Selling Film in Film Festival

We are all Set to Discuss the most important issue concerned with India film Festivals . We are good Exhibitors , we have auditoriums of world class Standards., We make good parties each evening with most expensive wines and Five star dining .., media talks , enjoys and at the end every body go back to their houses ..

Film Festivals is a Exhibition Platform for those film which are looking for Distributors , it’s a Platform where before releasing a film media starts talking Face to Face and the Film buff and Critic watch a Film and give their analysis.

I have seen peoples talking various International Entries .., this film ..and that film coming is so and so Festival ..its all right ..

Festivals organizers must understand this Business model of Film festivals ..India Produce more than 1500 films in feature category. To support the Regional Markets Indian Film Festivals Must Encourage the Producer – Distributors meet.

To produce the content of Best quality , Festivals must encourage Script Submission Libraries and Directors and Script writes open forum

It is monitored that; demand of Regional cinema is increasing year on year basis .., film Festivals is a Platform to encourage the Regional Produces, Directors , writers.

In India there is huge demand of Film Festival which can be a right mix of International cinema along with taking care of the regional demands. The focus must be on the selling of films in spite of showcasing them.

I also see a huge oppturnities for sales agent , though sales agent in India is not commonly seen . its an Oppturnity for young entrepreneurs who wants to work in the distributions sector in filmmaking.

Sales Agents is one who talks to the representative of finished film and arrange an exhibitor or distributor. There are many film projects, remain closed in the junk boxes waiting for Distributors . Sales agent can be best connector for those producers.

Even in India every year lot of films are imported for the purpose of Film Festivals along with their Directors and Producers as an invitees .. Job of a sales agent is to travel in Film Festivals and talk with these Directors , Producers or Representatives and Deal on the International rights to Exhibit their films in India .

India is a Huge market for films with the tremendous growth in Multiplexes and TV Channels .

Indian Film Festivals must focus the demand of film selling to grow the oppturnities for in the market and this formula will also enhance the quality of content and competition.

Huge Scope of Film Festivals in India.

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 .