Film Festival Summit Discusses Evolving Industry

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 05:00

Written by FilmFestival Traveler Staff

The 8th annual International Film Festival Summit (IFFS) takes place December 4 - 6, 2011 at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown in Austin, Texas.

The International Film Festival Summit is the largest international organization representing the film festival industry.

Founded in 2002, the IFFS provides the only annual conference and symposium for film festival professionals and entertainment executives to network, learn, and to understand the latest trends in festivals and independent films.

The Festival Mission for 2011 is "Adapting to an Evolving Industry", covering:

• Funding & Sponsorship
• Programming
• Operations & Management
• Marketing & Public Relations
• Acquisition & Distribution
• Digital Technology Solutions
• Long Term Planning & Sustainable Growth
• Executive Management

The Summit will present a tribute to the late Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society and co-founder of the Gen Art Film Festival.

This year the IFFS presents a Fireside Chat, a conversation, "How to Attract Above-the-Line Players to Your Festival" with host Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition. The guest is award-winning actor and filmmaker Matthew Modine, who will provide an actor's view on film festivals and what attracts above-the-line players to those festivals.

Prior to the Conversation, there will be a preview screening of Modine's new short film Jesus was a Commie, which has been winning awards at festivals.

Keynote speakers are:

• Cameron Bailey, Co-Director, Toronto International Film Festival
• Nancy Schafer, Executive Director, Tribeca Film Festival

This year's Featured Speakers include:

• Barbara Morgan, Executive Director, Austin Film Festival
• Peter Belsito, Co-founder, Film Finders
• Steve Edmiston, Owner, EKE Pictures & Invictus Law Group
• Mark Fishkin, Executive Director, Mill Valley Film Festival & California Film Institute
• Jon Fitzgerald, Founder & CEO, CineCause
• Scilla Andreen, CEO, IndieFlix
• Ty White, Product Manager, Eventbrite
• Tim League, Director, Fantastic Fest
• Meira Blaustein, Co-founder & Executive Director, Woodstock Film Festival

Panels and discussions are on four tracks:

• Large Fest Track (Over $500k)
• Small Fest Track (Under $500k)
• Operations Fast Track
• Strategic Fast Track

Some of them are:

• Unconference – There’s no set agenda, no set presentations -- just an ongoing discussion, driven by participants, that people leave and join as they see fit.
• In the Trenches: Festival war stories
• Film Festivals as Producers: How festivals can bring films to the community while bringing the community and sponsors to film
• Programming: The Fine Art of Film Selection"
• Sponsorship Strategy: Identification, Activation, and Retention\
• Staff & Volunteer Management: Hiring, Training and Retaining an Elite Festival Team
• Roundtable Sessions with Film Festival Sponsors

Attendees can also make a 15-minute pitch of their presentation to potential sponsors.  

For more information, go to filmfestivalsummit.com/iffshome.html.

International Film Festival Summit
December 4 - 6, 2011

Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto at 8th Street
Austin, Texas

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