Festival Circuit Survival Guide: Getting Your Film Seen with NYFA Festival Director Crickett Rumley

75 mins

Film festivals can be exhilarating, overwhelming, and career-shaping all at once. This panel breaks down everything you need to know to navigate the festival circuit with confidence—from submissions and premieres to networking, press, and protecting your creative and mental energy. We’ll cover the unspoken rules, common pitfalls, and smart strategies for making the most of screenings, panels, and industry events, whether you’re attending your first festival or returning with a new project. Think of this as your practical survival guide: how to show up prepared, stand out authentically, build real connections, and leave with momentum long after the closing night.

Moderator: Crickett Rumley

The founder and senior director of the Film Festival Department at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in Los Angeles, Crickett Rumley has guided filmmakers to official selections at festivals ranging from Sundance to Bronzelens and to wins and nominations at the Student Academy Awards, the BAFTA Student Film Awards, the DGA Student Film Awards, and the College Television Awards. She is on the board of the Film Festival Alliance, serves as the Panels Director for the Tallgrass Film Festival, and has taught workshops and served on juries for festivals around the U.S.