Behind the Screens: Programmers Reveal how Film Festivals Really Work

Jon Gann

Reel Plan Press, 2012 - Performing Arts - 224 pages

Have you ever wondered...What's the deal with film festival programmers? What do they really think about your film? How do they make their decisions? And how can you improve your own film's odds of being picked? Why your film gets picked depends on a complex set of reasons, And it comes down to a single fact: film festivals, and programmers, aren't necessarily what you think! Jon Gann, founder of the DC Shorts Film Festival, questions his peers about their selection process, reactions to filmmaker behavior, industry concerns, and ultimately, how they create a festival experience that enriches both filmmakers and the audience. Insights by programmers from some of the world's leading festivals: - Ashland Independent Film Festival - Byron Bay International Film Festival - CineSlam/Pride of the Ocean - DC Shorts Film Festival - LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival - Napa Valley Film Festival - New York Film Festival - Prescott Film Festival - Razor Reel Fantastic Film Festival - Scottsdale Film Festival - Seattle International Film Festival - SILVERDOCS - Sonoma International Film Festival - Sundance Film Festival - Tallgrass Film Festival - Washington Jewish Film Festival

About the author

Jon Gann is the Founder of DC Shorts, a non-profit organization championing short filmmaking, and the creator of the DC Shorts Film Festival, one of the country's premier short film showcases. He has also served as the Executive Director of CINE, a 58-year old organization that honors the best in film, TV and digital media with the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award.Published in 2012, his book, "Behind the Screens: Programmers Reveal How Film Festivals Really Work" examines how 16 programmers and organizers curate, collect, watch and select films for their festivals. The frank insights reveal the inner-workings of an industry that is often misunderstood. His new book, "So You Wanna Start a Film Festival" was released in December 2015.Through Reel Plan, Jon consults with filmmakers on the festival circuit. Through his work, he has bridged the communication gap between competing film festivals, so all can share film information, sponsor strategies and filmmaker data.As a filmmaker, Jon's notable past projects include: "Cyberslut," the first gay-themed short film to screen at over 50 festivals and broadcasts worldwide; "Signs," a national 48 Hour Film Project award winner, and "Offline," a modern dating parable.Jon has presented at over 120 universities, film organizations and film festivals worldwide, and has spoken at the International Film Festival Summit, Art House Convergence, and TEDxWDC. He sits on the Advisory Board at George Mason University's School of Film & Video Studies.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Behind the Screens: Programmers Reveal how Film Festivals Really Work
• Author: Jon Gann
• Editor: Jon Gann
• Edition: revised
• Publisher: Reel Plan Press, 2012
• ISBN: 1477692517, 9781477692516
• Length: 224 pages
• Subjects: Performing Arts / Film / General