Film Festivals Around the World
How do you get to be seen as a newcomer in a busy and competitive environment? Especially as a woman in a (still) male-dominated department within the film industry? While it seems obvious that networking is the key word and key answer to the two questions above, networking also requires networking opportunities.
And as such, there are several options to networking opportunities, which I will – quickly and incomprehensively – enumerate here:
One option could be the traditional route at a TV station, working from the bottom up to the top, networking on the floor as you go along.
One option could be starting your own business in a hub and network as well as collaborate on your own there.
Other options could entail events, such as
Film and TV Awards
Film Premieres
‘Boot camps’
Masterclasses or
Dedicated networking events
And another solution could very well also be film festivals. Which is going to be the topic of today’s blog.
Disclaimer: Choosing the Best for My Own Path
Since I am not yet entirely settled on my exact pathway in the industry – be it via a female collective, through the classic route with a TV studio, by mentorships or through shadowing, in either Sweden, or Germany, or the UK or maybe even the USA? – I want to explore as many options as possible to see what would benefit me the most. And I believe that film festivals in general could be good vehicles to get started.
For this purpose, and because it became topical for both modules I’m currently studying, I decided to delve deeper into the matter. For the Live Project 2 module, I am working on the project Poppie’s Café for Monsters, which will be handed into at least one film festival.
For the Professional Studies module, we are supposed to sketch our own (possible) future pathways into the industry, by exploring and contemplating different options. After all, knowledge is always the first step to making an informed and empowered decision.
Which is enough of reason to finally get started on today’s topic!
Film Festivals
Film festivals – both as a visitor and as a filmmaker – are splendid opportunities to see and be seen, to find inspiring work along with even more inspiring people, and to simply have fun in the art that is filmmaking. As a filmmaker however, this is amplified by the chance to get your own work out there, to get yourself out there, and to find future engagements and working opportunities with like-minded filmmakers.
Whilst I’ve been an avid visitor of film festivals in Germany and Sweden, I’ve only ever twice entered a film into a festival. The first student film ‘The Scrapbox’, on which I helped work in various roles, was back in 2014 with the Lichter Filmfest in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. And whilst I watched the premiere and partook in the Q&A afterwards, I was thrilled to later learn that we had won the Lichter Audience Awards of that year. Yay!
However, in between 2014 and 2019, I was once again only a visitor of film festivals such as the Nippon Connection and the Fantasy Filmfest that are both regularly held in Frankfurt. It was not until this year, that I would be able to enter another film into a festival – Poppie’s Café for Monsters. But I get ahead of myself, let’s get this produced and submitted first!
Thus, and because I see myself as the rather cosmopolitan girl, I researched international film festivals to see whether I could find more festivals to get my work out there and to be seen, hopefully by a female collective or – even better – by a female cinematographer wanting to work with me.
Because of this, I first researched film festivals in the UK. This was not only the most logical solution; it was also the most logistic one for now. Thus, I ventured into the depth of the Internet to gather more information that would help us enter a film and get to know local and national film festivals better.
Underwire Film Festival
This festival is aimed at promoting female filmmakers in the UK was founded in 2010 and has since then screened more than 300 films, according to their own About us section. The benefit of this film festival is that it recognises female film talent in ten different categories, which are: ‘Directing, Producing, Screenwriting, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Design, Composing, Production Design and Animation.’ Another benefit of this film festival finally is the availability of panel discussions that hosts (and is hosted) by women in the industry, offering more tailored advice and diversity. This year, the festival is to be held from 13thto the 22thof November.
Pros
+ the deadline for late submissions is not until 2 June 2019
+ the film festival promotes female talent and is thus a splendid networking opportunity
Cons
- the regular deadline of 30 April 2019 might result in a bit of a time crunch for our editors
- very high levels of standard and quality that we need to meet first
Aesthetica Short Film Festival
I already visited this short film festival last November, when a couple of students from our course travelled down to York to watch panel discussions on camera operation. Since I loved the festival and the free discussion panel, I found it sad that we effectively only had a bit more than eight hours to explore the festival. However, it offered plenty of opportunities for student filmmakers to see and be seen on a bigger exposure level. This year, the festival will be held from the 6thto the 10thof November.
