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GET YOUR FILM SEEN, SELECTED, AND CELEBRATED - ON PURPOSE. 

 

This private 1:1 strategy session is for independent filmmakers who are tired of guessing, wasting submission fees, and watching their films get overlooked.

If you're prepping for your premiere or navigating a season of submissions, this is your chance to sit down with someone who's been on both sides of the submission table — and walk away with a festival plan that's built for your specific film.

In one focused hour, we'll map out your custom festival run using my insider framework — built from years as both an award-winning filmmaker and a festival programmer for one of the largest festivals in the Northeast.

You'll leave with a clear submission plan, a list of best-fit festivals, and the strategy to position your film before anyone presses play — so you're not spending thousands on a publicist to figure out what we can solve in an afternoon.

Spots are limited and fill quickly. Secure your session now to lock in your festival strategy before submissions season gains full speed.

 

YES PLEASE →
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WHAT YOU THINK YOUR PROBLEM IS...

 

You might believe that:

You're not getting accepted because your film "isn't good enough."

You just need to submit to more festivals to improve your chances.

Success comes from finding the right list of festivals or spending big on a publicist.

But here's the truth...

 

WHAT'S ACTUALLY KEEPING YOU STUCK... 

 

The real reason you're not seeing results is that you don't have a clear festival strategy.

Without one, you're spending money on the wrong submissions, missing deadlines, and relying on guesswork — hoping something sticks.

That's not just stressful, it's expensive.

What you need instead is a targeted plan that matches your film with the right festivals, at the right time, with positioning that makes programmers want to watch your film before they press play.

If this sounds like you, you don't need another generic submission list or recycled tip — you need a 1:1 Film Festival Strategy Session to map out your festival run with a plan that's built for your specific film.

Yes, I Want a Festival Plan That Works
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WHO IS THIS FOR? 

 

This Is for Filmmakers Who Are Done Guessing.

This session is for independent filmmakers who are tired of wasting money on submissions that go nowhere — and tired of second-guessing what programmers are actually looking for.

What you really want is to stop submitting blindly and start submitting with a plan. To know which festivals are worth your time, which ones align with your film, and how to position your work so programmers want to watch it before they press play.

You want your festival run to build real momentum — not just collect a few laurels and stall.

Here's where my insider perspective comes in. I'm an award-winning filmmaker and a festival programmer who has personally screened thousands of submissions. I know what separates the films that get ignored from the ones that get selected — because I'm the one making those decisions.

I've built a system that takes out the guesswork, so you don't have to waste years and thousands of dollars learning the hard way.

If this sounds like you, the 1:1 Film Festival Strategy Session is your chance to get insider guidance tailored to your specific film — and walk away with a festival plan that actually works.

 

I'M READY →
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WHAT  HAPPENS IN A 1:1 FILM FESTIVAL STRATEGY SESSION? 

Every filmmaker's journey is different — which is why no two strategy sessions look the same. In our 60 minutes together, we'll dig into your biggest goals and challenges so you leave with a practical plan built for your specific film.

Depending on where you are in the process, we might cover:

• Is your final cut festival-ready? (Checklist review)
• Poster, trailer, one-pager, or EPK — what sells, what doesn't
• Optimizing your FilmFreeway profile + project page
• Premiere strategy that builds visibility (not just ego)
• Organizing submissions + avoiding wasted fees
• Festival budgeting: travel, promos, hotels, and more
• Building buzz on IMDb, Letterboxd, and social media
• Handling rejections strategically (yes, it's a thing)
• Becoming a programmer's favorite once you're in
• Getting reviews, press, and Q&As that convert
• What to do (and say) when you're finally handed the mic

🎯 What's Included

✔️ 60-minute private Zoom call with Heather Brittain
✔️ Pre-call intake form so we hit the ground running
✔️ I'll review up to 30 minutes of your film before we meet
✔️ Follow-up email with personalized notes + next steps

PLUS: Extended Film Review (Optional Upgrade)

Want a deeper dive? Upgrade with an Extended Film Review, where I'll watch up to 90 minutes of your film and give you detailed notes on festival readiness, positioning, and strategy. This is personalized insight from someone who's screened thousands of films and knows exactly what programmers are looking for — because she is one.

