The most important lesson learned: GO TO THE FESTIVAL! Creating a social experience out of the entire week of the event (for festival goers, filmmakers, volunteers, etc.) is not only the best way to keep people interested in coming back everyday, but to get them to bring more people. Attendance at the overall festival for anyone marketing one of the films is an important factor in not only filling seats, but filling seats with people who feel a connection to the film and are passionate about it.
Aside from your time spent marketing your film to people at the festival, this circuit is one of the best possible ways to network and socialize with real filmmakers. Develop relationships, make connections, and attempt to impress everybody you meet by making your film (that you're marketing) a memorable one for everybody!
Jeph Alexander at the florida film festival
The first screening (4:30 PM, Sunday the 11th) had 109/280 seats filled at the Regal theater. The second screening (1:30 PM, Friday the 16th) had 76/230 seats filled at the Enzian. We were fighting two show times that were not very ideal. However, as I said before, the audience we did receive was terrific because we were able to develop a connection between them and the film before they came. Quality over quantity may not be an efficient way to run an entire festival, but is certainly a way to keep good vibes between the festival and the community it's in.
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