The Film Festival Doctor Podcast

40 Episodes
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By: The Film Festival Doctor

Rebekah Louisa Smith, aka The Film Festival Doctor, is a film festival strategist who can help you get your film seen on the festival circuit. Her podcast focuses on all things film festivals to help you learn more about this part of the film industry.Rebekah interviews festival programmers from all over the world, unpacking their programming process and exploring in detail what they look for when selecting films to screen at their festival.You can find out more about her here www.thefilmfestivaldoctor.com & Instagram @rebekahfilmdr Like, Subscribe, leave a review and visit the Shop page on the website for...

Spotlight on Soho London Independent Film Festival
#7
Today at 5:00 AM

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Liz Farahardi the genius behind one of the UK's most filmmaker friendly and popular and rapidly up and coming films festivals; the Soho London Independent Film Festival.


Discovering the Waco Independent Film Festival
#6
07/10/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks to Samuel Thomas behind one of Texas's popular film festivals and one of MovieMaker Magazine Top 50 Festivals worth their entry fee; the Waco Independent Film Festival.


Spotlight on the Pendance Film Festival
#5
07/03/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Robert Misovic, the Festival Director of one of Canada'sfantastic up and coming independent film festivals; the Pendance Film Festival.


How to create good sound for your film with Sound Designer & Mixer TJ Callaway
#4
06/26/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with established Sound Designer & Mixer TJ Callaway aboutwhy every filmmaker needs to have good sound in their film and why this is so important forfilm festival screenings.


Inside the Mind of Festival Director, Programmer & Screener Abby Wright
#3
06/19/2025

In this episode, Rebekah takes a deep dive with Abby Wright the founder of Femme Filth Fest,programmer at the Woods Hole Film Festival, screener at the National Film Festivalfor TalentedYouth and the proof of concept film festival the Proof Film Festival.


Preview of the 2025 Oak Cliff Film Festival
#2
06/12/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with the Oak Cliff Film Festival's Ashton Campbell & Lauren Alberque previewing their 2025 programme and what's in store for this year's film festival.


Narrative Film Programming at the Sundance Film Festival with Ana Souza
#1
06/05/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Ana Souza Manager of Programming & Programmer at theSundance Film Festival. She discusses how she and the Sundance team curate their programme,why filmmakers need to pay attention to premiere policies and her infamous coat


Festival Programming and Filmmaking in Australia with Kyle Goldfinch
04/10/2025

In this episode Rebekah has an in-depth chat with the multi talented festival screener & filmmaker Kyle Goldfinch


Festival Programming and Curation with the Wyoming International Film Festival Exec Director Rudi Womack
04/03/2025

In this episode Rebekah has an in-depth chat with Rudi Womack the Exec Director of one of the Wild West’s best festivals The Wyoming International Film Festival.


Documentary Film Programming 101 with the Thin Line Fest
03/27/2025

In this episode Rebekah chats with the team members of the longest running documentary film festival in Texas the Thin Line Festival about their programming techniques & secrets.


Building an Oscar Winning Film Festival with HollyShorts Co-Director Daniel Sol
03/20/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Daniel Sol, the Co-Director & Founder of the Oscar Qualifying HollyShorts Festival. 

During their discussion, they discuss how HollyShorts grew to become an Oscar Qualifying film festival, what types of short films they look for and what qualities an Oscar winning short film has.


Short Film Programming at the Tribeca Film Festival with Ben Thompson
03/13/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Ben Thompson, the VP of Shorts Programming at the Oscar Qualifying TriBeCa Festival. 

During their discussion, they discuss Ben’s journey towards becoming a programmer, Curating the shorts programmes, how a block of shorts programming is built and the exact groundbreaking number of short films that he’s watched


Short Film Programming for a new Oscar Qualifying Film Festival; the Dallas International Film Festival
03/06/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Amber Ekleberry, the recently Oscar Qualifying Dallas International Film Festival’s Senior Director of Programming. 

During their discussion, they discuss curating the shorts programme for DIFF, her plans for the festival and what makes a award winning short film


Spotlight on Ashton Campbell, The Oak Cliff Film Festival’s Co-Director
02/27/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with the Emmy award winning Ashton Campbell. During their discussion, they discuss his career journey so far including co-directing the Oak Cliff Film Festival, the secret to being a great interviewer & the iconic Texas Theatre.


Celebrating all things Shot on Film & Celluloid Jewelry with The Silver Screen Team
02/20/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Claire Richardson & Natalie Daniels the founders of Silver Screen. During their discussion, they discuss their festival which creates a celluloid community through screenings, Q&As and networking, their analog short film fund and their innovative jewelry business which makes jewelry from celluloid.


Exploring the Culture of a Texas Fest: The Billy The Kid Film Festival
#5
02/13/2025

In this episode, Rebekah speaks with Claire Luci DiGiorgio Vasquez the co-founder of The Billy The Kid Film Festival. During their discussion, they take a deep dive into this unique Texas based Film Festival exploring how they look for films that challenge filmmakers to explore the lives of the disenfranchised, the broken, and the outcast.


Exploring the Complex Role of a Film Projectionist with Chad Pierce
#4
02/06/2025

In this episode, Rebekah talks with Chad Pierce the Head Projectionist at the Texas Theatre and explores with him the role of a film projectionist also known as a theatres ‘invisible thread.’


South Side Studios & the Sunscreen Film Festival with Tony Armer
01/30/2025

In this episode, Rebekah talks with Tony Armer the Head of Production at Talon Entertainment & Co Founder of the Sunscreen Film Festival about the opening of the Dallas based South Side Studios & the upcoming 20th edition of the Sunscreen Film Festival which he is the co-founder of.