LET'S BUILD MY FESTIVAL PLAN

Spots are limited—secure your session today and get the clarity your film deserves.

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WHY BOOK YOUR SESSION NOW?

The festivals aren't waiting. And neither should you.

Every week you delay is another deadline that passes. Another premiere window that narrows. Another round of second-guessing that chips away at your confidence.

Most festivals won't select films older than 18 months. Some won't take anything completed more than a year ago. That clock is already running — whether you have a strategy or not.

Your film is ready. Your strategy isn't.

You've done the hard part — you made the film. But without a clear plan, even the strongest projects get overlooked.

In a 1:1 Film Festival Strategy Session, you'll get:

✔ A 60-minute private Zoom call tailored to your film
✔ A pre-call intake form so we hit the ground running
✔ A review of up to 30 minutes of your film before we meet
✔ Personalized notes + next steps in a follow-up email
✔ The option to upgrade to an Extended Film Review for deeper insights

If you wait:

✖ More deadlines pass while you try to figure out which festivals are worth the fee

✖ Your premiere window narrows while other filmmakers are submitting with intention

✖ You burn money on submissions that could have been strategic

If you book now:

✓ You walk away with a festival plan built for your specific film

✓ You know which festivals to submit to, when to submit, and how to position your film

✓ You stop guessing — and start building a festival run that builds real momentum

Spots are limited. Book your session today and get the strategy your film deserves.

BOOK YOUR STRATEGY SESSION TODAY
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REAL RESULTS, REAL CLIENTS

This isn't just advice. It's a strategy session that gets you results.

Real filmmakers. Real breakthroughs. Real momentum.

Filmmakers who've booked 1:1 sessions are:

  •  Seeing higher acceptance ratios — across their submissions, not just one lucky festival
  •  Getting into Oscar-qualifying festivals — because their submissions were positioned with intention
  •  Getting write-ups in the trades — press that used to feel out of reach
  •  Landing Audience Awards — in cities and countries where they had zero connections

They're getting selected not because they're lucky, but because they're strategic. Because they walked into a session with no plan — and walked out with one built for their specific film.

Even a brilliant film can be overlooked if it isn't positioned properly. This session makes sure yours isn't.

 

LET'S TALK!
Client Testimonial Video

Robert Mandelberg & Nika Stewart

Client Testimonial Video

Ellen Ancui

Client Testimonial Video

Peter Plano

Client Testimonial Video

Felicia Greenfield

Heather with clients Tatiana Blackington James & Ellen Ancui at the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at Cannes

Yes, I’m Ready to Submit Smarter
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1:1 PRIVATE STRATEGY SESSION

$347

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR STRATEGY SESSION

  • 60-MINUTE PRIVATE ZOOM CALL

    This isn't just a conversation — it's a focused, one-on-one strategy session tailored to your film. For a full hour, you'll have my undivided attention as we work through your biggest challenges and map out clear, actionable next steps. You'll walk away with a festival plan that's specific to your project — not generic advice.

  • PRE-CALL INTAKE FORM (SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE EVERY MINUTE) 

    Before our session, you'll receive a simple intake form designed to help me get to know your project and your goals. You can share as much detail as you'd like — your film's title, genre, logline, synopsis, past festival experiences, and the outcome you're hoping for.

    The more context you provide, the more tailored my guidance will be — but don't worry, it's not about "perfect" answers. Even a few details will give us a strong foundation. I'll review whatever you choose to share (including up to 30 minutes of your film) so that when we meet, we can skip the surface-level questions and dive straight into strategy.

  • FOLLOW-UP EMAIL WITH PERSONALIZED NOTES & NEXT STEPS 

    After our session, you'll receive a detailed follow-up email recapping what we covered, the specific next steps we mapped out, and any festivals, positioning notes, or strategy recommendations we discussed. You won't have to rely on memory or scribbled notes — you'll have it in writing.

  • OPTIONAL UPGRADE: EXTENDED FILM REVIEW (+97)

    Want a deeper dive? Add an Extended Film Review at checkout, and I'll watch up to 90 minutes of your film and give you detailed notes on festival readiness, positioning, and strategy. This is personalized insight from someone who's screened thousands of films and knows exactly what programmers are looking for — because she is one.

