"Hi," my friend said. "Do you have any time? I could really use some help promoting our upcoming film festival. Only problem is it is in 3 weeks!" Although I don't suggest waiting that long, there are ways to successfully promote your festival. If you would like our film festival PR template, please contact me at deborah@creative-si.com.

1. Promoting a Film
Festival in 3
weeks!
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031
January 2012

2. The Challenge
“Hi,” my friend said. “Do you have any extra
time? I could really use some PR help promoting
our upcoming film festival, ReelAbilities. The
only problem is that the film festival is in three
weeks!”
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

3. How to meet the challenge
Although I would never advocate waiting so late
to promote an event, it happens. So, here’s my
suggestion on how to proceed:
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

4. Brainstorm, Brainstorm,
Brainstorm
• Bring new voices to the table.
• Explore new ways to engage partners.
• Identify possible ways to distribute the message
and outlets to approach.
• Look for the story within the story.
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

5. Make sure the event website
is functioning properly
• Ask someone who doesn’t know how it is
supposed to function to navigate the site.
• Is it easy to navigate?
• Do all the links work?
• Are the messages clear?
• Do the links make it easy to buy tickets to the
film festival and/or make a donation?
• Is it easy to find contact information?
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

6. Launch a Facebook Page
• Send messages to all your personal friends to
“Like” the page.
• Invite your organizational partners to Like and
share the site.
• Keep the posts fresh with photos and video clips
from films.
• Continue to add updated press releases
• Personalize the page. Invite people to attend,
announce new volunteer opportunities.
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

7. Word of Mouth Promotion
• Invite community organizations to join you in
promoting the films to their members.
• Ask members and volunteers to invite their
friends and family.
• Send messages that your team can forward to
their email list.
• Always include information about and a link to
ticket sales.
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

8. Use a news distribution
service with social media
capabilities
• Make sure that your news distribution has the
capability to add Social Media Links such as
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to your release.
• Confirm that the service enhances your release
by Tweeting and/or blogging about your
festival.
• Collect stats about how many people are
reading your releases to your base to increase
excitement.
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

9. Work with the media &
bloggers
• Create a media room on your site
• Send a direct link to your media room.
• Make personal calls to contacts
• Hold a meet and greet with bloggers
• Be sure the site contains everything needed:
 JPEG files of photos & logos
 Movie trailers
 Contact info
 Pertinent details about speakers & special
events wrapped around the festival
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

10. Monitor Your Progress
• Meet with your leadership and team.
• Set up Google alerts
• Track mentions about the film festival in
your social media sites
• Keep up the buzz
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

11. Film Festival PR Template
It is never too late to promote your events. If
you would like a copy of my film festival PR
template, please contact me at
deborah@creative-si.com.
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031

12. Cheers! Now enjoy
the film festival.
Creative Solutions & Innovations | www.creative-si.com | 404.325.7031
January 2012