Film Marketing

What is Film Marketing?

• Film Marketing is the practice of promotion and is a crucial component in getting a film viewed by the public.

• Promotion is carried through advertising by a particular company and can determine whether a film is successful. This is because the way in which a film is promoted encourages people to watch the film.

Getting your film seen!

• The key to a successful film is getting it viewed by as many people as possible. This can be achieved of how you get your film seen.

• There are hundreds of films that get made every year but not all of them end up on the big screen in cinemas such as Cineworld and Odeon.

• In order to achieve this there is the option to enter film festivals and competition. This way aspiring directors have a platform to get their film watched on a big scale and by an audience that are interested in different types of films.

Bradford International

Film Festival 2014• The Bradford International Film Festival (BIFF) is a prime example of

this. BIFF is taking place at the UK National Media Museum and has developed into one of the country’s most respected celebrations of cinema. During this, BIFF has welcomed many famous household names in the film making world such as Lords Attenborough and Puttnam.

• This is an ideal way for aspiring film maker to get their films into the industry as BIFF consistently showcases rising talents and have built a prestige international reputation. This will enable film makers to distribute their film to a wider audience.

EXTRA READING

• You can find more information here:

http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/bradfordinternationalfilmfestival

Other Film Festivals

• Besides BIFF there are many other film festival where you can submit your film such as:

• The British Independent Film Festival - http://www.thefilmfestivalguild.com/#!british-independent-film-festival/ck7w

• The BFI Future Film Festival - https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=futurefilmfestival

• Sundance Film Festival - http://www.sundance-london.com/

Benefits of Film Festivals.

• Finding a distributor. A good film will build popularity in film festivals this will encourage respected company’s to advertise and distribute the film.

• Exhibition. Film festival audiences contain individuals that appreciate good film and have a wide range of knowledge about the film industry. Therefore, this will allow your film to be appreciated and criticised from a professional perspective that will better film makers and film making experiences.

• Prizes. The majority of film festivals will have an award for the winner, most likely money. This gives film makers the chance to expand their budget when making another film and will allow them to explore new and different ideas with their new film.

Promoting your film using social networking.

• Using social media is a cheap and easy way to generate interest from the public into a product i.e. A film.

• Websites like Twitter allow individuals to tweet about their film and can be seen by anyone. A tweet is an instant statement on your product (film) which can make people interested.

• On social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter you are able to get a following and engage personally with your customers. This become a unique way of selling the product (film) and allows you to publish extra information into the film such as behind the scene footage.

• This form of marketing is known as ‘Word of Mouth’ and is one of the most effective forms of marketing. This is because it shows that individuals believe in your product, therefore the product becomes reliable and trustworthy for other people.

• Also, social networking is also a good way to know about new upcoming events such as film festivals and competition.

• For more information into the different types of marketing please look at the ‘Marketing a Short Film’ PowerPoint.