Internet Based Research: Part 4 - Festivals

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I viewed the following websites -:

www.encounters-festival.org.uk
www.kinofilm.org.uk
www.sohoshorts.com
www.shortfilms.org.uk
www.leedsfilm.com

How do the festivals market and promote themselves?
Most festivals send out advertising literature to interested organisations such as specialist schools, colleges, universities or interested individuals who sign up for a monthly newsletter via the internet. They promote themselves through their home websites and via other internet options such as face book and twitter. Many festivals market themselves through local radio stations and newspapers or take ads out in various media magazines.

Why is it important for a short to be screened at one?
Firstly, it can be seen as a positive way of building a successful career. It is also like having a showcase of the final product and would-be-filmmakers can hand out publicity postcards.

Who attends these festivals?
Known star actors and actresses, professional directors and producers, writers looking for inspiration, the sponsors of the event, amateur and awarding winning filmmakers, educational bodies and people just interested in the event itself.

How are festivals supported?
Festivals are supported by a variation of sponsors and funding organisations, for example the following film festivals have sponsorship and funding from:

Encounters Short Film Festival – Bristol City Council, University of Bristol, South West screen, Aardman, Hp Invent, Skillset, Films@59, Watershed, UK lottery, Film 4 and ITV West.

Kino Film festival – The Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, Parcel Force,
Northwest Vision Media, AMO Cinemas, BBC Film Network, Brunel University, Cultural Diversity Network and the Lottery.

Soho short Film Festival – Sony, Rushes,, Daily Motion, 142 Ascent, Facebook, and Universal.

London Short Film Festival – B- Side, shooting People, UK film Council, Clear Cut Pictures and the National Lottery.

Leeds International Film Festival – Leeds City Council, University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University, Hyde Park Picture House, Vue Cinemas, Magnitude, Screen Yorkshire, Yorkshire Evening Post and Twitch.

What have I noticed about the structure/style of the websites?
All the websites are well structured with media effects, their funding organisations and sponsors are clearly listed for advertisement reasons. Each site promotes its festival with awards, news and updates relating to the next festival

What are the other key national festivals for short films?
BBC British Short Film Festival,
Foyle Film Festival,
Telluride Film Festival,
The Times BFI London Film Festival,
Halloween – London short Film Festival.

What are the key international festivals for short films?
Athens International Film Festival,
Aspen Shorts Festival,
Bilbao Film Festival,
Cannes Festival,
Cleveland International short Film Festival,
Clermont – Ferrand International short film Festival,
Flickerfest International short Film Festival,
Los Angeles Short Film Festival,
Over the Fence Short film Festival,
Worldwide Short Film Festival.

National and International student film festivals.
www.exposures festival.co.uk

This is the United Kingdom’s largest film and moving image festival, which has been held for seventeen consecutive years in Manchester. The festival is held during the month of November to students from the UK and it is supported by a number of sponsors. The films are shown to a cinema audience and the entered students to have the opportunity to see how the TV and film industry works. There are also ten different awards to be won:

Animation Award
Artist Film Award
Cinematography Award
BBC Best of North Award
Documentary Award
Live Action Award
Post Production Award
Programmers Choice Award
Grand Jury Award
Corona Extra Audience Award

www.screenfastfest.org.uk

The Screen Test is a national student film festival, which a three day event that is held in Bristol at the end of February each year. Although only a fairly new event which has only been running for the past six years, it is becoming increasingly popular with students from the Uk. The whole venue is entirely organised by students too. They are supported and sponsored primarily by Sub TV, Deloitte, Odeon, Cobra, BAFTA, The Uk Film Council and Avid.

There are thirteen different awards to be won:

Best Film
Best Animation
Best Comedy
Best Drama
Best Music Video
Best Thriller/Horror
Best Script
Best Sound
Best Cinematography
Best Acting
Technical Achievement Award
Film Society Achievement Award
Audience Choice Award

www.isffhollywood.org

The International Student Film Festival Hollywood is a two day event in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, America. This annual festival takes place in the month of November and invites students from around the world to submit their work. The festival itself is sponsored by a number of international and American sponsors. The entered films for the festival are then judged prior to the event, by a panel of professionals that include teachers, filmmakers, writers, directors, producers, actors, distributors, agents, film critics and journalists.
All entries that have not been produced in English will need to have English sub titles. The entries that are selected to be shown at the festival are grouped into five different categories:

Feature length films
Short films
Documentary films
Animations
Music Video

There are usually ten individual awards to won

Best Feature
Best Short
Best Documentary
Best Animation
Best Music Video
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Screen Play
Best Cast

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