travel expenses to come from the U.K. Maybe connections made there will pan out. I just don't know any that have. Yes, there are lunches and meetings and the usual Hollywood ego stroking, but nothing of substance I'm sorry to report.

Alexandra is absolutely correct about the "consultants". Run away! There IS a great workshop/lecture at American Cinematheque at the Egyptian theatre in Hollywood every now and again on marketing in film festivals. At least I think they are still doing it. It's only $20 and completely worth it if you happen to be in town.

10 years ago - Chris Bogle

Ha, thanks Dan. It's an automatic entry I believe. I was more concerned about running around shouting 'wahey I got into the PS film market!' if it's not worth the air.

10 years ago - Chris Bogle

Interesting. I'm now entering the twilight zone of my knowledge and experience - post festival!! Did you alert sales agents to your short Adam?

10 years ago - Chris Bogle

Great advice, thanks Daniel! (Not crowing though, just wondering if it gives the film or me as a director any additional credibility)