Creating your film is only part of the filmmaking experience. Working hard on a project and seeing the finished product can be exciting and fulfilling. You made your film to be seen by others, a wide audience who can appreciate, enjoy your hard work and of course to gain recognition. For a beginner filmmaker, especially one who may not have a large budget, this might be a difficult feat. If you are willing to look beyond getting your film into big theatres though, you can get your film seen.
Hosting Your Own Viewing
One of the first steps to take would be to show your film to friends and family. You may have already been having showings of previous films you have made, but if you wish to take this professional, it’s a great way to get your distribution started.
You can host a screening party at your home or a friend or family’s place, an apartment recreation room if your place is too small for everyone, or in someone’s backyard.
You could host a BBQ or dinner to go along with it and make it a movie night.
If you have a lot more friends, or want to invite neighbors and their friends, you can rent out a library room or again use an apartment’s recreation room. You could have copies of the film, if you burned it on your computer to give out after the film.
Other places you could approach to have a viewing are: Museums, Parks (which you will need a permit for), at a college that promotes independent films, at a church, (if your movie is appropriate for the venue.) Even some stores such as Apple stores or local stores might offer a space to view your film.
Film Festivals and Independent Theatres
The most obvious way to distribute your film and gaining wide recognition is through a film festival. There are plenty of them around including, but not limited to the large festivals that are covered by television.
Film Festivals vary by genre and even generations. There are festivals just for teenagers or high school students, ones that are ethnic based like the Brazilian Film Festival in Vancouver, Canada.
Some examples of film festivals in both Canada and the United States are: Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Ann Arbor Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Edmonton International Film Festival, Toronto After Dark Film Festival.
There are many more of course, and even some local ones for cities. It’s a matter of researching your area and genre and finding which ones would suit your film.
Once you have decided on one, you should check out their submission requirements. Not all festivals will take all films, or even unsolicited films. It will be harder to get into the larger festivals like Sundance or Toronto, but it’s not impossible.
Most will require you to submit a VHS or DVD of your film, months before the festival. Check out the time lines for submissions and application requirements. Your film doesn’t necessarily have to be finished by then, but there should be a very good rough cut of it. You will want to make as good of an impression as possible. If you are selected for an interview and screening process, you will then submit a finished product of your film. Your film should be on film itself and not a videotape or DVD. Some festivals will allow VHS or DVD, but not the larger ones.
Don’t get discouraged if you are not picked on the first attempt, festivals do receive many submissions, so there is a lot of competition. Keep trying and you just might get your film entered.
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Question by concern: Besides film school, are there any filmmaking workshops are seminars out there?
I’m in Houston,Texas. I don’t want to go to a film school right now!
Best answer:
Answer by Through a Glass Darkly
As Quentin Tarantino once said, all he needed was a camera and a three day or so course at “Learning Annex” to become a film maker.
To second below- That is a good idea, but don;t just check out the “American” Film Institution’s greatest list, as only a dozen of those movies are on the “Greatest Movies- anywhere” list. The only problem is there are many other people that have already seen these movies – for example, me. Once again though, I agree with the person below, having seen the greatest films will definitely make you a better director.
Add your own answer in the comments!
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Behind the scenes video of the film school awards and graduation ceremony at BAFTA for Central Film School London
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