The premiere strategy is essential when we start moving a film through festivals. Throughout several posts I have discussed different premiere strategies, as well as the difference between selective and intensive strategy.
But I had not yet dedicated a post to reviewing the different types of premieres.
Premieres are also very important from the festivals’ point of view. Whether we like it or not, the premiere requirement allows establishing some of the most prominent festival typologies, as occurs with the FIAPF classification, which establishes Class A festivals. The Competitive Feature Film Festivals category requires the international premiere in the official sections of these festivals.
What are the types of premieres?
What does each one mean?
What are the most important variables you need to consider?
To properly understand the premiere structure, imagine a pyramid. We will start at the top. As we descend, the options and number of festivals will also increase.
Main Premiere Typologies
They are formed primarily by the world premiere, international premiere, and national premiere:
#1 World Premiere
It is at the top of the premiere strategy. The world premiere is the first time anywhere in the world that your film will be screened.
There are no exceptions. To maintain the world premiere, it is advisable that you have not held any public screening, even if it is out of competition. If you hold a private screening for the team or a small group of people, there is no problem, but do not announce it on social media. In this case, it would not be considered a premiere.
There are few festivals that have the world premiere as a requirement, but there are many more that value it. There are also other cases that, without stating it clearly, when reviewing their programs, world premieres abound, so we should take them into account.
#2 International Premiere
This is the typical premiere typology among the most prominent festivals on the circuit. The international premiere is the first time your film is screened at a festival outside its country of origin.
In this statement, there is a nuance you need to consider.
On many occasions, participating in an international section is considered an international premiere, even if the festival takes place in your film’s country of origin.
For example, a Spanish film participating in the Nuevas Olas section of the Seville Festival will have its international premiere at the festival, since this section has an international character. On the other hand, that same film would maintain its pending international premiere if it participates in the Resistencias section, dedicated exclusively to Spanish cinema.
#3 National Premiere
In this case, it is the first time your film is screened, both in your film’s country of origin and in any other country in the world.
Most countries have festivals that require a premiere, whether general in nature or by genre, as particularly occurs with documentary.
Other Premiere Typologies
In addition to this main framework, other less common variables or sub-typologies based on the previous ones must be considered. These are the continental premiere, regional premiere, and local premiere.
#1 Continental Premiere
There are several festivals that establish premiere valuations or requirements by continent. For example, premiere in Europe, North America, Asia, etc. As in the previous framework, it is the first screening of your film on one of these continents.
Some examples of this typology would be the Toronto Festival, where the North American premiere is valued for short films, and the Generation section of the Berlin Festival, which has the European premiere as a requirement, as opposed to the international and world premiere of the festival’s other sections.
#2 Regional Premiere
It is the next step after the national premiere. It is the first screening in a specific region. For example, in Spain, the Cinema Jove Festival requires the premiere in the Valencian Community for short films.
#3 Local Premiere
Along the same lines as the regional premiere, the local premiere represents the first screening of your film in a specific city.
There are some well-known cases, such as the New York City premiere required by the Tribeca Festival, or in Austin, as required by the Austin Festival.
In Conclusion
Here is a graphic summary, in pyramid form, of the different premiere options in relation to the intensive and selective strategy.
Keep in mind that one screening can represent several premieres. For example, if you premiere in Madrid, it represents the world premiere, local premiere, regional premiere in the Community of Madrid, and national premiere in Spain, in addition to the European premiere.
The premiere on other continents, the international premiere, and the national, regional, or local premiere in other countries would remain pending.
I hope I have helped you review these concepts and, above all, to better move your film.
See you in the comments!