Call for Entries – Film Festival

10 months in advance .. yes ; the best time to call for entries in all categories ..,

Communication now a days is not a big deal , as I discussed earlier also there are many ways to reach in the Target masses for the call of entries … the best options available in different mediums are :

• A Good dynamic website (with SEO Program)
• Submission in engines like withoutabox , bulletfilm, Filmfest etc.
• Facebook, IBIBO, digg , tweeting and Delicious is also effective these days
• Add the call in 1000s of available classifieds on Web and target them to your website
• Block add in National Newspaper, it’s a effective tool so spend some bucks for a national daily(look for advertisement sponsor)
• Collect a e-mail database online and send the directs mails to filmmakers
• Collect a Tickers Advertisement Rates from various TV channel and deal with one (TV Media Partner)
• Poster in various cultural centers
• Develop a Relations with Film Critics (They have a strong Database of Filmmakers )
• Press Conferences


For non competition categories the film Festivals may contact National Film Archive , they have a huge Library of films. A festival can also contact the producer directly and request them to send the film(do not forget to give special recognition to each film along with the decent Media Coverage )

Now a days there are Various companies or Studios Producing many film Every years; do not forget to develop relationship with them and call them to send their films .

Festivals must closely watch the films schedule of other film festivals , and collect a database with is mostly printed in Festival Catalogue.

Say “Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets” so just take the right step at right time..

India is still waiting for a Film Festival which can meet their Regional, National and International Needs

Fund Raising for Film Festival in India

First thing first , as told to me by a Festival Director of one of the esteemed Film Festival in Los angles via e-mail conversation , her view is; first analyze the need of your film festival in market and without the sponsors a festival can not be seeded .

Film Festival needs an attention from corporates and I also believe that a film festival itself should be run as an corporate in the era of globalization.

Raising funds for a film festival is most convoluted task , your hopes will rise each morning and fall down with the sunset but don’t worry “always a sunrise next morning” . Right strategy and committed team work is required to meet the goals .

Their could be many ways to reach Sponsors and influence them with your mindset, whereas other than sponsorship there are many ways to raise a fund for your festival. Coming on to the point

Government recently started a Grant program for the film festival other than metro cities .

Directorate of Film Festival of India under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting started providing grant maximum upto 5 lakh INR and upto 10 lakh in some special cases for upbringing of regional film festivals under the program named “ export promotion through film festival in India and abroad “ but this financial support is validated to NGOs and voluntary organization with simple procedures.

Various film festivals organizes seminars on various subjects related to cinema influencing our culture . Cinema is a visual art form which include all other from of expression along with sound .

Ministry of Culture, union of India provides a financial support upto 3 lacks with easy procedures under its Scheme named “Scheme of financial assistance for research support to voluntary organizations engaged in cultural activities” to NGOs and Voluntary organizations operating from minimum of 3 years for symposiums , Seminars and researches on related subjects.

If your festivals is theme based like Children , women, human rights etc , you can submit your proposal with the concerned ministry for support , but standing up on your own is best , there are various other ways to raise funds for you film festival.

On the other side

Remember this part deals with the money you will collect before your festival starts.

You can have activates like animation ,multimedia and filmmaking education fair , where you can sell your Stalls and earn good money to cover your liabilities; there are many such institutions in the market looking for the similar crowd which you will attract for your film festival .

Placement agencies dealing in media and animations will also be a prime target to sell your stalls ; I would also suggest you to call some foreign universities , colleges and institutions to join as they are also looking for their ground in Asian soil specially India.

You can also call companies like Studios, Modeling agencies , hardware seller , Sales Agents for stall selling .

Almost all the countries are promoting film production in their country and you will get the list of companies dealing in such activates from the embassy of all those countries .. and also contact them to come and join this Oppturnity , sell them space.

Food court is also another way by which you can sell a space and earn handsome

Sell your delegate passes from a websites like bookmyshow.com they have many interesting plans.

You can also raise a fund by selling arts , paintings and handicraft which is a successful model and few festivals in India are already engaged in such activates.


