Community & Support: Festival Strategy Advice Sessions

Do you have a question about the film festival circuit or need help with your feature film's international festival strategy? During lockdown we're providing a series of free, bespoke one-to-one advice sessions to help you make plans.

About the sessions

We're offering 6 x bookable 1-1 sessions, each lasting 20 mins, available each week while the traditional film festival world is locked down. Sessions are bookable on Tuesdays and Thursdays with flexible times available, and will be scheduled to suit once you have been allocated a meeting. The surgeries are hosted by Rowan Woods, our Film Programme Manager (Festivals) and are completely free to book.

The festival circuit is experiencing a period of great uncertainty due to COVID-19. The situation is evolving and there may be lasting changes that have yet to materialise. While it might be hard to provide definitive answers on what will happen to the remainder of the 2020 circuit, there are still some guiding principles that remain when thinking about how best to approach your festival strategy.

Who are they for?

These sessions are aimed at UK-based filmmakers who have completed or are about to complete a feature, and who do not currently have a sales agent on board. (Do note we are also offering Short Support Salons for short filmmakers).

We’d particularly welcome conversations with filmmakers from under-represented groups in the industry and who have not yet had festival experience.

We plan to offer each session with onscreen transcription and can schedule meeting times flexibly to suit those with caring responsibilities.

Sessions can be conducted on zoom or by telephone, to suit you. Each session will last 20 mins – and please note that Rowan will not be able to watch or read anything in advance.

What we need in from you

• Some basic information about your project
• A short note detailing what you would like to get out of the session

How to book a meeting

You can book your slot here

Places will be allocated on a first come basis and you will be contacted via email to arrange a convenient time.