Catalina Film Festival Recap: Why This Work Matters — and Why I Keep Showing Up

I spent last weekend on Catalina Island, immersed in the kind of conversations that remind me why I built Film Festival Insider™ in the first place.

Filmmakers flew in with passion projects, screening shorts and features they’ve spent years crafting. They shared their wins, their near-misses, their questions, and their confusion. We gathered for the Festivals, Markets & Distribution panel, and I found myself saying what I say so often in 1:1 consultations:

Getting selected is not the finish line. It’s just the beginning.

This is the part most people don’t talk about. What to do once you're in. How to make the most of a festival once you've landed the slot. How to build momentum when the high-fives are over and the lights go back up.

I’ve sat in your seat — festival badge on, nerves high, wondering how to turn a single screening into something more. That’s why I keep showing up. Whether I’m onstage at a panel, staying late to answer Q&As, or on Zoom for a private strategy session, it’s always the same mission: to help you get seen for the right reasons by the right people at the right time.

And if you’re in that in-between stage right now — selected, but not sure what to do next — I’ve got you.

October is filling quickly, but I still have a few openings for private consults in the second half of the month. If you’ve been thinking about working with me 1:1 to map out your strategy, now’s a good time to claim your spot.

Because the films getting noticed right now? They aren’t always the biggest-budget. They’re the ones backed by a smart, focused, and visible game plan.

Let’s build yours.

👉 Book your consult here