In an ever-changing creative landscape, how do you navigate the worldwide festival circuit?
Understanding the strengths (and acknowledging the weaknesses) of your project can help you make the best of your budget and circuit journey. Offering advice ranging from understanding the worth of your project, to managing expectations and learning patience, Katie Bignell from Festival Formula will help you to make the most of your work at festivals. As well as an extensive background in consultancy, Katie has a reputation for being honest and looking out for the filmmaker and the festivals. Join Katie as she uses a variety of case studies to explore the different routes you can take with your film. This webinar is for Full and Associate members and will be moderated by Directors UK member David Allain.
This session will be taking place via Zoom on Wednesday 26 July from 6-7:30pm.
If you would like to send Katie a question in advance, please send to [email protected] by Wednesday 19 July.
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BSL interpretation will be present for this session. If you have any questions or accessibility requirements, please contact [email protected]
About Katie Bignell
Katie graduated from Bournemouth Media School with a degree in Scriptwriting for Film & TV and is also a graduate of the London Royal Court Young Writer’s and Invitation Only Groups. For 19 years and counting she has provided strategy and submissions support to filmmakers worldwide, resulting in creating the consultancy brand Festival Formula in 2014. As an active member of the Short Film Conference and the Film Festival Alliance, Katie is also a key spokesperson on festival issues with coverage in The Hollywood Reporter and Screen Daily regarding suspect and fraudulent film festivals. During the pandemic she co-created the Filmmaker Lounge in partnership with Film Festival Alliance – an online space for programmers and filmmakers to discuss their roles. Previous guests include: Tribeca, Slamdance, PÖFF Shorts, and many more. Previous speaking engagements include: HollyShorts, Heartland Film Festival, BFI Flare, Encounters Film Festival, Flickers Rhode Island Film Festival, Sundance, SXSW and many more. Selected prior jury service include: Cleveland International, Heartland International, St. Louis International, DC shorts.
About David Allain
David Allain is an award-winning Scriptwriter and Director working across TV, film, and advertising. David’s directing work includes a factual-entertainment series for Sky Arts, comedy for the BBC, dance films for Channel 4, and scripted drama for ITV.
In 2022, David completed a short drama called Revelations. The film was a winner of the Directors UK x ARRI Challenge Alexa and is currently on the festival circuit having played at festivals in Europe, Canada, the UK and USA. He also directed three episodes of ITV’s prime-time crime drama The Bay (series 4, episodes 4, 5, and 6) broadcast in Spring 2023.
David works regularly with charities and in advertising: he has directed films for CALM (encouraging mental health awareness), Girl Effect (promoting gender equality) and for brands including CNN, The Guardian, and O2. In 2020/2021, David’s charity film for OBV starring Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones) and BAFTA-winner Will Poulter, won prestigious advertising awards including two British Arrows, a D&AD, and gold at the Creative Circle Awards.
David is now working toward making his first feature film. Fact or fiction, long or short, David makes compelling work that combines visual flair with emotive storytelling.
