Fledgling filmmakers practise their trade far from the glitter of Hollywood . In backyards , in small studios or on local exercise set they metamorphose their vision into a film that they hope will one day be seen by thousands or even millions of people around the human race . What they may lack in budget and star might they more than make up for in raw ambition .
Independent filmmakersmight remain eternally in obscureness were it not forfilm festivals . These annual events , where films are screened and professionally judged , are held around the world . At cinema festivals , movie theater fans can see the newfangled – and sometimes daring – films they would never be able to find in their local motion-picture show theaters .
pic festivals give new talent an chance to fall , while also showcasing the employment of already well - known and respected movie maker . festival can range from immense , principal - constellate events , such as the Cannes festival in France or the Sundance Film Festival in the United States , to diminished , autonomous , local awards that garner just a few hundred attendees . But all festival have something in coarse : They celebrate the art of pic and they champion the creative person who bring about it .
In this article , we ’ll chat some of the globe ’s biggest , smallest and quirkiest film fete . We ’ll distinguish how you may go to an consequence , how you may go in a film in a fete , how the picture are judged and what the rewards are for those movie maker who win .
What are Film Festivals?
Film festival are events staged by university , private organizations , local politics , arts association and/or film social club . They supply an opportunity for unknown movie maker to get their movies in front of a real liveaudienceand to have their filmsreviewed by professional critics . movie maker whose movies get accepted into a festival also get valuablepress attentionandexposure to prospective agents and buyers , not to mention a sometimes sizeablecash awardif they win .
Some festivals are unspecific in scope – they receive a broad range of mountains of subject matter and pic lengths . But other festivals are far more specialize : They may take only comedy , only Judaic films or only films made by female directors , for example . Some festivals are specific to one film genre , such as documentary film , or to one length , such as shorts .
What differentiates a plastic film festival from , say , theAcademy Awards , is theopen submission insurance . Most festivals take on submission from any filmmaker , regardless of his or her retiring experience or budget . A issue of festival even invite pupil to enter and may have a special laurels class for student films .
How Can I Submit a Film?
Each flick festival has its own solidifying of rules . in the main , filmmaker are given adeadlineby which they want to submit their film(s ) . Some fete accept films that have already been screened elsewhere ; others require that films have not been circulate anywhere prior to the festival .
Movies entered may range from boxers that are just a few minutes in distance to full - distance features that run 1.5 hour or more . Festivals accept one or moreformats , include 35 mm , 16 mm , Super 8 , VHS , Beta and / orDVD . film producer pay off anentry fee(anywhere from $ 5 for a five - minute short to $ 100 for a feature film ) and fulfill out aformdescribing their project . They may also be inquire to submit a director bio , a motion picture still , a synopsis and a listing of production citation . dawn hereto take a looking at the Call for Entries for Sundance 2006 .
Not every pic is right for every fete . take a film to the improper fete is likely to end in rejection . Before submit a film for consideration , filmmakers need to research which fete are most appropriate for their national . The biggest and most prestigious festivals ( Cannes and Sundance ) are usually the hard to break into because there is so much challenger for a limited turn of slots . In 2004 , the Sundance festival received nearly 6,000 submissions ; it accepted 255 of those motion picture . New film producer have a better opportunity of getting into a smaller festival and then make their style up to the big - name festivals once they have achieved a few successes .
Film festivals are typically divide into categories . Categories may admit :
If a motion-picture show is accepted , the festival personal organiser notify the movie maker . At the festival , the movie is screen for thejuryas well as for theaudience . The jury is usually made up of photographic film critics , prof and/or filmmakers who will label each film for its esthetic merit , output time value , creative thinking and overall effect . Judging differs from festival to fete ; but usually , each phallus of the jury votes by undercover ballot , and the cinema that receives the majority of votes wins .
Most film festivals also give the consultation an opportunity to judge . Its selection is reflected in a specialaudience laurels .
Often , while the screenings are afoot in one part of a film festival , there are coincident workshops on screenwriting , film output , finding an agent and other subjects related to the art and business of filmmaking . They are usually open to filmmaker and anyone else concerned in film .
Notable North American Festivals
The United States and Canada are home to dozen of festival , both big and little . Here are just a few :
Specialized and Unique Festivals
Festivals Around the World
gossip just about any big city in the world and you ’ll find at least one one-year motion-picture show fete . There are literally thousands of them – from Albania to Zimbabwe . But the undisputed grande wench of international film festivals isCannes , which for more than 50 year has light up the French Riviera with its glittering , star - studded spectacle .
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes is as much an consequence in itself as it is a vitrine for some of the unspoiled moving-picture show in the humanity . Its blood-red carpet is graced by some of Hollywood ’s A - list renown , and its roster of past winners reads like a film buff ’s bible : " Easy Rider " ( 1969 ) , " Taxi Driver " ( 1976 ) , " Apocalypse Now " ( 1979 ) , " Pulp Fiction " ( 1994 ) and " Fargo " ( 1996 ) .
The winning feature at Cannes each yr walk aside with the prizedPalme d’Oralong with cosmopolitan acknowledgement . Other award given out let in the Grand Prix , the Jury Prize , Best Performance by an Actress and Actor , Best Director and Best Screenplay . There are also individual prizes given out to scant picture show . For more information , seeHow the Cannes Film Festival Works .
Berlin International Film Festival
The two other large name in the international film festival circuit are theBerlin International Film Festival(Berlinale ) in Germany ( seeGeneral Regulations for Entering Films in the Berlinale 2005to find out about resign andBerlinale : Ticketsto learn about attend ) , and theVenice International Film Festival(Venice Biennele ) in Italy .
The Berlin Film Festival was founded in 1951 , just six year after the end of World War II , as part of an attempt to restore Germany to its former artistic resplendence . The first flick screened at the Festival was " Rebecca , " Alfred Hitchcock ’s 1940 adjustment ofDaphne Du Maurier ’s novelby the same name . The Berlin International Film Festival quickly gained momentum , and by the mid-1950s , it rivaled Cannes and Venice as one of the premier film festival in the earth .
Each February , an International Jury decides which film will be grant the top swag at Berlin – theGolden Berlin Bearand theSilver Berlin Bear . trophy are also give out for Best Director , Best Actor and Actress , Outstanding Artistic Contribution , Best Film Music , Best European Film and Innovation in Film . Other honour are given by a separate panel to short films .
Venice International Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival ( see theVenice Biennele FAQto find out about submitting andVenice Biennele : Ticketsto learn about attending ) has a much longer history than its similitude in Berlin . In fact , it is theoldest film festival in the man . It evolved out of a Venice art exhibition that had its head start back in the late 1800s . In 1930 , the event was exposit to include music , theater and cinema . From 1935 onward , the film festival became an annual part of the Biennele . The famous filmmakerFederico Fellinionce order that " enter the Film Palace of the Venice Film Festival was like passing a final exam . "
The Venice International Film Festival lasts for 10 days each September . The large challenger is theVenezia 61 , in which film producer vie for theGolden Lionaward for best film . trophy are also award in several other categories including best myopic film and best first feature of speech .
For more information on film festivals and related matter , check out the tie on the next Thomas Nelson Page .
