The film festival scene is recognizing that many excellent films are being produced by independent filmmakers who may not have the substantial postproduction funds that are required to transfer digital images to a large-film print format. One of the great benefits to entering your film in festivals is that many of them can screen films directly from DVDs. Not all film festivals have the capacity for digital or videotape screening, but the trend is growing and will continue to do so.

The ultimate result of the technological advances that allow for effective digital screening is that in the future, virtually all theaters will be projecting wide-screen feature-length films directly from DVD or similar electronic formats. There's every likelihood that digital films will eventually even be transmitted via satellite to wide-screen theatrical venues. The economic and creative benefits to independent film production and distribution will be explosive and permanent.

Film Festival Categories

Film festival entries are placed into competition by genre and category. Genres run the gamut from comedy to drama to science fiction and fantasy. Festivals also screen entries under specific categories that cover virtually every type of film production. Categories will usually include the following:

• Black comedy

• Comedy

• Coming of age

• Commercials

• Drama

• Dramatic comedy

• Experimental

• Family

• First feature-length film

• Horror

• Low-budget independent

• Mockumentary

• Other narrative

• Period

• Romantic comedy

• Science fiction

• Screenplay

• Thriller

• Urban

• Western

Many festivals permit entry of a film under several genres, but the choice is generally left up to you when you prepare your entry forms.

Producer's Representatives

A good producer's representative is usually a freelance sales agent with connections to film festivals, film buyers, and distributors. Producer's reps charge negotiable fees for their services, which are usually a percentage of any sales they make with your film production. That percentage will vary depending on the representative you're considering working with, and can be as much as 25 percent of your financial deal with a buyer.

Before making an arrangement with a producer's representative, be sure to check his background and ask for references. Ethical reps will be happy to prove their past performances to you. Be wary of any who balk at supplying references. Some may claim that they're unable to provide names of their clientele by citing so-called confidentiality agreements, but that's hogwash. Satisfied customers are always happy to recommend people with whom they've had positive business dealings, and producer's representatives are no exception. Producer's representatives are listed in The Hollywood Creative Directory.