Your short film has finally screened at a festival. You’ve made the most of the festival experience: you’ve seen your short on the big (or virtual) screen, networked with other filmmakers, and made invaluable industry connections. But what happens now that the party’s over?
1hr 15mins
The BFI Film Academy team’s January Lab panel discussion was all about what happens after your short film’s festival run is over. Learn about post-festival distribution options, including getting your film screened on online platforms and streaming services. The panel of industry professionals talked about building on the connections you’ve made at the festival and how to best use your new network to support future projects and career development. You’ll also learn how to use your festival success to promote and pitch the project that comes next.
Panellists:
- Catherine Lyn Scott – Publicist, London Flair PR
- Rob Munday – Managing Editor, Short of the Week
- Katie McCullough – Founder, Festival Formula
- Isra Al Kassi – Co-founder, T A P E Collective
- Hosted by Nicole Davis – BFI NETWORK Officer, Film Hub South East
This event is part of the Career Ladder strand of BFI Film Academy Labs 2021/22.
Check out the full programme of national BFI Film Academy Labs as well here.
About the panellists
Publicist Catherine Lyn Scott has worked in Public Relations for over 2 decades, in 2008 she founded London Flair PR in Los Angeles, then opened a London Branch in 2012. Working between Los Angeles and London, in only 7 years, Catherine and her team have helped clients garner 17 Oscar Nominations, 4 Oscar wins (including The Silent Child starring Rachel Shenton), 2 Emmy wins, 1 BAFTA win and 6 BAFTA nominations. London Flair PR specialise in short films, but also work with features, as well as talent wrangle for events and film festivals. They also represent actors in film and television. Some of the films she has represented have starred Riz Ahmed, Catherine Deneuve, William Jackson-Harper, Melissa Leo, Will Ferrell, the late John Hurt and more.
After co-founding Directors Notes in 2006, Rob joined the team at Short of the Week in 2009 and has been championing short film on the platform ever since. Looking to help a new generation of filmmakers share their stories on a larger stage, Rob believes short film is more than a playground for narrative and craft and is constantly excited and surprised by the new work being made in the format. The only British based member of the Short of the Week editorial team, Rob is particularly passionate about supporting emerging talent from UK & the rest of Europe.
Festival Formula has Katie’s sixteen years, and growing, experience behind it. They are an active member of the Short Film Conference and one of the few UK members of 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. She co-created the Filmmaker Lounge in partnership with Film Festival Alliance – an online space for programmers and filmmakers to discuss their roles as a regular online event, previous guests include: Tribeca, Slamdance, Heartland Film, PÖFF Shorts, and many more.
Isra Al Kassi is the co-founder of T A P E Collective and currently works on a freelance basis with Shasha Movies, BIFA and Independent Film Trust. Isra has a background in community spaces and event programming and through her work with T A P E programmes short films for festivals, touring programmes and on T A P E’s streaming platform Good Wickedry.
Nicole Davis is a London-based producer, writer and podcaster and also works as the BFI NETWORK Officer for Film Hub South East. She hosts Best Girl Grip, a weekly podcast about navigating the film industry through the lens of the women who do just that, in order to create greater transparency around the careers people have in film.