Getting Sponsors : A path with thorns

In my previous article I have already discussed the preparation needed to move your sponsorship plans ; to implement this plan , follow this step for astonishing results ;

1. you decide on the final budget you need to run your festival
2. Print at least 200 copies of Sponsorship Docket (colored front page)
3. hire a image consultant (pay him a little )
4. Hire a PR for one to one CEO meet (make it a condition in advance and give them commission )
5. Hire a sound event management company (mostly companies deals in such activities with heavy commissions; keep at least 30% commission margin in your mind before finalizing your final budget)
6. Always send one of your representative on meetings with prospect sponsor because you know what film festivals are and you can convey your message more effectively

Additional Activates

there are lots of creative ways to sell, as you are selling a idea ; don’t hesitate to speak .., below listed are the few ways which you can initiate and remember all these things you can easily sell before your festival ;

1. Celebrity Visit to company
2. face to face Coffee ( with celebrity 15-20 mins to financially sound families and fans )
3. sell your evening parties to Various Brands (Prime Target : Film Colleges)
4. Producer – Director meets (sell it to upcoming directors + storytellers)
5. Social Thanks Party on Sponsors Venue ( Festivals Invites and Guests , Awards winners will be the guest ) (good for networking)
6. Sell Festival Award Reception ( sponsor’s Venue)(good for Networking)
7. sell your Venues
8. Evening party passes
9. sell the backdrop space of press conferences
10. sell your awards (cash, gifts , vouchers )
11. Make a Wall of Display for advertisers and sell each day to one brand (must attract the photographers)


There are many activates you can plan , but remember film festivals need attention throughout the year , so plan early and start your sponsorship plan well in advance of six months .

I think now I must share my opinion on a good advertising plan for film festivals in my next article .

Starting a Film Festival - “My encounter with Truth “

Is that the Idea in you mind? be ready check your pockets, bank account , friends and followers , I assure you that nobody will be remain yours, it’s a dead deal .

But yes there are always some people who loves to jump in a well .. I have an experience of working in few such deals I will be sharing what I have experienced, lots of things did not worked for me look now I am sitting in my house without work enjoying a packet of Chips with a cup of black coffee reading books and taking workshops to ignite myself back in life .

Going back to 2005 visiting a International Film Festival was a great experience , during a festival I came to know what film festivals are all about but yes one thing which I enjoyed a lot was the quality and content of films . I started reading about film festivals and never missed any festival after that in the Capital.

My passion drived me further and I visited almost every film festival in the country from North to South . My biggest experience was coming back from a Kerala Film Festival in a General Compartment of the Train eating rice with redchillies in Andhra . redchilles were really hot as every bite was telling me , is this the thing you want to do in your life ? When we reached Nizzamudin Station we were left with the bus fair only and I can see a huge board outside that “ Delhi Apka Swagat Karti hai” …….

Visiting to other festivals, Gaining experience, meeting people and discussing films always makes me feel good and deep Sleep in the night is guaranteed.

I was firm on my feeling that yes I too will be having my own film festival one day , in the beginning me and few of my friends started a Club where we used to showcase few films in our own circle , someone bringing new DVDs and we enjoying together , discussing and having a small party once in a month .

In last five years I spent hell of money in transportation, meetings and other expenditures if I could have saved it I would have been a owner of a Benz Though running in a circle of corporate for a Sponsorships was the toughest job its corruption everywhere .

Finally we got a Venue confirmed in one of the premier cultural center in central Delhi Where we did our first festival , we all organizers were happy to see house full but once again after totally bankrupting and living on loans it was impossible at that time to stand again but hopes never falls down .

From year 2006 I started working as a Volunteer in a International Film Festival worked for around 3 years spending my own money , and bankrupting day by day but my passion for a film festival was driving me each day .

I learnt 100 ups and 1000 downs during this period , commitments , no commitments but works was the first priority and learned a golden rule that creativity dies in a non creative group .

Few Friends were helping maybe they thought if the jackpot hits it will be joy on 360 degree which anyhow did not worked out . though after all this I thought of starting a New Festival but then my Left side of Brain Started working .

Got this quote on facebook written by someone which I totally believe in "ur not a loser or failure until u give up hope of trying to do it right d next time."

Now I am working as a Scriptwriter, and yes I got work too and good work but my passion for working in a Film Festival is still their , I am looking for a like minded festival or group to work . I am Interested in working in Regional Film Markets towards the Quality and International Content after all we are rich in content from last 5000 years and that too coming from all regional dimensions of the country .

Bankrupting words is repeated many times because that’s the film festivals are all about . though it hurts sometime when I stand alone on my rooftop but I know I will see a ray of hope again .

In my next article I will share my experience on Organizing a International Film Festival, and share my notes on Creative , communication and Planning of Film Festival