Pros
+ accepts student films
+ the submission deadline of 31 of May 2019 is more than doable for our submission
+ good exposure and excellent networking event that is still rather close to where we are located
+ it is a BAFTA-qualifying film festival, meaning that films running at Aesthetica and selected by them may qualify to being put forward (and subsequently shortlisted or even nominated) for the BAFTA Awards (however, this is currently still a tall order for us)
Cons
- from the way the film festival has been designed, there is only little to no time available for networking as everyone want to progress onto the next scheduled panel or film that might be located in a different part of town, requiring you to plan for additional travel time
After researching the most probable solutions, I then researched some festivals that are held closer to home, namely in Germany. I’ve found these festivals via the website German Films, which offered an entire catalogue of film festivals to attend to (and strangely enough, despite the title, not only film festivals in Germany). However, I also found the website Deutsche Filmfestivals [German Film Festivals], both of which led me to the following examples:
Emden/Norderney International Film Festival
This is a film festival held on one of the roughly 20 German islands in the North Sea, Norderney that I came across during my research and thought I would check it out. However, I was surprised to see that it was already running for 29 years. For being located in a region that is largely considered a health resort with nature reserve, I was intrigued to see that it also offered prizes in various categories, including not only monetary prizes, but also (usually expensive) workshops and master classes for the winners.
Pros
+ accepts student film entries also from abroad (subtitles needed)
+ offers a string of awards and prizes of up to €15,000 (approx. £13,000)
Cons
- very difficult to travel to and find a place to stay on a budget
- very little time left until submission on 16 March
Sehsüchte – International Student Film Festivals
Another festival I’ve personally never heard about also turned out to be one of the long running ones in German film history, with a run of currently 48 years. It is held in Potsdam, near Berlin, where the Film University Babelsberg is located, from the 24thto the 28thof April. Consisting of a German pun that plays with the meaning of longing [Sehnsucht] and longing to see [Sehsucht], it screens a variety of films that are judged by up to 50 very demanding industry professionals.
Pros
+ longstanding tradition
+ located near the most prestigious film university in Germany
+ great exposure to renowned industry professionals in Germany
+ accepting student films internationally
Cons
- it is also very prestigious
- the festival is being held from 24thto 28thof April 2019, so earliest submission would only be for 2020 again
- no submission deadline announced as of date of writing
As you can see above, I tried to find film festivals that would not only fit our schedule in regard to their submission deadline, but that would also allow our film to be submitted brief- and category-wise. However, having done this, I wanted to explore the more ‘exotic’ film festivals out there to see what’s on the market and whether we would be able to find a ‘crazy’ fit.
Nippon Connection
I’ve added this festival not because it would be suited for our festival entry of Poppie’s Café for Monsters, but because of it being a grand networking opportunity in general. Since 19 years, this festival is held in Frankfurt for about three weeks every May to June, introducing current and older Japanese dramas, documentaries, experimental films etc. to a German audience, featuring their directors, producers, and cinematographers.
Whilst this event, infused with other cultural programmes from Japan, has repeatedly proven as a splendid networking opportunity for European filmmakers wanting to get their foot into a Japanese door, you sadly cannot enter any film submission unless it majorly deals with Japan as a subject matter, in regard to the crew’s average nationality or plays out in Japan.
Pros
+ splendid networking opportunity for those wanting to work in Japanese film
+ broadening understanding of film and style in Japanese cinema
+ bringing new styles and themes of visual storytelling to Europe
Cons
- it is sadly not suited for getting your own work seen, as only Japanese subject matters are allowed, either in Japanese language, by a Japanese crew, with a Japanese subject matter or taking place entirely in Japan
- there is no special student film category to be found
Fantasy FilmFest
This film festival is one of the very few travelling film festivals that I’ve come across. Usually held in seven different German cities during the course of one year – Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Köln, München, Nürnberg, Stuttgart – every year there is a new main theme to which all entries follow, covering all genres from fantasy, to horror, to science fiction and allowing all lengths from short film to feature length. Whilst there is a spring film festival held every April, the major event takes place in between late August and early October.
Pros
+ Having your film shown here means greater exposure around seven major German cities
+ allows for student film entries provided they can meet the high standards
Cons
- late submission deadline is once per year around the 30 January for the festival circuit of one year
- our earliest deadline submission would thus not happen before 2020
- VERY high standards of filmmaking required
However, having explored more demanding film festivals, I then ventured into more international waters. Since I could also imagine working in Asia for a bit, I decided to look more deeply into Asian film festivals to get an impression of whether our entry would stand a chance at all.
Shanghai International Film Festival
I’ve already heard a lot about this film festival, especially about its potential to give upcoming filmmakers a chance to enter the Asian industry and gather more experience there, which is why I picked it for now. Since I could imagine also working in Asia, I thought that this might be a change of pace.
The Shanghai International Film Festival this year is held from the 15thto the 24thof June,
However, as this film festival is easiest the most difficult to enter on my list here, regarding the competition and entry standards, I was indeed surprised to see that they have a student film category to offer.
