Attending a Film Festival

If you are a film buff but not a film professional you may be wondering whether you can attend a film festival. Seeing the new film submissions and walking the streets of the festival alongside film legends is an experience not to be missed.

There are several ways to experience a film festival. If you live in the area, you may be fortunate enough to hop in the car and go to a screening without much effort or investment. Get a schedule of the screenings and find out which ones are by invitation only and which ones are open to the public. Some films are screened more than once so don’t be disappointed if you don’t make the first viewing. Some film festivals provide entry passes to local patrons to make friends with the community and make up for the disruption and traffic.  

Another way you can experience a film festival is to make reservations well in advance for airline, hotel and rental cars and go as an observer. Many people who do this are less interested in the films than the celebrities. They come armed with cameras and good walking shoes and a lot of patience. They wait on sidewalks and near red carpets and screening venues in hopes of seeing their favorite stars.

As a film professional, you can often attend with open access and passes to most if not all events. Cinematographers, screen writers, actors, actresses, directors and producers rub elbows with media and studio personnel. Careers can be launched at the biggest film festivals and careers can hit bottom.  

It is popular for well-known actors to take part in independent films today, often foregoing a salary or working for union scale to stretch their acting muscles. The participation of such a celebrity does not ensure the success of the film however and in some cases, the popular actors will take this change to experiment. The results are not always positive but the most industry professionals applaud this kind of experimentation and the willingness of actors to take risks.  

If you attend a film festival screening of such a film, you may be one of the few people to see the performance. Not every film screened at a film festival makes it to the big screen in your community. Seeing these films can make you feel like a real insider and enhance your artistic awareness. If you have the opportunity to attend a film festival, don’t pass it up. You may see some films you don’t like, but you will be better for the experience.