What’s the point of so many film festivals?

The frustration is understandable. Thousands of festivals exist, many with little visibility, unclear value, or no live event at all. Add in scams and award mills, and it’s easy to feel like the entire festival ecosystem is broken.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that all festivals are trying to do the same thing. They’re not. Some exist to launch careers at the highest level. Others exist to serve a regional audience. Some are built around genre, community, education, or access.