THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FILM FESTIVALS BY ISRAEL KASHIM AUDU THE FOUNDER OF KADUNA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FILM FESTIVALS  BY ISRAEL KASHIM AUDU THE FOUNDER OF KADUNA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

JANUARY 2020.

 From humble beginnings in Venice, Italy in 1932 as part of a biannual art, dance and theater exposition, film festivals today bring together filmmakers and fans, connect critical work to new audiences, and even boost local economies.

Film festivals are a vital piece of the film ecosystem, and their impact is evident across our culture:

A platform for new talent
Each year, filmmakers submit their creations to a range of film festivals in the hopes of getting their work premiered. If a film attracts the attention of festival curators, an independent creator could have their work showcased in front of an influential audience. Film festivals have helped open doors for many of today’s iconic filmmakers including Quentin Tarantino, Morgan Spurlock and Darren Aronofsky.

Attracting new audiences
When a new or independent filmmaker brings a film to a festival, the viewers have the opportunity to connect with the story through experiencing the film firsthand. The festival setting allows them to share their emotions and ideas with the filmmakers, panelists, and other audience members to open a new perspective on the film. This process can give the filmmaker insights and even unlock new avenues for the film with producers, distributors, and others who can bring it to a wider audience.

Promoting tourism and the local economy
Film festivals can attract attendees from their own community and around the world, ultimately boosting the local economy.
 Sundance Film Festival have generated $151.5 million for Utah’s economy and brought more than $400 million to the state over the last five years. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) contributed over $180 million to that city’s economy.
After Venice pioneered the film festival, other prestigious events, such as the Cannes film festival in France, began shortly after. As time went on, other cities took note and created their own festivals to attract filmmakers and audiences, and often reflect their own perspectives. Festivals like Sundance, TIFF, the Morelia International Film Festival, the Tokyo International Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival have helped usher some of the most important films of the last forty years to audiences around the world.

More recently, festivals such as the Tribeca Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival and South by Southwest Film Festival have given a new generation of filmmakers an opportunity to exhibit their work.

Film festivals highlight the worldwide passion of cinema and showcase the value of film, both creatively and economically. More than anything, film festivals deliver a new, unique way to experience the movies, always driven by the power of a good story.

Film festivals: We hear about them all the time, usually with exotic cities like Cannes, Berlin and Venice in their names. However, unless you’re a filmmaker or otherwise associated with the entertainment industry, you might not really understand what the point of it all really is.

We hear about the glitz and glamour of the red carpets, but most of us have little idea of how these festivals serve the film industry as a whole or even what they have to offer mainstream audiences. You might not get the opportunity to go to Cannes any time soon, but if you’ve ever gotten curious about checking out your local festival, here are a few things to think about.

Beyond the red carpet
Most reports on film festivals tend to center on who actors were wearing or the critical response to a particular release. However, while all that may emphasize the style and prestige these annual events can absolutely represent, it doesn’t shed much light on the reality of how they operate.

The preparation starts months in advance, as independent filmmakers vie to have their films screened at festivals (even in a non-competitive capacity) and the usually small teams of in-house festival coordinators begin lining up volunteers and planning out the details.

Some festivals choose to focus on films of a particular genre, specific length or certain region, but the limited number of slots available for submissions tends to drum up demand regardless, especially among up-and-coming filmmakers.

Although the biggest festivals boast high-profile films and big-name stars, most are far from major moneymakers. In truth, most film festivals rely on a combination of ticket sales, membership fees and corporate sponsorship just to foot the bill for the festivities, with many even operating as nonprofit organizations. They truly represent a nexus for the whole of the film industry, bringing together members of the media, the creative talent behind and in front of the camera and business executives looking for the next project to take on.

From lens to screen
Getting accepted to a festival lineup is incredibly competitive, especially for major events like the Toronto International Film Festival (the most popular one in North America). But the rewards are more than worth the effort, it seems.

“Film festivals provide a platform and an audience to personally connect with,” filmmaker Tran Quoc Bao said.

Kaduna international film festival popularly known as KADIFF which is 2 years now, the only running international film festival located in the northern part of Nigeria have received a wider acceptance.
I started this festival because I really want to project what the northern culture in Nigeria has and also connect with both English, Hausa and other speaking film lovers together.

Film festivals and, in particular, the diversity of the literally hundreds of festivals out there provides ample room for hungry talent to get noticed and distinguish their projects. Think back on all the movie trailers you’ve seen touting a film as an official selection of a noted film festival, and you’ll have some idea of the cache just being affiliated with a festival can bring.

For filmmakers, the festival circuit can be a game-changing experience for their career, even bringing the chance to attract potential investors or inspire financing and distribution deals.

The price of admission
The appeal for filmmakers is fairly clear, but you may still be wondering why audiences would take the time to attend a film festival. After all, what does such an experience offer that makes it any more appealing than just another trip to your local cineplex?

Three director's chairs sit empty on a stage in front of blue lights. Film Festivals pbs rewire
Film festivals usually include Q&A sessions with the people who made the films you see.
Well, for starters, the lineup of films you’ll find at festivals is vastly different from the mainstream releases you’ll see in regular theaters. In some instances, festivals host the world premieres of promising new films several months before they officially hit theaters.

In other cases, festival audiences can see films that may not ever receive a proper theatrical run, due to their low-budget nature, a lack of famous actors or simply the challenges of getting distribution.

Because film festivals are attended by so many of the players involved in these productions, fans may have the opportunity to attend special screenings with filmmakers and actors in the room, often followed by question-and-answer sessions or in-depth discussions about what they’ve just screened.

In that way, festivals allow cinephiles to really engage in their passion for film like they rarely can elsewhere. No wonder many fests nowadays give out audience awards for the biggest crowd-pleasing film.

Try your fest

Film festivals present a unique experience that still stands strong in the face of an evolving industry and an ever-changing world.

“Film festivals are important for our culture and for building community, run by passionate people who love film and curate their programs in such a personal way that can’t be beat by a cold Netflix algorithm,” Tran said.

If you’ve never considered attending a film festival but have even a passing interest in cinema, it may be worth looking into it. Most likely, you have a fest closer than you realize. Try not to miss KADIFF 2020!