So you’ve finished production on your feature-length independent film. Congratulations! Making a film is no small feat and anyone who manages to do it should be applauded. Unfortunately, only after the making of a film comes the truly hard part… making sure it gets seen. With the growing accessibility of consumer-grade videography gear and the overwhelming amount of streaming services to choose from, there is more content to choose from than ever. Making your work stick out amongst the sea of other films requires some strategic and creative maneuvers.
Get it Reviewed
The best way to get your film seen is to build up anticipation for it through word of mouth. The majority of review sites and channels take requests, and most are usually looking to be the first ones to highlight the next big thing. Sending a screener link of your film to various different sources will help put it on people’s radar, even if they ultimately decide not to review it. The ones who do review it, however, will be giving your film great publicity by making their audiences aware of its existence. It is important to remember that even if the review isn’t positive, it can still bring a lot of attention to your film.
Hire a Publicist
This one requires a little more money, but a publicist is invaluable in the film marketing process. They will do research on upcoming festivals and screening opportunities. They will spread the word about your film across the industry, even taking the initiative themself to submit it for reviews. A publicist’s entire job is to promote your film. It isn’t a cheap task, but it is entirely worth the cost.
Get Creative with Viral Marketing
A lot of independent films have become popular simply by marketing themselves correctly. Two horror examples are The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, two found footage horror movies that used word of mouth and real-life scare tactics to get audiences in seats. Blair Witch benefitted from its use of early internet schemes to make people think the events of the film were real, while Paranormal Activity began screening in college towns before prompting people to vote to bring the film to their cities. Even just creating stickers, posters, and other merchandise for your film will help it stand out amongst the films that don’t have merchandise.
These are just a few ways to begin marketing your feature. At the end of the day, a good film will always get seen. At the very least, your first independent feature can act as a calling card to help you obtain funding for your next film.
If you want to learn more about marketing your independent film, purchase the book Guerrilla Film Marketing.