The Industry Talks: Festival Strategy From Both Sides Of the Screen

You've finished your short film. Now what?

Most filmmakers submit to festivals randomly, hoping something sticks. This workshop teaches you to think strategically instead. Learn how to choose the right festivals for your specific film, create submission materials that actually get noticed, understand premiere strategies, build real momentum, and handle rejection professionally.

The difference? This isn't generic advice, it's insider knowledge from someone who reads your submissions and makes programming decisions every day. Whether you're planning your first festival run or looking to improve your strategy, you'll walk away with practical tools to navigate the circuit with confidence.

Interactive discussion encouraged.

Bring your questions.

Kiko Morah is a Mexican filmmaker and festival programmer with over 10 years of experience in the film industry. He serves as a programmer at Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, the' leading genre film festival in The Netherlands, where he specializes in horror, fantasy, and science fiction programming. As a director, Kiko has firsthand experience navigating the international festival circuit as both filmmaker and programmer. His work bridges European and Latin American cinema, bringing a unique cross-cultural perspective to film festival strategy.

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Host or Publisher SAE Institute Amsterdam