HOW TO START A FILM FESTIVAL (12 Insider Tips)

In this video, Timothy Schultz gives insider tips on how to start a film festival! Timothy is the founder and director of the Mile High Horror Film Festival (MHHFF), which he founded in 2010.
MHHFF Official Website: bit.ly/1xQ4IUX
#howtostartafilmfestival

[@MasonDodson]

Thank you so much for making this. Really informative. Currently working on putting together my first film festival/competition and all your tips were very helpful

[@middelinfieldfilms4170]

Congratulations on your film festival and thanks so much for this video. I'm also in Colorado and planning to start a sports-based film festival. Thanks again and wish you continued success.

[@miker6908]

Thank you for this!

[@Angelicnwatv]

Nice one mate... pls we need more of this.. your YT doesn't have more as you stated

[@PointBlankP]

Thank you for these tips. I really appreciate them.

[@ArshennaHines]

Thank you for this video very informative!

[@ricrebelo]

I have run Horror Film Festivals in the past and want to start a new one in my hometown. Which submission service is the cheapest? Starting slow and keeping costs low at first

[@TimothySchultz]

Thanks for your questions! That's great that you've run horror film festivals and plan on starting a new one. Starting slow and keeping costs low is wise. For a submission service, I recommend Film Freeway. They are now the company with the largest reach to the most filmmakers. Their prices in my opinion are fair for what they provide.

[@moonshinefilms]

Do you have any tips on starting a useful virtual film festival post-covid-19 world?

[@TimothySchultz]

Thanks for your question! Yes, I have quite a few of them. Is there anything specific you want to know? Are you starting a new festival or converting one to virtual?

[@minibuffon1]

@@TimothySchultz Well this also relates to me, I'm just starting a new film festival and it's going to be online. Any tips would be AMAZING. You can check out my site or film freeway page if you want (but I think you're a bit busy!) It's called lion film festival

[@soupcastle8210]

I just moved to a up and coming city in Texas and want to make a film festival for my community

[@TimothySchultz]

That's amazing! I hope this video was helpful. Things are also really changing with this Coronavirus in terms of festival pivoting to digital options, at least for the time being.

[@balgovind81]

Thanks...

[@TimothySchultz]

I hope it was helpful!

[@SFCFilms]

Doh !Wished I’d watched this video before I started my film fest. Missed a couple of steps, but thanks mate very useful video and Gives me tangible steps. If you’re open to it would love to pick your brain but my genre is space scifi and space documentaries, i.e space exploration related. I can use all the help I can get. Good on you.

[@chrissmith7259]

Great video. Thanks Timothy

[@TimothySchultz]

Thank you! 🙂

[@rosachavez2590]

What types of events are in film festivals other than the screening?

[@DenverVinylGuy]

Great video, very articulate. Thank you for this. I did have a question for you without getting too personal. I'm looking to start a film festival in my smaller Colorado city. In the early years of MHHFF did you have much success with sponsorships and other means of subsidizing costs? I'm prepared to front the majority of the costs for our first year but was just curious what your experience was with sponsors in the early years.

[@TimothySchultz]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and hope it was helpful. In regards to sponsorships in the early years of the MHHFF, we were able to get in-kind donations and discounts on things, but it was much more difficult to get money. However, if you're a non-profit that might be different because then it would be a tax write-off. In-kind donations can include swag, food, drinks, etc. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

[@cryptoslides6858]

Nice! How many days was your first event? Like how many persons turned up for your maiden event?

[@mediamaniaable]

Excellent, informative video. I would like to start a live classic film festival of my own just like TCM's and invite TCM to be a sponsor. I'm planning to do it sometime next year after the current pandemic is over, and I intend to make it a biannual event. I believe TCM's Classic Film Festival shouldn't have to be the only major classic film festival in America.

[@TimothySchultz]

Thanks for your comment and for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed the video; hopefully, it's helpful. That's exciting about the classic film festival! I agree with you that there is a market for it. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@RhapsodeMEDIA]

LOVED ❤💚💙🙏

[@ala3916]

Your thoughts on having "Opening Night" (Aka Day 1) on a Weekday (Mon-Thur) versus on a Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) ? One festival director who I know once told me that she prefers to start her festival on a Friday because "starting on a weekday" you will generally have less attendance. Do you believe this particular statement is true? I do not. Bc regardless of when you have your "opening night" (weekday vs weekend) you will still have to have a strong marketing push regardless. People will not attend a festival just "coming off the street" or "passing by". Ppl are attending bc you have specifically "targeted" them. Am i correct? Your Thoughts? Your festival marketing budget can be virtually $0 and all festival & individual film marketing/promotion can be done via websites & social media...

[@TimothySchultz]

Thanks for your message; that's an excellent question. I held opening night on Fridays the first few years of the festival and then added Thursday once we were a bit larger and I knew the demand was there for it. I've even considered adding a Wednesday and know plenty of other festivals that run multiple weeks. I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer. My opinion is that it does have a lot to do with the size of your festival and whether you can fill the seats on weekdays. I've found in general, the larger the festival, the more apt it is to include weekdays and it's not uncommon to have opening nights during the week. It also might depend on your costs of adding a day versus how much you would generate, which also comes down to how many people will show up on a weekday. If you're just starting a film festival, I would opt to stick with the weekend and then consider expanding in the future if the demand is high. And yes, I agree with you that the formula to get people to show up is in the marketing, advertising and press coverage. Your target audience likely won't show up if they don't know about it. Hopefully, this is helpful!