- How do the festivals market and promote themselves?
ENCOUNTERS:
The Encounters Film Festival is split into two different parts, “Brief Encounters” and “Animated Encounters”. The festival is held in Bristol between 16 – 20th November. This year is the 17th Encounters festival. It began as a one off event in 1995 with Brief Encounters, but proved so popular, it became an annual attraction. Animated Encounters joined in 2001 and has also gained global recognition. It is now the UK’s representative for the prestigious European Cartoon D’Or.
The Festival markets and promotes itself through various social networking and video sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, and Babelgum. It is acknowledged internationally as one of the world’s most respected celebrations of short film.
KINO FILM:
Since 1995, Kino Film aims to promote, educate, and celebrate the medium of short film through exhibition, distribution, promotion, and education. They plan to work towards cultural diversity. The festival is situated in Manchester, however, Kino also have projects in Europe, Australia and Malaysia, with future projects to take place in Brazil, France and New York. In addition to the festival, Kino co-ordinates a youth education project to produce short films with young people, as part of our outreach programme. In 2001, a spate strand of the festival, “Bluefire”, was launched in order to promote cultural diversity in filmmaking.
The festival markets and promotes itself through company sponsors such as, Procam, Firmstart, Unit 4 Films, and British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
SOHO SHORTS (RUSHES):
Rushes Soho Shorts Festival is celebrating its 13th year this year. It takes place from 20th – 29th July. The festival is recognised as one of the UK’s best short film festivals. During the 10 day festival, the work of both established filmmakers and newcomers is viewed and judged. The full program includes over 50 events. 148 films produced across 27 countries have been selected to compete at this year’s festival.
The shorts festival promotes and markets itself through social network sites Twitter and Facebook. Also through other film festivals that are involved such as Sheffield Doc Fest, Edinburgh International Film Fest, and Encounters Film Festival. The festival is promotes itself further through the events venues such as the Apple Store.
LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL:
The London Short Film Festival returned for its 8th edition, running over ten days at ten major London venues from the 7th – 16th January 2011. The festival, organised by Phillip Ilson and Kate Taylor in 2003, was the first Halloween Short Film Festival at the ICA. It was formed as a continuation of Club which had been programming since 1994. It became the London Film Festival in 2008, and has been growing year on year. In 2010, over 6,000 tickets were sold for 42 events with over 200 films screened.
The festival promotes itself through its main funders, the UK Film Council and Film London. It also promotes through sponsors Channel 4, and media partners Rushes Soho Shorts Festival, and the BBC Film Network. Another way is via social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.
LEEDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:
The 25th Leeds International Film Festival is set to be held from 3rd – 20th November 2011. It takes place at twelve venues across Leeds. A variety of film is screened, whether its new releases, comedies, dramas, short films, animation, and anime.
The festival promotes and markets itself through the various venues it takes place at, such as the Hyde Park Picture House and the Leeds Art Gallery. It also promotes through social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. Another way is by the big name films that are shown such as the King’s Speech last year.
- Why is it important to be screened at one?
A new filmmaker who is good enough to have their film screened at a film festival is able to get themself recognised, allowing companies and investors to see the potential. This means that some filmmakers gain contacts or funding for future projects. For experienced filmmakers, it is a chance to receive free advertising when it is screened to the thousands of people that attend each year. Those who achieve awards noted for their brilliance and are looked out for at future festivals.
- Who attends them?
There are a great range of people who attend festivals and all for different reasons. The general public attend mainly for entertainment and in order to broaden their intellectual horizons. Funders, judges and various partners attend to give support to the festival. Also, media companies and investors attend to discover new and existing talent who are screened at the festival. Finally, the filmmakers themselves
attend to promote their film and meet people in the industry.
attend to promote their film and meet people in the industry.
- How are they supported?
The festivals are supported by the sponsors and partners that are involved. Both new and long standing emerge every year to support. They are also supported by the various investors and funding bodies such as the UKFC and regional agencies. Support also comes from the public who attend the events, whom without the festival would not be successful.
- What have you noticed about the structure/ style of the sites?
The style of each of the festival sites was different and unique; however they all had similar structure. Each website had a section marked “About”, detailing information regarding what the festival does and key notes about previous years. All the sites gave lists of their sponsors and partners involved in the festival. I also noticed that each site gave links to the different social networking sites that they were part of, for example, Facebook and Twitter.
- What are the other key national festivals for short films?
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL:
The 55th BFI London Film Festival will take place from 13th – 28th October 2011.
FOYLE FILM FESTIVAL:
Ireland’s 24th Foyle Film Festival will take place from 25th November – 3rd December 2011.
HULL INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL:
The 9th Hull International Film Festival will take place from 6th – 9th October 2011.
- What are the key international festivals for short films?
Top 5 International Film Festivals:
SUNDANCE: http://www.sundance.org/festival/
The 28th Sundance Film Festival will take place from 19th – 29th January 2012 in Park City, Utah, USA.
TORONTO: http://www.sundance.org/festival/
The 36th Toronto International Film Festival will take place from 8th – 18th September 20 in Toronto, Canada.
The 62nd Berlin International Film Festival will take place from 9th – 19th February 2012 in Berlin, Germany.
The 68th Venice Film Festival will take place from 31st August – 10th September 2011 in Lido, Venice, Italy.
The 65th Cannes International Film Festival (Festival de Cannes) will take place from 9th – 20th May 2012 in Cannes, France.
- Find out about any national or international student film festivals.
EXPOSURES: http://www.exposuresfestival.co.uk/
“Exposures” is the UK’s largest festival of student moving image work. It takes place every year in Manchester. The festival gives students the opportunity to showcase their work to an audience, but also gives them insight in to how the TV and film industry works. The next festival is set to take place from 21st – 23rd February 2012.
SCREENTEST FESTIVAL: http://www.screentestfest.org.uk/
The Screentest Festival is a UK National Student Film Festival, sponsored by BAFTA. It is a three day event, which runs from 18th – 20th March at London South Bank University.
WATERSPRITE: http://www.watersprite.org.uk/
Watersprite is the Cambridge International Student Film Festival. It is a society run by students, with the assistance of patron, Hilary Bevan Jones. The festival gives young filmmakers a chance to meet professionals, but also other student filmmakers. Watersprite Awards ceremony was sponsored by YouTube.
Flicks International Short Film Festival takes place in Groningen, Netherlands. This year, the second annual festival was held from 11th -12th March. The festival showcases short films made by students from all over the globe. It gives aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to have their work shown to a diverse audience.
