Chapter 7: Film Festivals Are High School Cliques

Film festivals. They’re the high school cliques of the creative world, and if you’ve been to one, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the same tired dynamic: the cool kids running the show, the desperate outsiders trying to get in, and the judges who think they’re gods. It’s like they’ve just rebranded the whole scene, trading letterman jackets for lanyards and clipboards. But the game hasn’t changed. It’s still about access, power, and exclusion.

You think your film is being judged on its merit? Think again. Film festivals are all about politics, favoritism, and who knows who. It’s not about finding the best work; it’s about maintaining the status quo and keeping the gatekeepers in charge. It’s like high school all over again, but this time, the stakes are higher, and the entry fees are ridiculous.

Picture this: you’ve busted your tail making a film. You’ve poured your savings, time, and energy into it. And then you send it off to a film festival, hoping for a shot at the big time. But you know what happens? Your film gets thrown onto a pile with thousands of others, and some underpaid intern clicks “No, thanks” after watching the first thirty seconds. Or worse, it gets shuffled to the side because you didn’t know the right people. Your movie might be great, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is who’s at the party and who’s left out in the cold.

I’ve seen it a million times. Talented filmmakers get chewed up by the festival circuit because they’re chasing validation from people who don’t matter. They’re spending money they don’t have, waiting for approval that will never come. I’ve been there. I thought making my first feature film, “God Money,” was my ticket to the next level. I put in the work, I hustled every cent I could find, and when it was done, I was ready to show the world. But instead of creating my own path, I fell into the trap. I submitted my film to festivals, paid for screenings, and waited for someone to say, “You’ve made it.” But that moment never came.

It was like high school all over again. You’re the kid with the crazy idea, the cool project, but you’re just waiting for the popular crowd to give you a nod. And if they don’t, you’re back to square one, wondering what you did wrong. It’s a system that keeps you small, that makes you second-guess every creative decision, and worst of all, it wastes your time. Time you could be using to make more, to build your audience, to find your people.

And then it happened: a festival reached out and promised, “If you enter, we’ll make sure you win.” That’s when the illusion shattered. It’s all just a game. Winning doesn’t mean your film is great—it means you played the game well enough to get their attention. But here’s the truth they don’t want you to know: you don’t have to play. You can skip the whole circus, build your own audience, and make your own rules.

Social media is your best friend. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok have blown the gates wide open. You can post your work directly, find your people, and get real feedback without waiting for some gatekeeper to give you a pat on the back. Forget the festivals, the

 awards, and the validation from people who don’t even understand what you’re trying to do. Make your own party, bring your own energy, and stop begging for an invitation that you don’t need.

Here’s the bottom line: film festivals are stuck in the past. They’re relics of a time when creators needed middlemen to reach an audience. But that’s not the world we live in anymore. If you’re still waiting for the cool kids to accept you, you’re wasting your time. Get out there, create your own space, and let the old guard cling to their outdated power. You don’t need them. You never did.