Tips for Promoting Festival Screenings as a Filmmaker

There’s a myth that festivals will fill your screening for you. Sometimes they do. Often they don’t. Even strong festivals can’t guarantee packed rooms for every film because audiences don’t attend festivals like multiplexes.

Your job isn’t “marketing” in the traditional sense.

Your job is creating reasons to show up right now.

Let’s break down what tends to work, what only feels like it works.

People Love Experiences

Very few strangers will say:

“I have no connection to this filmmaker or film, but I will block two hours of my limited festival time.”

They will, however, attend:

• A film their friend is involved with
• A screening that feels like an event
• Something everyone else seems to be going to
• Something that promises a memorable experience

Your promotion should therefore sell the experience, not just your film.