Forum
The ShortFest Forum is the "classroom" educational component of the Festival where we hold panels, lectures, and intimate conversations and provide filmmakers actual face time with working industry professionals. They focus on the art and industry of filmmaking and offer filmmakers a first-hand opportunity to listen, learn, and network with a group of industry professionals specializing in their fields.
Please note that the One-on-Ones will require advance registration.
So you're finishing up your festival circuit, but how can you ensure your film will be seen by wider audiences? What does the current shorts distribution and viewing landscape look like? How can you partner with the right companies and platforms to set your film up for success? Our panel of distinguished guests weigh in all your shorts distribution questions.
Industry Participants
A Forum favorite! Join us for an open and candid conversation with festival programmers, directors and curators as they reveal how their selection processes work, share tips for your upcoming festival submissions, and outline how to make the most of your festival experiences. Bring all your questions!
Industry Participants
Pitching is an artform... Join us for a lively conversation with distinguished industry executives on the do's and don'ts of presenting your project and what they look for in a winning idea. Submit your pitch ahead of time for the chance to pitch directly to the panelists and receive feedback live! Three pitches will be pre-selected and confirmed prior to the panel.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
Moving into feature filmmaking can be daunting, but endlessly rewarding. Hear from our panel of filmmakers on the best ways to approach this transition and their own challenges, learnings, and creative journeys venturing from the world of shorts into features.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
The writer’s strike has surfaced issues and debates that affect all of us in the industry, from implications around the future of artificial intelligence to the significance of streaming residuals and more. What is at stake for filmmakers both established and emerging, and what can we expect in the weeks and months to come? How can we be informed and best support each other as negotiations continue? Whether you’ve got multiple films under your belt or are just starting out, join us for a candid and open conversation about the strike’s impact.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
The climate crisis begs the question - how can we integrate sustainability into our filmmaking? From reducing our carbon footprint on set to prioritizing climate-driven stories, how do we do our part to protect the planet for ourselves and the next generation? Our panel of experts weigh in on ways we can bring stewardship to filmmaking while ensuring impactful stories go further.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
Looking for funds for your next movie may be challenging, but doesn't have to be a slog. Hear from our panel of filmmakers on the outside-the-box ways they've been able to put money together for their projects, and learn the best approaches, tips and tricks for getting the financing in place for your next film.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
Don't miss the chance to meet in person with an industry professional. These 15 minute one-on-one meetings give you the opportunity to ask burning questions about areas of the industry you are interested in working in or learning more about, general career advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating - advance sign-up required.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
Don't miss the chance to meet in person with an established filmmaker. These 15 minute one-on-one meetings give you the opportunity to ask burning questions about careers, aspects of filmmaking you are interested in learning more about, general advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating - advance sign-up required.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
Our signature roundtable event returns! Hear directly from prominent agents, managers, and organizations involved in artist support and granting to learn about how they find the filmmakers they work with and what opportunities exist for your project. Bring your questions - we'll rotate periodically. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
Our signature roundtable event returns! Hear directly from prominent development and acquisitions executives to learn about what they look for in selecting and supporting projects, how they build relationships with filmmakers, and how your work can stand out from the crowd. Bring your questions - we'll rotate periodically. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS