[custom_adv] Who doesn’t want to hold a statue in their hands and give an acceptance speech? Winning a film festival award is gratifying and a symbol of your hard work. [custom_adv] Every artist enjoys validation, and no one wants to miss accepting their long-awaited award just because they didn’t make the effort to attend the festival! [custom_adv] Whether you are sitting on a panel or participating in the post-film Q&A, getting in front of a crowd to share your experience and advice is a great opportunity to hone your public speaking skills and possibly get future speaking engagements. [custom_adv] The primary reason many filmmakers submit their films to a top film festival is to have a chance for acquisition executives to see their film and make them a distribution offer. Film buyers typically only attend the major and mid-level festivals. [custom_adv] But if you do an impressive PR campaign for a smaller festival, they might find their way to your screening. The last thing you’d want is for them to be shuffling about the festival looking for you, only to find out you didn’t attend. [custom_adv] There’s no better way to make lasting connections than to shake a person’s hand and look them in the eyes. [custom_adv] Sure, social media offers an opportunity to bond from home, but being “in the room” is still the most successful path to growing your network. [custom_adv] Yes, attending film festivals can get expensive, but even if you’re on a tight budget, student film festivals are a great way to network for a smaller price tag. [custom_adv] Yes, attending film festivals can get expensive, but even if you’re on a tight budget, student film festivals are a great way to network for a smaller price tag. [custom_adv] Yes, attending film festivals can get expensive, but even if you’re on a tight budget, student film festivals are a great way to network for a smaller price tag.