Make your film festival a filmmaker favourite with exceptional hospitality: from personal liaisons to comfortable lounges that wow guests and win hearts.

How do top festival producers craft line-up announcements that get everyone buzzing? From finalising the line-up to orchestrating multi-wave reveals, this guide reveals their secrets.

Secure top film premieres for your festival by mastering communication with film sales agents: respond quickly, avoid over-promising, and build the trust that keeps top films returning.

Boost diversity, equity & inclusion in your film festival by setting goals (not quotas), broadening outreach, training screeners on bias, and tracking progress.

Don’t let legal snags pull films from your festival lineup. Learn to clear rights early and secure screening permissions to protect your festival schedule.

Bend the rules without playing favorites. Learn to waive fees or invite films fairly – set clear criteria, maintain an open-call vs invited mix, stay transparent.

Master the art of the gentle rejection: write clear, caring film festival decline letters, offer feedback, and keep filmmakers eager to return.

Navigate film festival premiere politics like a pro with expert tips on verifying premiere status claims and coordinating with other festivals to avoid clashes.

Transform your film festival programming meetings into decisive powerhouses. Learn how top festival teams worldwide use pre-meeting prep, a Yes/Maybe/No system, strict section quotas, and clear action plans to ensure every meeting ends with concrete lineup decisions and assigned next steps.

Make your film festival judging consistent and fair. Learn how standardized rubrics, calibration sessions, and oversight ensure every film gets a fair chance.

Design a film festival submission process that respects filmmakers. Limit categories, use clear rules, offer fee waivers & be transparent to ease anxiety and build trust.

Make your film festival a catalyst for change: choose themes and pair films with panels and partner organizations to spark conversation and inspire action.