Last fall we launched our first Annual Festival Operational Benchmark Survey, designed as an invaluable tool for our organization as we move forward into our new iteration as the Film Festival Alliance (read more!). Most importantly:
Who are we? What do we value? What can we learn? What can we contribute?
So far, we’ve started to see some interesting trends. We are curious to see how these change as we gather more data:
Survey factoid #1: 1/3 of #IFPFestForum member fests have been around 1-10 years, 1/3 11-20, 1/3 20+ years. #whoweare #joinus #AHC2015
— IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 21, 2015
#IFPFestForum survey respondents: 1/3 of #film #festivals have events lasting 3-5 days, 40% 6-10 days, 26% 11 days+. #AHC2015 — IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 21, 2015
45% of #festivals responding have budget of $100K-500K. 18% < $100K, 37% > $500K. 100% do amazing things with what they have. #AHC2015
— IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 22, 2015
Spring (33%) and Fall (41%) are the most popular time for #film #festivals, via #IFPFestForum #survey results. #AHC2015 #joinus — IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 22, 2015
93% of our member fests offer some sort of year-round programming. Because we are rock stars who can’t get enough #indiefilm! #AHC2015
— IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 22, 2015
74% of respondent #festivals happen in urban areas; 15% in rural; $11% in exurban. 0% in the suburbs (?!). #IFPFestForum #survey #AHC2015 — IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 22, 2015
Respondent #film #festivals utilize an average of five screens. How many does your fest use? #AHC2015
— IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 22, 2015
63% of responding #festivals happen in middle-income areas, with the rest in high-income locations. #AHC2015 #IFPFestForum #survey — IFP Festival Forum (@ifpFestForum) January 22, 2015
While we have gathered initial findings from our first round of participants*, we would like to round out our sample even more. To that end, we have extended the survey deadline to April 15. If you have not done so, please complete the survey before that date. .
The survey results will be an invaluable tool as the Alliance moves forward, and we need maximum participation. Though most industries conduct surveys of this kind, our industry never has, and the results will be instrumental for many of you to apply for grants, negotiate with sponsors, build your boards, and drive strategic and operational decision-making.
Remember, we are only looking for only one submission per festival. While you are working on the survey, you can stop at any time and come back to it later. The survey program will resume wherever you last stopped.
Click here to go directly to the survey!
*Thanks a million to those members who participated in the first round. Initial participants were eligible for festival passes and cash awards, and winners included Napa Valley Film Festival, Berkshire International Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, Human Rights Watch Film Festival and Frameline!
