I had the pleasure of attending the Blood in the Snow Film Festival 2021, held in Toronto, Ontario. The event is typically held in-person at various theater outlets around Queen City’s downtown area; however, adjusting to overcome the constraints born out of the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival organizers moved the event partially online. In conjunction with the screenings, the organizers also held a series of panel discussions and roundtable sessions intended to help introduce the filmmakers to experts in the industry.
Over the course of three days, I met with individuals who work in the fields of video production, insurance, and talent management, and I learned a lot. In this post, I’ll be passing down what I’ve observed while attending Blood in the Snow. Keep reading to learn the the best methods for making connections and effectively networking at a virtual film festival.
Show up early.
When attending any type of online festival proceedings, it is wise to show up at least 15-30 minutes early in order to have an opportunity to converse with guests and presenters. You may wish to prepare a good icebreaker that will allow you to ease any anxieties associated with introducing yourself to others. Always remember that these interactions should be reciprocal, and you should therefore be asking questions about other filmmakers’ projects, rather than simply report details about your own work. This “buffer time” will also give you an opportunity to remedy any technical glitches that may arise and ensure that the event runs smoothly. Similar to a job interview, the more time you have to prepare, the better the experience will likely be.
Brush up on the presenter.
In order to optimize your time with a speaker and obtain the most information, it is wise to prepare a few basic questions in advance. Even a brief online search of the guest’s credentials can allow you to speak about their career with an added degree of knowledge and authority. Assembling this material prior to the event will allow you to focus your attention on the presenter’s answers.
As exciting as you might become reading about the creative journeys that some of the presenters have taken, it's important to remember to be decisive about how and when you engage them. I would not recommend pitching ideas in the middle of a presentation. There's more to come!
Prep you contact info.
This is a rule right out of the proverbial Networking 101 Handbook - you should always have your contact information (including your email and social handles) prepared for any type of event. You’ll want to keep in touch with individuals you meet. Furthermore, always try to exchange this material so that you will have an avenue to reach the other person in the event that they forget to get in touch with you. Having this material ready will give you an air of professionalism and allow you to make connections more easily.
You may even wish to create digital business cards for yourself in order to project an image of sophistication and success. There are a number of apps specifically designed to help users with this task.
Have a pitch handy.
At certain points during the festival proceedings, the presenters might ask the attendees about their plans for future projects. The individuals who gained the greatest exposure and made the strongest impression at these events were those who had a clear understanding of their career objectives and knew what their next production would involve (ie. the budget and the filming dates).
Seeing how well this worked out for those who showed up well prepared, I’d say it’s a wise idea to have a brief synopsis and log line prepared for two or three future projects as well as descriptions of the current stage of production for these works. While video-conferencing at a virtual film festival, you should also select a backdrop that references these future projects such as a poster, promotional image, title or tagline. These projects should be diverse in nature in order to offer the listener a variety of options and improve your chances of attracting the interest of a potential investor or distributor. Having this material prepared will give a clear impression of your professionalism and readiness to engage in serious discussions.
In the future, virtual film festivals will become increasingly common due to the costs and potential health implications associated with travel. It is therefore important to gain as much exposure and professional connections from these events to enhance your prospects as a filmmaker. Although online festivals can feel somewhat impersonal, it is important not to be overwhelmed or intimidated by the experience and to try and engage as much as possible with the people you encounter. Hopefully, this article will provide some helpful tips for navigating the film industry and developing the skills necessary to advance your career to the next level. Good luck!
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Note From Tongal: This blog is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here!
