Drifting along the picturesque canals of Venice, Italy, immersing himself in new films was a dream come true for Chapman University senior screenwriting major Yubin Namgung. Although he was filled with excitement knowing he would be attending the Venice International Film Festival — during its 80th anniversary, no less — he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of imposter syndrome knowing he would be among some of modern cinema's top talent. Thankfully, that stress was alleviated the moment Namgung felt the spirit of community the event provided.

“You know, all the cameras turn to this part of the world this time of year, and it’s very flashy, but it was more lowkey than I imagined,” Namgung told The Panther. “Everybody’s just there to see movies, and I didn’t feel like an outsider like I thought.”

Film festivals can be daunting for first-time attendees. But amidst the hustle and bustle of fashion, press and mile-long lines, these festivals are truly a celebration of movies at their core. It’s the perfect time to find your next favorite movie, meet new people and learn from those more experienced. 

The Panther spoke with several 2023 film festival attendees in the hopes of alleviating anxiety students may feel about attending and give a rundown on how to make the most of their future film festival experiences.

As an avid lover of film, Namgung was enamored by the charm of the illustrious event, but wants future attendees to know that there’s a lot of required waiting in line. Also, due to overlapping screenings and limited capacities, he had to be strategic with his picks.

“(The festival) gives you the schedule a couple of weeks beforehand, and you kind of pick and choose what you want to see,” Namgung told the Panther. “I wanted to get a balance of films and documentaries I wouldn’t have been exposed to (outside of the festival), as well as the ‘buzzy’ stuff. I tried to fit as much as I could into my schedule.” 

Once you go through the list of available films, you have to prioritize. As has been established, whatever you decide, you’re guaranteed to find a long line. Specific research will be necessary, though. Some festivals allow everyone attending access to screenings, while others require a specific ticket. For example, Venice has reserved seats that are decided beforehand. 

Chapman professor of creative producing Joe Rosenberg and acting professor Susie Landau-Finch were both attendees at the Telluride Film Festival which took place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 in Telluride, Colorado. Rosenberg and Landau-Finch are both film festival veterans and were equipped to deal with the chaos. 

“The thing that I love about film festivals is it’s a chance to discover great films,” Rosenberg told The Panther. “When I was in Telluride this last time — and I saw four great films — it reinvigorated me. It reminded me of why I got into the entertainment business in the first place. You know, there’s nothing like discovering a new film that you love.” 

In order to have an ideal experience attendees must plan ahead in terms of their itinerary, something Rosenberg and Landau-Finch were well aware of. 

“(Rosenberg) and I looked at all the options, and then we kind of zeroed in on things we were most interested in. And then, we made sure to wait in those lines early,” Landau-Finch told The Panther. “He had a secret: You wait two hours early.” 

Some people have expressed confusion over how film festivals are able to continue, considering the ongoing joint SAG-WGA strike. Scott Feinberg, a Chapman professor and the executive editor of awards coverage at The Hollywood Reporter, explains why certain films are allowed to be promoted by the cast and crew. 

“Not all companies are members of (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). You’ve got some, like A24, for instance, who are not a part of it and so they’re not subject to the strike,” Feinberg told the Panther. “Then you’ve got companies that are abroad or movies that were made abroad that the people that work on them are not members of SAG and the WGA, and so they don’t have to strike… There’s also a thing called a waiver, where, if (the studio) agrees to certain terms until the strike is resolved, you can still move forward.” 

Feinberg, who attended both the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Telluride Film Festival in September, shared Landau-Finch’s sentiment on getting an early start.

“I think the key thing is you gotta start planning early,” Feinberg told The Panther. “You gotta often make advanced plans for where you’re gonna stay because these festival accommodations go very quickly. You wanna make sure you’re staying ideally within walking distance of the venues. Otherwise, that adds to the cost.” 

Students who want to get tickets for next year’s festivals — which they can find on the respective websites — have a few things to keep in mind as they make their plans. 

“No matter if you’re going as a civilian who’s going to try to buy tickets or you’re gonna go apply for a credential, there are deadlines,” Feinberg said. “There are dates when tickets go on sale, and then after that, they’re gone.” 

After viewing their respective slates of films at different festivals across the world, Rosenberg, Landau-Finch, Namgung and Feinberg all walked away with different films they were most excited about. “Janet Planet” (premiered Sept. 1 at the Telluride Film Festival) stood out to Landau-Finch, and Rosenberg struggled to pick just one, but was particularly impressed by “The Zone of Interest” (out Dec. 8) and "Saltburn” (out Nov. 24). “Evil Does Not Exist” (premiered Sept. 4 at the Venice International Film Festival) was Namgung’s pick for his favorite find. Feinberg was impressed by several films, but especially enjoyed “Poor Things” (out Dec. 8).

Despite the uncertain state of the industry currently, there was no shortage of wonderful movies to experience at these events. In fact, there is even more to be excited about being featured at the upcoming New York (from Sept. 29 to Oct. 15) and Newport Beach (from Oct. 12 to Oct. 19) film festivals. As they say, the show must go on.

For students on the fence about attending festivals, Namgung shared his two cents.

“It’s worthwhile, and it’s worth the investment.”