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Underground Festivals

Matt W.

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Hi, does anyone know what the top alternative festivals out there are in terms of industry exposure? I have a short that is "too weird" to play most regular quirky festivals but I'm trying to get some exposure for it. Thanks!
 
Hi, does anyone know what the top alternative festivals out there are in terms of industry exposure? I have a short that is "too weird" to play most regular quirky festivals but I'm trying to get some exposure for it. Thanks!

I dont know of any of the top of my head but im sure http://www.withoutabox.com would have that info. I was going to look it up for you but the site is currently down for maintenance.
 
Thanks, I've used their site but there are just SO many festivals and I don't have enough money to apply to more than a few.

I just got a call from a co-director at Slamdance who said my short almost played there but was too weird, and he said to look for underground festivals, but unfortunately it's kind of counterintuitive looking for underground festivals with industry exposure. And, again, there are so many. I'm hoping to raise $20,000 for my first feature and figure without a short at a major festival I'm SoL with investors, but then again I might just take out four credit cards and pay for the thing myself.
 
Thanks, I've used their site but there are just SO many festivals and I don't have enough money to apply to more than a few.

I just got a call from a co-director at Slamdance who said my short almost played there but was too weird, and he said to look for underground festivals, but unfortunately it's kind of counterintuitive looking for underground festivals with industry exposure. And, again, there are so many. I'm hoping to raise $20,000 for my first feature and figure without a short at a major festival I'm SoL with investors, but then again I might just take out four credit cards and pay for the thing myself.

I'd say dont pay for it yourself. Find an investor. You'll never make money at this level if you invest your own funds. The saying in the industry is "spend someone else's money, never your own."

Withoutabox has a ton of festivals but if you can narrow it down to experimental festivals, indie horror fests, or something like that it may help.
 
Is it possible to find an investor without a short or feature at a major festival first? I'm trying to learn how it works here. In the past I've paid for shorts entirely myself but the budgets have been relatively low and it's taken a long time to raise money even then. But I suppose features are an easier pitch?
 
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