Pros
+ again great exposure to those who want to work in film in Asia
+ as of this year, they also offer their ‘little brother’ competition Shanghai International Short Film Contest, which allows for international entries (subtitled) by students
Cons
- too far away (and too expensive) to make a personal appearance there
- strong restrictions of depiction of certain themes under current Chinese Law
- VERY high demands regarding the standard of the films submitted
Venturing back more closely to home, I then remembered another film festival that I attended once and which I wanted to check out for our entry.
Stockholm International Film Festival
This festival is being held for the 29thtime this year from the 6thto the 17thin the lovely capital of Stockholm, Sweden. As such, it screens roughly 150 films per year and offers a variety of categories to enter, amongst them also a student film category. They furthermore offer the main prize in the Stockholm Impact category with one million SEK (approx. £82,000), if the film is premiered there first.
Pros
+ rather close to home being located in Sweden
+ the regular deadline of 30 June would fit our brief regarding the submission deadline
+ it even offers a final deadline of 8 September 2019
Cons
- Very strong competition with industry professionals
- High standards of filmmaking required to be even let into the competition
My Learning
To sum it up, with just a brief research into the film festivals, there was already a tremendous wealth of opportunities for submissions and networking found internationally, with the most diverse briefs and categories, but also a wide variety of standards.
While I am fully aware that our piece will most likely not meet the standards to be screened and awarded at e.g. the Shanghai International Film Festival, it was nonetheless interesting to learn that they also offered a ‘little brother’ option in which students could start entering their films as of this year. For all I knew beforehand, I would not even have considered entertaining that thought if I hadn’t conducted the research.
Another interesting aspect was to learn how much room has been given to film as a medium in general. Whilst I did not know all of the film festivals presented in my list here – I furthermore did not know about the Norderney/Emden International Film Festival and the Sehsüchte Film Festival, which each seemed to be renown in their own right – I was even more surprised at the fact that they often ran for about 20 years, if not even much longer than that.
I was also really surprised to see how highly paid some of the prizes were (looking at you, Stockholm!), especially with those festivals that seem to be rather unknown compared to the really big ones in Cannes, Berlin, and Salt Lake City (again, looking at you, Stockholm!).
Lastly, I think, I realised the multitude of opportunities you can have in promoting yourself and your film. With a bit of research and planning done, you would be able to plant your film in many different categories and festivals all over the globe and all the year round (provided none of them requires you to have your film’s premiere with them). If the submission fees allow, you would be able to gain a lot of exposure just by keeping your eye on the calendar and map out a yearly ‘exposure plan’ for your produced film.
It’s a bit like being a salesman – you knock on as many doors as you can possibly schedule within a year and see who opens them just wide enough for you to get your foot in. And then start selling yourself for real.
References:
Aesthetica Short Film Festival (2019) Aesthetica Short Film Festival Homepage [online] http://www.asff.co.uk[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Deutsche Film Festivals (2019) Deutsche Film. Der deutschsprachige Filmfestivalkalender. [German Film Festivals. The German Film Festival Calendar.][online] http://junger-film.de/deutschefilmfestivals/[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Fantasy Film Fest (2019) Fantasy Film Fest Homepage [online] https://www.nipponconnection.com/nc-2019-english.html[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
FilmFreeway (2019) 29. Internationales Filmfest Emden-Norderney [online] https://filmfreeway.com/InternationalFilmfestivalEmdenNorderney[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
FilmFreeway (2019) Shanghai International Short Film Contest [online]https://filmfreeway.com/Shanghaishorts [Accessed on 10 February 2019]
FilmFreeway (2019) Stockholm International Film Festival [online] https://filmfreeway.com/StockholmFilmFestival[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
FilmFreeway (2019) Underwire Festival [online] https://filmfreeway.com/UnderwireFestival[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf (2019) Homepage Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf [online] https://www.filmuniversitaet.de/en/[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Nippon Connection (2019) Japanese Film Festival Nippon Connection [online] https://www.nipponconnection.com/nc-2019-english.html[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Sehsüchte (2019) Sehsüchte Homepage [online] https://sehsuechte.de [Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Shanghai International Film Festival (2019) 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival [online] http://www.siff.com/siff2017/english/[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Stockholm Film Festival (2019) The 29th International Stockholm Film Festival Homepage [online] https://www.stockholmfilmfestival.se/en[Accessed on 10 February 2019]
Underwire Film Festival (2019) Underwire Festival Homepage [online] http://www.underwirefestival.com[Accessed on 10 February 2019]