5 Tips For Enjoying Film Festivals
What First-time Festival Goers Need to Know
Follow these simple suggestions for getting the most out of a film festival.
Navigating your way through a jumbled schedule of screenings may seem intimidating at first, but attending a film festival is easier than you think.
1. Pick the Right Festival
Whether you dream of attending Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, or a smaller film festival closer to home that specializes in one specific subject (e.g., zombies) or style (e.g., short films), you need to select a festival that you can afford, offers the types of films that interest you, and coincides with your schedule. Festivals for every taste abound: science fiction, gay and lesbian, Asian, Jewish, African-American, independent, documentary, and many more. Larger festivals typically last longer and have more diverse selections.
2. Immerse Yourself in the Festival
Don’t expect grabbing a film here and there to give you a full appreciation for what a film festival has to offer. Set aside as many days as possible to participate in the related parties, seminars, and special events. Attend as many film screenings as possible by planning ahead. You might also consider buying a souvenir (such as a festival program, key chain, poster, button, t-shirt, cap, or other item), which will help support the festival and help you relive memories.
3. Watch Films With a Variety of Different Subjects and Styles
Even if you have a favorite program, such as film shorts, be sure to explore other areas, too, by including other available programming in your schedule. If you really want to walk on the wild side, try some late-night or midnight programming, which generally push the limits of good taste. The whole idea of a film festival is to expose little-known, quirky niche films to as many people as possible (and ideally for the filmmaker to secure a distribution deal). This will be your only chance to see many of the films.
4. Talk to People, Ask Questions
You never know who’s sitting next to you at a film festival. Interesting people from all over the world attend these events. Bring business cards (if you work in a related industry) to share. Even if you aren’t good at networking, you can discuss favorite (or least favorite) films with the person next to you in line. Whether you attend in a group, with one other person, or by yourself, try to talk to others around you and get their impressions of the festival. They might provide valuable information about an upcoming screening or event you wouldn’t want to miss. Often filmmakers attend screenings of their own films to gauge audience reactions. When filmmakers offer question-and-answer sessions afterward, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask something. (Just don’t ask about film budgets, however. That’s usually a secret in the early stages.)
5. Volunteer at the Festival
If you have some knowledge of filmmaking, you may be able to experience your first festival as a volunteer worker. This is an especially good fit for young film school students with time to spare. You may serve as a ticket seller, usher, merchandise hawker, or in some other capacity. Usually you can attend films and functions for free, but will be among the last ones seated.
To learn more about film festivals, read Film Festival Screenings.
