It’s the slow fade of a screen, the flickering scroll of credits — your film is finished and you’re now awaiting the response of the crowd. It will surely be spectacular, you believe. Your efforts were valiant, producing celluloid that could never be denied. The script was perfect; the acting was superb; and the metaphors were carefully presented. It was an exploration of the human condition, bounding between genres and styles. All will be impressed and you grin, expecting applause.

It… doesn’t come.

The festival-goers are instead quiet, staring down at the floor, their tickets. Their expressions are baffled; their approval has disappeared. And you slink down in your seat, humiliated by the utter apathy of it all.

This is every director’s greatest fear. It is also one, however, that can be avoided.

Choosing the appropriate festival is essential for all filmmakers. While your project may be accepted by many venues (offered that exclusive entry), this does not mean that you should simply offer it to any screen you can. There must instead be an understanding of the audience and their expectations.

Festivals are unique — their purposes are to showcase differing styles and topics, the specialized formats. Movies therefore are meant to reflect the tone of the events. They are to be relevant, relatable. And, when they are not, the viewers will react with disappointment (or even hate).

You must therefore recognize the intentions of every festival. Know what they traditionally emphasize. Discover the past winners, the notable entrants. Understand what the audiences gave most responded to in the past and then compare all of these films to yours. The point is not to mimic them; it is instead to stand comfortably beside them, blending within the expectations.

Consider who shall watch your movie and what you wish them to feel. Find the festival that offers the opportunity to reach these viewers, rather than choosing one that will only provide dull reactions and misunderstandings.