Opal Films’ Post

Everyone’s talking about where the Sundance Film Festival will live in the future, but a more compelling question may be this: How do independent filmmakers plan to distribute their films and create real careers when even Sundance — wherever it may be based — is not enough? That’s not a knock on Sundance, or on any festival; it’s recognizance that the world has changed. Many films don’t sell, even at Sundance. The decline in theatergoing, the change in streamers’ strategies, the rise of arthouse events: No one knows what the new normal is, but today putting faith in selling a movie at its premiere and living happily ever is not even a fairy tale; it’s a toxic myth. #IndependentFilmmaking #FilmDistribution #SundanceFilmFestival

As challenging as it is to produce an independent film, everything that comes after can be just as difficult. From researching which festivals to apply to, getting the film in front of the intended audience, to finding the right partners for distribution, each step can bring stress and confusion. It often leads us to ask ourselves, “Am I doing the most I can with this piece of art?” For many of us independent film producers, our instinct is to submit our work to film festivals. Personally, I’ve found that with so many festivals out there, it can be hard to determine which ones are worth applying to. How much value do we truly gain from a laurel or from an in-person screening versus an online one? Christine and I had an experience with the Spotlight International Film Festival that completely shifted my perspective on the value these programs can provide to independent filmmakers. Not only did it give us an opportunity to screen "Seen", but it also granted us access to the #AmericanFilmMarket. This experience demystified so much of the journey between completing a short or independent film and getting it in front of the audience it’s meant for. The knowledge we gained made the entire trip to Las Vegas worthwhile—not to mention the opportunity to share our art, connect with talented filmmakers, and learn more about this industry. Grateful for this experience and excited to share "Seen" with everyone in 2025! 💜

Sundance just announced their Official Selections for their 2025 season… but along with the associated acceptance notification emails comes a slew of rejection notifications. For those of you who had your fingers crossed for an early Christmas surprise and are instead left with a Sundance-branded lump of coal, take heart… Some 2024 Sundance Stats: 17,435 total submissions Features: 5,000+ Shorts: 12,000+ Of the 5,000+ features submitted, approximately 2,700 were international Of the 17,435 films submitted, 4,200 were docs (shorts & features). What was Programmed: 135 total films (.0077% of all submissions) 82 feature-length films (.015%) and 53 short films (.004%), both scripted and documentary And, if you’re not already an alumnus, or didn’t go through one of their Sundance Labs, or don’t have a Hollywood star in your cast, your chance for an acceptance is probably even lower. This is why Sundance is considered a “lottery ticket” festival. Can an unknown filmmaker be accepted? Sure, it can happen. But can you count on that ‘win’ to pay next month’s rent, so to speak? If it’s any consolation, you’re in good company, with many Hollywood directors having been rejected by Sundance early in their careers, including Richard Linklater, Ava DuVarnay, Damien Chazelle and Christopher Nolan! The good news is, there are plenty of reputable festivals capable of giving your film great exposure! While not all film festivals are created equal, many are fantastic opportunities for networking, to build your fanbase, for press, to gain reviews, and potentially may lead to distribution. As a festival programmer for the Garden State Film Festival, I can tell you we're currently in the process of making our schedule for our 2025 event... and we're going to end up rejecting some very good films, as we do every year. Believe me, some of these decisions are tough. It’s important to remember that, if a film festival rejects your film, they are not rejecting YOU. Your film was just not a good fit for them for whatever reason that year. It's so subjective, and reasons can vary... Please know that most festival programmers are filmmakers themselves, and we understand the sting of a rejection. We feel your pain. We're always rooting for you and, if you are not accepted this year, please don't let that discourage you from submitting your next film to us in the future. Keep making your art - we're all in this together! Spend the time to do the research and you will find festivals where your film is celebrated, and you will find your film family! If you haven’t yet watched my free webinar, I recommend you set aside 40 minutes and learn how you can Master Your Film Festival Strategy Like an Insider (Without Making Costly Mistakes in the Process)! Start planning now for your 2025 Festival run! https://lnkd.in/epPGzngW

Screen Scotland has launched four film talent development initiatives designed to expand opportunities for filmmakers in #Scotland to make short films or develop their first feature film: 1) Short Film Development and Production 2) Early Development Shorts 3) Community Engagement Workshops 4) Feature Film Script Development Following the publication in March 2024, of its Strategy to 2030 Screen Scotland is introducing four new and emerging talent development initiatives that collectively represent the most ambitious and comprehensive film talent development offer ever seen in Scotland, with a combined annual budget of £1.2 million. As a first step towards delivering its plans, Screen Scotland has today launched a callout for partners to work with Screen Scotland to deliver the four programmes. Read more ➡️https://lnkd.in/eMEUs4Bg

🎥 Want to land deals at the European Film Market #EFM? It’s all about preparation and strategy. Learn 5 proven tips to attract movie deals in Berlin. 🌟 👉 Link in comment

Still awaiting a traditional distribution offer, filmmaker Sharon “Rocky” Roggio leveraged Eventive for Filmmakers (a single film digital DIY digital distribution platform) to reach an audience in 25 countries and net $118,000 in sales. Learn more here: https://loom.ly/iffwM0A

Storytelling and the need to take control of our own stories remain very much on the front burner. Can people be trained to tell good stories? How should such training be imparted and what should it be constituted of? One of the panel sessions at the Kingdom Film Festival (https://lnkd.in/dWPiHcdu) is aimed at responding to questions such as these. The invitation to be a member of this panel came from out of the blue, and I was intrigued by the focus of the festival. According to festival description, "Kingdom Film Festival (KFF) is a festival fully committed to providing platforms for filmmakers to show case their faith-based films and getting distribution plans for them." It is a very concrete focus that draws attention to the fact of niche films, which do not always get a fair play in the general distribution of films. This emphasises for me the variety and, at the same time, specificity of stories. Stories are not one-size-fits-all. Each one has his or her own story to tell, and platforms are required for the different stories. It is interesting to see the wide-ranging efforts being made to provide these platforms.

What impact does redefining theatrical success have on the film industry? Redefining theatrical success can lead to a more sustainable and audience-centric approach in the film industry, encouraging innovation in content creation and distribution strategies. Read more: [Link to the Hollywood Reporter article](https://lnkd.in/dKyVeWDv)

Luminate's latest industry study, tackles 2024 Film Industry Hurdles, an in-depth look into the aftermath of the 2023 strikes, the on-going content contraction and what it means for the future of film: 🎞 Schedule Shake-Ups: Even though the strikes ended in 2023, the impact is ongoing. Learn why major releases like The Batman sequel are being pushed further out and how this opens doors for unexpected hits like Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. 🎥 Studio Spotlight: See how Disney's strategic choices and high-budget blockbusters are shaping the market, and why their gamble on massive productions can be a double-edged sword. 🎬 Payday Display: What do films like Barbie and Murder Mystery 2 have in common? They each have two of the top most paid actors of 2023 in their cast. Download here: https://lnkd.in/gCqm6RYw

Great article on the state of film and screening versus direct to stream. It's a tough road, but many think it worth the effort. This could very well be the future! https://lnkd.in/eGyWjz88