Book My Strategy Session →

STRATEGY INTENSIVE (3-PACK)

$797

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR STRATEGY INTENSIVE

  • THREE 60 MINUTE PRIVATE STRATEGY SESSIONS

This isn't a single conversation — it's ongoing strategic support designed to carry your film through its festival run.

Across three private sessions, we'll map your initial festival strategy, then refine and adjust it as your run unfolds. Each call builds on the last, so we can move past the initial plan and into real-time decisions as acceptances, rejections, and opportunities come in.

Instead of trying to solve everything in one hour, you'll have strategic support at the moments it matters most.

  • PRE-CALL INTAKE + ONGOING CONTEXT (SO WE BUILD, NOT RESTART)

Before your first session, you'll complete an intake form so I can understand your film, goals, and current position.

From there, we build forward. I'll remember where we left off each time, so we can focus on what has shifted:

• New submissions or acceptances
• Changes in premiere status
• Updated materials
• Evolving strategy decisions

No re-explaining. No starting from scratch. Just forward momentum.

  • FILM REVIEW + POSITIONING FEEDBACK

Your Intensive includes an initial film review (up to 30 minutes) before your first session, where I'll assess festival readiness, programming potential, and positioning.

From there, we refine. As your strategy evolves, we can revisit how your film is being positioned, how your materials are performing, and whether adjustments are needed based on responses or momentum.

This is where many filmmakers gain the most clarity — not just from one review, but from understanding how their film is landing as they move through the process.

  • STRATEGIC GUIDANCE BETWEEN KEY DECISIONS

The most important decisions rarely happen during scheduled calls. They happen in between.

With the Strategy Intensive, our sessions are spaced intentionally so you can apply what we discuss, gather real-world feedback, and return with new data to refine your approach.

This creates a strategy that evolves with your festival run — instead of staying static.

  • FOLLOW-UP NOTES + ACTION PLANS AFTER EACH SESSION

After every call, you'll receive a written recap outlining:

• Key insights
• Strategic recommendations
• Your next steps

So you always leave with clarity on what to do next — and how to prioritize your time, budget, and energy.

Start My Strategy Intensive →
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MEET

HEATHER BRITTAIN

 

Hi, I'm Heather — founder of Film Festival Insider™ and creator of Insider Track™ and Variety-featured Festival Fixr™.

I'm an award-winning filmmaker and a festival programmer. I've sat on both sides of the submission table — as the filmmaker submitting, and as the person behind the table deciding what gets in.

As Vice-Chair of the Garden State Film Festival, one of the largest independent film festivals in the Northeast, I've reviewed thousands of submissions and helped shape the lineups that filmmakers chase. I know what programmers look for — and what makes them pass on a film before they ever finish watching it.

I also know it from the filmmaker's side. My last film, Victim No. 6, played 21 festivals and won 19 awards — including Audience Awards in cities and countries where I knew absolutely no one.

I didn't build that run on luck, connections, or expensive consultants. I built it with a repeatable system — one that helped me choose the right festivals, position my film before anyone pressed play, and turn each selection into momentum for the next.

Now, through my 1:1 Film Festival Strategy Sessions, I bring that same insider perspective directly to you. This is your chance to sit down with someone who's been where you are — and knows how to get you where you want to go.

Let's map out your festival run with a plan that builds real momentum.

LET'S TALK!
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© 2026 | COPYRIGHT FILM FESTIVAL INSIDER™, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
Important Disclaimer: Film Festival Insider™ cannot and does not give any guarantees for results with film festivals or media outlets with our information, courses, programs, masterminds, coaching, plans, tools or strategies.

You recognize and agree that nobody and nothing part of the Film Festival Insider™ brand has made any implications, warranties, promises, suggestions, projections, representations, or guarantees whatsoever to you about future success, or that you will get into film festivals or win awards, with respect to your purchase of Film Festival Insider™ programs, courses, trainings, masterclasses or coaching and that we have not authorized any such implication, promise or representation by others. There are no guarantees of results. There are no refunds. All sales are final.

We may reference our own film festival success, experience and expertise, and in some cases the success of our previous or existing students and clients. Please understand that we are not guaranteeing your success, and that the results we reference are not typical or average. We are displaying these results for example purposes only. Individual success and results will vary, and depend on many factors, including the quality of a film, talent, motivation, and work ethic.