So You Want to Start a Film Festival?: Conversations with Top Festival Creators, Paperback

Film festivals have sprouted up in communities large and small around the globe. What compelled the founders of some of North America's most distinguished festivals to create their events? What were their goals and expectations? Their successes and failures? Explore the genesis stories of 16 film festivals - hear the honest tales of heartache and passion - and discover the lasting impact of their events on their communities and the film industry. Interviews with the founders of: - AFIDocs - CineKink - Citizen Jane Film Festival - Cucalorus Film Festival - EcoFocus Film Festival - Edmonton International Film Festival - GI Film Festival - Holly Shorts Film Festival - Pasadena International Film Festival - Portland Film Festival - ReelShorts Film Festival - SF IndieFest - Sidewalk Film Festival - SXSW - Tribeca Film Festival - WAMMFest - Woods Hole Film Festival

Jon Gann is the Founder of DC Shorts, a non-profit organization championing short filmmaking, and the creator of the DC Shorts Film Festival, one of the country's premier short film showcases. He has also served as the Executive Director of CINE, a 58-year old organization that honors the best in film, TV and digital media with the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award. Published in 2012, his book, "Behind the Screens: Programmers Reveal How Film Festivals Really Work" examines how 16 programmers and organizers curate, collect, watch and select films for their festivals. The frank insights reveal the inner-workings of an industry that is often misunderstood. His new book, "So You Wanna Start a Film Festival" was released in December 2015. Through Reel Plan, Jon consults with filmmakers on the festival circuit. Through his work, he has bridged the communication gap between competing film festivals, so all can share film information, sponsor strategies and filmmaker data. As a filmmaker, Jon's notable past projects include: "Cyberslut," the first gay-themed short film to screen at over 50 festivals and broadcasts worldwide; "Signs," a national 48 Hour Film Project award winner, and "Offline," a modern dating parable. Jon has presented at over 120 universities, film organizations and film festivals worldwide, and has spoken at the International Film Festival Summit, Art House Convergence, and TEDxWDC. He sits on the Advisory Board at George Mason University's School of Film & Video Studies.