Features
Feeling hungry for a cinematic main course to really chew over? Welcome to our tasty Features section where we’ll serve you up dispatches from the front line of filmmaking, polemic from the festival cheap seats, and mouth-watering news of industry developments across the UK.
Being of the mind that too many cooks only makes an even tastier broth we’d love to hear from you if you’re planning a film-related adventure and would like to report back to us.
To start us off though tuck into the 10 Point Plan that NFN Editor Kate Taylor delivered at the Liverpool Filmmakers Night in January 2007.
10 Point Plan to Getting Your Short Film the Audience it Deserves
1. Research Deadlines
Before you start shooting, make sure you consider an exhibition strategy. This can be as simple as asking what kind of film will it be and what kind of festival will show it. There are many genre-specific festivals and don’t forget to look for local festivals if you want to screen to cast and crew. Look at the British Council’s database and find out the deadlines of any festivals you are planning to submit to. Bear in mind that sending films out takes time and costs money. Put 5% of your film’s budget to postage to festivals.
British Council: Directory of International Film and Video Festivals
Matt Hulse’s Film Festival Guide
2. Stills Photography
For film festival brochures or websites, photographic stills are the one thing that will sell your film to potential audiences. Often when there is not space only one film per programme will get an image in the brochure – make sure it’s yours. Have a dedicated stills photographer on-set, introduce them to the crew, and even if they grumble and want to rush to the next set-up make sure you get photos with the film’s lighting set up. Have a couple of photos at 300dpi for print and 72dpi for web ready to send, don’t rely on screen grabs.
Our favourite short film still ever! – We have decided not to die
3. Your Own Website
Have your own website with simple information about the film and your contact details. Keep an up-to-date list of festivals screened and upcoming screenings. A festival will prioritise marketing for all of its screening, and its worth you doing your own bit of promotion. Keep a simple database of people who might want to know about your film and send an e-mail newsletter when you have something important to tell them – but don’t spam. Here are some simple Filmmaker websites we rate:
Filmmaker Website: Simon Ellis
Filmmaker Website: L’Institute Zoom
Filmmaker Website: The Blaine Brothers
4. British Council and UK Film Council
The British Council are an excellent resource of which not everyone is aware. They select around 50 short films a year which they promote to programmers at international festivals. If selected they cover print/tape transport costs and sometimes travel grants for filmmakers. They also publish an annual book, the British Films Catalogue that includes all the features produced in the UK that year and the British shorts that have got into major festivals.
British Council: The British Films Catalogue
5. Festival Etiquette
If you can attend, do. And bring people too. It can be a nerve wracking experience seeing your work on the big screen in front of an audience, but this is what you’ve made it for, so savour your moment. When the screening is over if the organiser is there, say hello, and try to meet other filmmakers as well. You are part of a community and you never know who could be a potential collaborator or ally in the future.
Never walk out in the middle of your programme because your film has finished – this is extremely rude to the other filmmakers and festival programmers will remember you and you will be blacklisted! Another no no is sending abusive e-mails if your film is not accepted. The film industry in the UK is a very small world and a lot of folk who work in it are doing it for love, so bad reputations are not desirable.
6. Screening Nights
Outside of the film festival scene there are plenty of interesting informal screening nights and these are definitely worth sending your film to and attending for the joy of watching short films with a drink in your hand.
7. Dazzle / Shorts International
These are sales agents who sell short films to TV companies, airlines and mobile phone companies. They are looking for shorts with commercial potential and they scour film festivals as well as inviting open submissions.
8. Internet / TV / Big Screen
There are now more opportunities than ever to screen your work online. Find out about current opportunities in the NFN weekly newsletter, and in the meantime have a good look around the BBC Film Network, an ace resource for British shorts.
9. Keep Up!
Make sure you’re informed with what’s going on in the film world by reading all about it. These people exist to give you the information you need to get along and push things forward with your filmmaking. We all want a robust independent film scene because we all want to see some cool films by new filmmakers.
10. Don’t give up.
There is a lot of competition and festival rejections are a common experience. Don’t take it personally. Keeping shooting, watching other people’s films and learning, and keep trying.
