Hi. Being from the Midwest, sometimes it seems confusing as to what is worth the investment and what isn't. Supposing I only have limited dollars (spoiler alert, entirely true) what do you find worth your while as to Pitch Festivals, Screenwriting Gatherings, etc. in L.A. or N.Y.? If you could only attend two major events a year, what would they be?
Screenwriting : Gatherings, Fests N Such by Cheryl Allen
Gatherings, Fests N Such
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I know the struggle you're talking about very well. It's not only the money but also the time. Not sure about NY, but L.A. there's the AFM for sure to be considered. On the other hand; depends what you're looking for. You probably won't sell a script there but you'll get a very good idea on what kind of movie sells. That way it makes life easier for you regarding the kinds of scripts that make sense writing for the market.
Best big markets overall, like Willem said, are Cannes and EFM in Berlin, but that costs some serious bucks.
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IMO all pitchfests are a waste of money and effort. Sure every year a nobody “sells” a pitch and the deal is blasted on advertisements. Let’s see data of produced tv shows and movies from a pitchfest.
The best value for your money is in Texas. Attend AFF or SXSW festivals. Both are casual tshirt and sneakers crowd. It’s what Sundance used to be before corporations took over. There’s actual indie films & filmmakers in Texas.
But all this stuff- and this lifestyle- requires you to leave your house and put in work. Build your own team. I don’t see much value just having scripts. Everyone has scripts and ideas.
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If you’re looking for the most economical way to get yourself out there, I’d suggest attending local film festivals as a start. Tickets are usually inexpensive and you will be able to meet other creatives. As far as pitching, I’ve had the best luck with Virtual Pitchfest. They are very affordable ($10-pitch, sometimes less if you can catch a sale) and I have made several connections and even gotten a few general meetings out of it. Entering contests isn’t bad, but I’ve learned to either only enter the ones that offer free feedback or are part of a Film Festival that I can potentially attend. I feel like I get more bang for my buck that way. I’m planning to focus more on the film festival circuit for 2019, see where that takes me.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful and timely responses. I have realistic expectations on my ability to score The Big Sale at such an event. Primarily I am interested in networking, face to face contact, and being a part of the energy of the crowd.