Post contributed by J. Waddy

Film festivals are a great way for filmmakers to show off their films and gain recognition for their work and efforts. They are a key ingredient to independent film and the people who make it happen. Years ago film festivals were few and far between. However with independently produced films on the rise, more festivals have pushed through to bring culture not only to landmarks but to smaller towns around the world.

The larger festivals worldwide, such as the Sundance, Raindance and Cannes film festivals, however take the glory when it comes to the size of their audience. The importance of the audience at these festivals is monumental, as without them there would be no way to properly market your film. With this in mind festivals have to keep in mind what the audience wants not only from the films shown but also from the actual festival itself. Keeping the audience happy is full time job for organizers and these film festivals make sure that they offer only the best experience for their customers.

These events offer several things to its audience: great films, an amazing day (or two) out and a greater knowledge of the film industry. The great films shown to the audience aren’t just randomly selected, these films are picked especially for the purpose of entertaining the audience. Submissions have to be careful watched and checked before they can even be put in the maybe pile which takes months of preparation. This means by the time the festival itself hits you’ve got only the best for your audience.

It does also have to be a great day out, you can’t expect people to travel to your festival just to sit down and watch a couple of films. You have to make sure that they have all they could possibly need and more. Basics such as food, drink and toilets are just the start of what makes a great film festival, comfortable seating and adequate sound systems are also something small to keep in mind.

Lastly we touch on a greater knowledge of the film industry and creating a network. You can use your festival to teach people about the ins and outs of making these films, gaining knowledge and giving better understanding can increase the appreciation for the film as a whole. Networking is the biggest success to film festivals as a good film at a festival can go from unknown to a huge indie hit, just through word of mouth.

Companies such as Mutinee aim to get all these people together to discuss and create new pieces of work to show the world and to submit videos to these kind of festival. Your audience one year may include a few of next year’s contenders, which is certainly something to bare in mind.