I have discussed festival submission fees several times, a trend that continues to grow. In Europe, each year there are new festivals that use fees with different pricing strategies, both to control the number of submissions and to have an alternative funding source. Whether we like it or not, it is an … Read more
A film’s running time is one of its most defining characteristics when preparing a festival distribution strategy. Films are usually divided into three types based on their length, which in turn also define the types of festivals: Short film, up to 30 minutes. Medium-length film, from 30 to 60 minutes. Feature film, … Read more
To design a festival strategy, we must consider the different territorial premieres: from world to local. One of the cities we must pay special attention to is New York. Many festivals of different types are concentrated here, including some of the most prominent in the world. This week I have been reviewing … Read more
Last week I was at the Seville European Film Festival, where several Spanish feature films premiere, many of them by new directors. Since I reviewed festivals dedicated to first films in Spain in August, I had been meaning to do the same with international festivals in this segment. I believe this is … Read more
A few weeks ago, I was discussing the proliferation of fake festivals with Chema Garcia Ibarra and Álex Montoya. Both have extensive experience distributing their own films and are well-acquainted with the film festival circuit. They were concerned about the number of such “festivals” that have recently emerged. I have been observing … Read more
This past weekend I was invited to Abycine, which is taking place this week. On Saturday, the first edition of Mercado Abycine Lanza concluded, having begun on Thursday. It is dedicated to the development of projects in the most independent new Spanish cinema and is supported by Castilla-La Mancha television and ECAM. … Read more
These days I have been reviewing documentary film festivals with open submissions. Premiere requirements vary greatly between them, so they need to be studied carefully in order to plan the festival strategy. In the vast majority, the production date must be after January 2016, and they usually have two deadlines depending on … Read more
A few weeks ago, I was reviewing the new list of festivals recently published by MovieMaker magazine: The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World. This list complements the 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, published in April. This new list focuses on the most fun and coolest festivals to visit, … Read more
Last Friday morning I attended the Marketing and Festivals Meeting, which took place as part of the activities of Ventana del Cine Madrileño. An event organised by AMA and the Community of Madrid, dedicated to promoting international co-productions for Madrid-based projects. The guests on the panel were Paz Lázaro, programmer, programme manager … Read more
I have been observing for some time how virtual reality, VR/360, is gradually gaining more importance at film festivals. At the Clermont-Ferrand Market there was a VR stand this year, and this very week I learned about bcn360vrfest, a festival project specialized in VR/360 that is seeking funding through Movistar’s Artsy platform, … Read more