Angelus Student Film Festival

Case Study: Angelus Student Film Festival: long-running festival with top-rate, international film competition and awards ceremony at the Directors Guild of America – with little consumer or entertainment industry visibility or press coverage.
Challenges: Establish the festival as a significant annual event on the film industry “calendar”; create top-of-mind awareness for the fest as one of the most valuable competitions for student filmmakers; increase overall industry awareness of the fest and raise prestige and visibility of finalists as “filmmakers to watch”.

Solutions: Media relations campaign with an emphasis on trade publications; industry outreach to establish alliances with key entertainment industry professionals; consumer awareness campaign to grow audience for event and increase word-of-mouth, including campus outreach.
1. write press releases and media alerts and disseminate to entertainment and mainstream media about various stages of the festival: call-for-entries, semi-finalists, finalists and main event/festival awards and solicit coverage
2. host “pitching seminar” student event prior to call-for-entries period to build awareness of upcoming festival and increase film submissions
3. create a “Spirit of Angelus” award to be presented to high-profile industry figure whose work exemplifies mission statement of festival
4, cultivate relationships with top industry professionals to serve as judges on fest jury
5. establish relationships with nationally known consumer brands as corporate sponsors for the event and for prizes to be awarded to fest winners
6. expand reach by hosting branded events at other times during the year (including select screenings at Sundance Film Festival and on campuses) in order to maintain a media presence year-round
7. hiring and directing street team to canvas areas key to fest demographic and to disseminate collateral materials

Results:

Significant trade and consumer press coverage including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Indiewire, MovieMaker Magazine, Los Angeles Times, LA Daily News, KABC-TV

To date, Gregory Peck, Edward Hermann, Gary Oldman, Jim Caviziel have been honored with the Angelus Spirit of Angelus Award. Their involvement resulted in further opportunities for media interest and coverage;

Secured participation by executives at HBO, WB, Paramount, New Line Cinema, CAA, as festival jurors. HBO hosted documentary submissions screenings and judging at NYC headquarters’ screening facility;

Secured KABC-TV’s Entertainment Reporter George Pennacchio as event host;

Secured sponsorship dollars, product and cross-promotional commitments from local management of national consumer chain California Pizza Kitchen who hosted the after festival gala at 8000 Sunset location. Also secured  Panavision to host facility tours for finalists and winners;

Organized Angelus at Sundance screening of award-winning films in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival. Secured coverage for the screening program, festival directors and student filmmakers in print and on local radio and TV and in national entertainment industry trade publications.