A Guide to Smartphone Filmmaking & Film Festivals with Bart Weiss
01/23/2025

In this episode, Rebekah talks with filmmaker and educator Bart Weiss about his latest book ‘Smartphone Cinema Making Great Films With Your Mobile Phone’ and how to navigate the festival circuit with a film made on your smartphone


A Guide to Smartphone Filmmaking & Film Festivals with Bart Weiss
#2
01/22/2025

In this episode, Rebekah talks with filmmaker and educator Bart Weiss about his latest book ‘Smartphone Cinema Making Great Films With Your Mobile Phone’ and how to navigate the festival circuit with a film made on your smartphone


Creating a Community & Showcase for Black Filmmakers with the Denton Black Film Festival Founders Harry and Linda Eaddy
#1
01/16/2025

In this episode Rebekah talks in depth with the Denton Black Film Festival team Harry and Linda Eaddy exploring how it is dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black culture with film at its heart and spotlights on other forms of storytelling, including spoken word, art, music, comedy, and dance.


Planning & Adjusting Your Film Festival Strategy Around COVID-19 - Further Updates
08/20/2020

In this special episode, Rebekah offers further updates regarding how to adjust your film festival strategy around the impact of COVID-19.


Spotlight On - Q&A with Actress & Writer Vivien Reid
06/01/2020

Writer and Actress Vivien Reid discusses her extraordinary filmmaking journey and the making of her award winning short film ‘The Box’.


Helping Students Achieve Successful Festival Exposure: Q&A with USC School of Cinematic Arts
05/17/2020

Clementine Ledger, USC School of Cinematic Arts Festival Coordinator, talks to Rebekah about helping their students create successful festival strategies.


The World of Webseries - Welcome to the World of 'Rebecca Gold'
05/03/2020

Director Ian David Diaz talks to Rebekah about his multi-award-winning web series Rebecca Gold and how it came together.


Inside the Mind of a Film Festival Director: Q&A with The North Hollywood Cinefest
04/19/2020

The man behind one of LA's top reviewed Film Festivals - The North Hollywood Cinefest - Gustavo Sampaio talks to Rebekah about the festival's origins.


Spotlight On: Q&A with Actor and Director Johnny Rey Diaz
04/05/2020

Rebekah talks to established L.A. based actor and director Johnny Rey Diaz about juggling acting and directing and how film festivals helped him on his journey.


Planning & Adjusting Your Film Festival Strategy Around COVID-19
03/29/2020

In this special episode, Rebekah talks you through how to adjust your film festival strategy around the impact of the Coronavirus.


An Introduction to The People's Republic of Movies: Q&A with Filmmaker Eric Blakeney
03/22/2020

Filmmaker Eric Blakeney chats to Rebekah about his recently launched collaborative film finance business, PROM - The People's Republic of Movies


Spotlight On: Q&A with Director Tom Lawes
03/08/2020

Director and Composer Tom Lawes discusses his extraordinary filmmaking journey and the making of his silent award winning feature film, Amaryllis.


Law & Order: The Importance Of Having A Lawyer On Your Team
02/23/2020

Rebekah chats to legal consultants, Leighton Lloyd and Simon Long about why a legal team are an essential component of a film production


Inside the Mind of a Film Festival Director - The Valley Film Festival
02/09/2020

Tracey Adlai - the woman behind one of the biggest L.A. Film Festivals - The Valley Film Festival - talks to Rebekah about what makes the event so successful.


From Production to Distribution - The World of Gunpowder & Sky
01/26/2020

Anna Levine, Development Manager for Gunpowder & Sky - one of the world's biggest up and coming genre production and distribution companies - talks to Rebekah about how to do great horror and sci-fi on a budget.


Inside The Mind Of A Film Festival Director - The HollyShorts Film Festival
01/12/2020

Holly Castro is the Managing Director of HollyShorts, one of the biggest short film festivals in the world. She chats to Rebekah about how this LA based event has grown and become an Academy Award qualifying festival - and how incredibly proud she feels of the festival's alumni.


Spotlight On: Q&A with Actress, Writer, Producer and Director Meghan Sunder
12/29/2019

Director Meghan Sunder talks to Rebekah about the making of her short film Olympians and its successful film festival journey.


Spotlight on: Q&A with the Creative Team of Ladies Most Deject
12/15/2019

Clients of the Film Festival Doctor, creatives Mark Sayler and Conner Wharton, discuss the making of their short film 'Ladies Most Deject'.


Spotlight On: Q&A with Director Lynda Reiss
12/01/2019

Famous for being prop master on 'Stranger Things' and 'True Detective', director Lynda Reiss talks to Rebekah about the making of her short film 'Ready To Go' and its successful film festival journey.


The Film Festival Journey - From Script to Screen to Festival - Q&A with Stephen David Brooks
11/17/2019

Established US-based director Stephen David Brooks gives Rebekah an honest and insightful interview about his journey from making films to making powerful connections at film festivals. www.stephendavidbrooks.com


The Circe Festival - California's first Immersive VR Film Festival - with Sean Marlon Newcombe
11/04/2019

Rebekah to talks to Festival Director Sean Marlon Newcombe who introduces us to his groundbreaking VR Film Festival - the first of its kind which will be an immersive experience for all of those who attend.


The Importance of Self Belief - Q&A with Lillianna
10/20/2019

In this episode, Rebekah talks to L.A. based actress Lillianna, who gives a raw and honest interview about the importance of believing in yourself. Instagram - lilliannalove