If you’re just a fan of films, then sure, enjoy a film festival near you. But if you are a filmmaker or on your way to becoming one, then you should invest in attending a film market and understand its benefits over a film festival.
Unlike a film festival, a film market is where buying and selling of content takes place and as a media professional, it is very important for you to learn what is actually being bought and sold and how the space operates, before you invest money in making a piece of content. And if you’ve already made something, then it’s a place for you to get your work in front of serious buyers and potentially walk out of the market with a deal.
The most prominent film markets, where most of the action takes place are Cannes de Marche, European Film Market, American Film Market and recent festivals-turned-markets, Sundance, Toronto, Busan & Hong Kong.
In India, there is a small, but thriving market called Film Bazaar. It takes place around the same time as the International Film Festival of India in Goa. The Film Bazaar is a government entity and can be credited for being a hub where Indian content is being showcased and discovered by national and international buyers – not to mention films getting funded and even casted.
Last year, I attended both the Bazaar and here are some interesting discoveries:
