Hi, I’m Heather Brittain
Founder of Film Festival Insider™

I didn't start Film Festival Insider because I wanted to teach filmmakers how to submit to festivals.

I started it because I watched too many talented filmmakers spend years making a film and then approach the festival circuit without a clear strategy for what came next.

When I began submitting my own work, I quickly realized there was no shortage of information. What was missing was context.

Everyone seemed to have an opinion.

Very few people could explain why one festival made sense for a particular film and another didn't.

Nobody was talking about positioning, premiere strategy, long-term goals, or how festival decisions can affect everything that follows.

So I did what most independent filmmakers do. I learned by doing.

With every project, I became more intentional about where I submitted, how I positioned the film, and what I hoped to achieve from the festival run. Over time, that strategic approach led to stronger results, meaningful industry relationships, press coverage, awards, and opportunities that extended far beyond a single screening. My most recent film, Victim No. 6, played 21 festivals and won 19 awards — including Audience Awards in cities and countries where I knew absolutely no one.

Then I gained something many filmmakers never get access to.

A seat on the other side of the submission table.

As Vice-Chair and programmer for the Garden State Film Festival — one of the largest festivals in the Northeast — I've reviewed thousands of submissions and participated in the conversations that determine which films move forward and which don't.

I've seen outstanding films overlooked because they weren't positioned effectively.

I've seen filmmakers spend thousands of dollars chasing festivals that were never the right fit.

And I've seen how a thoughtful strategy can completely change the trajectory of a project.

That experience fundamentally changed the way I think about film festivals.

The festival circuit isn't a lottery.

It's a series of decisions.

The festivals you target.

The materials you submit.

The way you position your film.

The opportunities you pursue after an acceptance.

Every one of those decisions matters.

Today, Film Festival Insider exists to help independent filmmakers make those decisions with strategy instead of guesswork.

Whether you're preparing your first festival run or refining your approach after years on the circuit, my goal is simple:

To help you stop guessing and start moving strategically.

That includes Freeway Fixr™, my mini-course on the foundation of festival strategy, Insider Track™, my flagship festival strategy program for filmmakers who want the full system, Festival Fixr™, my AI-powered strategist built from that same methodology, and a limited number of private strategy sessions each month for filmmakers who want direct, personalized guidance.

Because a great film deserves more than hope.

It deserves a strategy.

And if you're here, you're already taking the first step.

Welcome.