A Realistic Film Festival Strategy

[@alexalexis7899]

It is also often the case that you pour your heart into a film, with craft as polished as your resources and allow, and it goes nowhere. Actually, it is often the case for that to happen with more than a few films - you pour all you have into it and the only thing you get is wasted energy, time and likely debts. How do you counter that?

[@kyleohlendieck]

I think the best thing to do is to examine your film for what you could have done better. Did you really spend enough time developing a compelling idea? Did you pre-visualise your scenes in order to make the most out of them? Did you spend your money and other resources on the right aspects of the film or did you cut important corners? Is there an external reason your film didn’t go where you wanted it to (no industry contacts, wrong festival submissions)? If you want to go further, you need to identify the specific things that are holding you back. Ask other filmmakers for feedback if you’re not sure

[@alexalexis7899]

@@kyleohlendieck My question was rhetorical. Having a breakthrough that leads to career in filmmaking, now more than ever, is akin to winning the lottery. Once inside, you only stay there if you’re actually competent, yes, but being competent - or good, or extremely good, or outstanding - in itself does not guarantee a way in and there isn’t any roadmap that people can use to elevate the probability of that happening above 50%. So, being competent at your craft and having a good idea will, at any given moment, give you a 50% chance at best to actually break through. If you have a once in a lifetime holy shit idea that you manage to materialize competently, then it can push the probability needle above 50% - but those types of ideas are happenstance; no one can willingly come up with them of even morph something else into “holy shit” status, because if hard work and dedication were enough, we would have a lot of films based on holy shit ideas, and we don’t. A breakthrough is about luck more than anything else - and you can go your entire life doing everything in your power and being good at your craft without ever having a lucky break. I would love to believe the opposite, but reality has showed me differently.

[@kyleohlendieck]

*Note: the comment I replied to was deleted here but I'll leave my comment because I still think the link and info is potentially helpful* I hear what you're saying and there are countless success stories that attribute their success to luck. But luck sounds kind of magical or mythical. What people are usually referring to are opportunities, which are largely out of your control but you can absolutely increase your exposure to. You mention the probability needle being at 50% but I see it this way: if you don't do anything you're at 0% chance of succeeding, if you do something you increase that chance - let's say up to 10%, if you regularly evaluate your approach and learn how to adjust your strategy it increases again - let's say up to 20%, if you find a mentor or build industry connections it increase again - let's say up to 30%, if you persist and build this over years everything compounds - let's say up to 50%...and so on. You need to assess how people become directors and make sure you're putting your energy into those things. So don't just pour yourself into your film - pour yourself into getting your film seen, pour yourself into meeting likeminded film professionals, pour yourself into developing your understanding of the industry etc. I would really recommend this comprehensive article that includes testimonials from actual directors: www.careersinfilm.com/film-director/. There's actually also some great academic journal articles with data on the careers of film directors if you're into that sort of thing. Of course, there is always a chance you still won't make it but does that mean you should stop making films? No way! I'll make films whether I'm a big fat millionaire or drinking soup out of a shoe. Besides the traditional industry might not hold out much longer. There are definitely new ways of making and distributing films on the horizon. Anyway, you probably didn't want this wall of text and just needed to vent but I hope you keep going and keep shooting Alex!

[@91toinfinity]

Thanks for this video. It was really clear and helpful.

[@kyleohlendieck]

You’re welcome. Glad you liked it!

[@pedrovisgueira]

thank you for this video. the type of specific content I need. subscribed

[@kyleohlendieck]

Glad you liked it. More coming!

[@DesignedbyKirk]

Excellent video Kyle, 100% going to be coming back to it festival time and generally

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks so much. Glad you liked it and welcome aboard!

[@mateimircea6095]

Absolutely great insights!

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks, glad you got something out of it!

[@sanjay24fps]

Overlay was disturbing, but the video was really informative and good

[@kyleohlendieck]

Glad you got something out of the video. Corrected the overlay for the other parts of this series

[@sheikhbudz]

hello im currently in the process of submitting my film into festivals, cant' wait for the in depth strategy video because there are just too many festivals out there. THANK YOU

[@kyleohlendieck]

Exciting! Glad to hear it. I'm deep into pre-production for my next short film so I probably won't be able to post a new video for a while (let's see!). If you're based in Europe and submitting a short I would recommend the Short Film Network film festival list from the European Film Academy. It's also worth taking a look at what festivals your favourite films (or films similar to your style of filmmaking!) played at. Hope this helps for now. Best of luck!

[@sheikhbudz]

@@kyleohlendieck Yes, i'm targeting mostly festivals that are top mid-tier festivals. Thank you and good luck on your film!

[@DennySaladino]

Really Informative! Thank you!

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks, glad it was helpful!

[@AIGHT1111]

Amazing advice and love the style

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@gcoelhow]

Great video. Loved the overlay.

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks! The overlay loves you too

[@redlightmonkey17]

this channel is so underrated!

[@kyleohlendieck]

My man! Thanks!

[@Aluenvey]

I definitely more toward art house drama, even if very slightly in the realm horror.

[@filmkonstrukteur]

Great advice! Thank you for your effort!

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@GiannaMakesMovies]

This was really helpful! Thank you 🙏

[@kyleohlendieck]

Glad to hear it! You’re welcome :)

[@einProfi]

nice video! But next time please turn down the opacity of that overlay, it makes the video 10x harder to watch

[@kyleohlendieck]

Already sorted it for the next one. Thanks for the heads up!

[@luker1ng]

This is awesome!

[@kyleohlendieck]

Glad you liked it!

[@Divide-Films]

Super valuable advice. Underrated channel

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks, glad you were able to gain something from it!

[@racket_productions]

It looks amazing. What overlay are people talking about. I don’t see it.

[@kyleohlendieck]

Haha thanks. They're referring to this noisey white texture that sometimes makes the text unreadable

[@andrejh.6335]

You have some very good tips but good God, the visuals are so distracting haha

[@kyleohlendieck]

Yeah, I will definitely avoid it during on-screen text in future haha

[@andrejh.6335]

@@kyleohlendieck Much appreciated

[@HamdiGh-l2m]

Thank you ❤

[@kyleohlendieck]

You're welcome!

[@FormulaSpace]

Great video

[@kyleohlendieck]

Thanks!

[@LeeTrouble]

I like the video, makes me seasick though

[@kyleohlendieck]

Haha don't worry. I have adjusted the visuals for the next one. Hopefully with less side effects

[@LeeTrouble]

@@kyleohlendieck ♥

[@finegrainfilms.]

great information. not a fan of the distracting annoying overlay however

[@kyleohlendieck]

Yeah, I think for the sections with text it’s a bit overkill. Thanks for the feedback!

[@tothejazz4828]

very funny that a video about success in film festivals is blighted by an annoying overlay

[@mhchun]

thank you

[@kyleohlendieck]

You're welcome!

[@grantgreyguda]

👍 👍