Use Film Festivals + YouTube For A Successful Film Run

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Film Festivals PLUS YouTube 

The goal of any filmmaker first and foremost is to get their movie seen. The movie getting seen does two things, it can help you to get more movies made because someone now wants you to make movies(audience) and it gives you income. The income can come from various places like being paid to make another film or earning revenue from the distribution of your film.

Again, all that starts with getting your film seen. For the chance of the greatest success for your film and for your film career, I think you should focus on two important areas.

Industry Recognition

Audience Awareness

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Why Does Industry Recognition Matters

It is usually everyone’s goal to get some type of studio or production company behind your next film or your film career so that you can keep making films. Also, those relationships with studios and production companies can take a lot of weight off of your shoulders so you can focus on the thing you love most, which could be screenwriting, directing, producing, even cinematography. With the backing of a studio or production company you may have more resources at your disposal to make the films you want, and to focus on the films you want to make.

Before we dive in, it is important to remember that even if you are recognized by people in the industry, it doesn’t mean they will just scoop you up to make your next film. They may be waiting to see what you do next before they take a chance on you, but at least they may recognize your name or your work.

Film Festivals For a Speedy Route

The fastest way to industry recognition is through film festivals. The more top tier the festival the more likely you will receive industry recognition. Think Cannes, Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, Toronto, SXSW, et cetera.

Not all festivals are created equal. There are an estimated 10,000 film festivals world wide. Among those, 5-10% will have some type of industry representation or recognition. For the this article talking about industry recognition, your goal would be to only focus on film festivals that could get you recognized. You will want to put your energy in finding the right festival that suits your film that also can give you the most industry exposure.

In order to get the most from that exposure, you will want to be able to attend the film festival as well. If your film is seen by the right people, you want to be around so that you can meet in person and have conversations. It is not enough to just have your film screened at the festival. You need to be able to network, take meetings, and mingle as well.

BONUS TIP* Make sure in your film budget for distribution and marketing you put in costs for travel, hotel, food, and other expenses associated with attending the festivals around the world.

Who Is Industry Recognition?

Maybe you don’t get an executive producer or studio or producer or production company interested in your film or you at a festival. But maybe you get an agent interested in repping you, knowing you will be good for their roster, especially new agents are looking for new talents. Maybe you get a manager who can see a collaborative career with you and they know if they can help you get your next film made then agents studios and production companies are going to be inclined to work with you.

Even an actor, director, or writer may be interested in working with you on their next project or your next project. Industry recognition can be from various people and have various opportunities. The main idea is that it helps you get your next film made within the scope of the indie or hollywood industry.

Industry recognition is one side of the coin for a successful film run and for a career in filmmaking. It can definitely help lead you to get more films made.

The Other Side of the Coin Is Audience Awareness.

You need an audience to see your film. That is the WHOLE point of making a film, so that someone will watch it. After the film festival run, the best place to ensure you get the the most audience attention is through YouTube. YouTube is the most powerful and largest streaming service on the planet. Though many people don’t think of it as a streaming service, you should, because when you do, you can understand it’s ability and power as a distribution platform for your film.

YouTube gives you the chance to build the largest audience awareness. Unlike other platforms that only have a certain number of subscribers around the world, YouTube is open and free to the entire world. That audience growth and awareness then allows you to earn a revenue through the long tail.

When we talk about the "long tail" for a film on YouTube, we're referring to how it can continue to attract viewers and generate revenue long after its initial release. Instead of just relying on a big burst of views when it's first uploaded, the long tail means that the film can keep getting smaller but consistent numbers of views over a long period. This happens because YouTube's algorithm can keep recommending the film to new viewers based on their interests, and it can be discovered through searches or related videos. So, even though it might not be a huge hit right away, the film can build a cumulative audience over time, leading to a steady stream of income and increased visibility in the long run.

This can help you continue on your career even if you don’t have industry recognition because a supportive audience will want to keep seeing you make films.

Audience awareness can help build industry awareness.

If enough people watch your movie on YouTube, it could be recognized by the industry too. In my article about proof of concepts I gave two examples of short films that lead to feature films for filmmakers because of them posting their shorts on YouTube.

Two Sides of The Film Career Coin

A film festival may get you to build industry awareness.

YouTube builds and creates audience awareness…which can also build industry awareness.

Those are the two sides of a winning coin.

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