2025 Filmmaker Guide

2025 FILMMAKER GUIDE

Celebrating 26 years of independent film

“I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR THE WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL…ONCE YOU COME, YOU JUST KEEP COMING BACK.” Ondi Timoner (Director, THE NEW AMERICANS: GAMING A REVOLUTION)

Celebrating 26 years of independent film

Contents Festival History Locations of Screenings + Maps Festival Events & Panels Social Media, Podcast & Livestream info FAQ + Filmmaker Q&A

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers

Festival History The Woodstock Film Festival continues its mission by showcasing exceptional films from all over the world, hosting the most talented emerging and established professionals in the movie industry; presenting A-list concerts, panels, workshops and parties, and creating stimulating, innovative programming year-round, while serving as an incubator for upcoming talent and local filmmaking.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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2018

2002 2000 The inaugural Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) took place September 21-24 2000 in the famed artists' colony of Woodstock, New York. It included workshops and live concerts along with screenings of documentaries and short and full-length films from all over the world.

WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL TIMELINE 2000 - 2018

Variety gave the festival a special three-page spread, touting, among other things, the festival’s parties as “excellent.”

WFF clearly cemented its place in the independent film festivals circuit.

2011 2017 WFF office moves from a small rental office to Rock City Road in Woodstock, former Heckeroth Plumbing property where the iconic film legend Lee Marvin once worked as an apprentice plumber. Over the years, WFF has made countless improvements to transform the property, with the latest one taking place in the spring of 2022.

WFF began an annual educational initiative, the Youth Film Lab, serving countless local teenagers throughout the academic year and during a summer intensive workshop program.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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2025 / NOW

2021

2020 Despite the global pandemic, WFF set up drive-in movie theaters throughout the Hudson Valley as well as streamed films online.

WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL TIMELINE 2020 - 2024

The first WFF Filmmakers Residency/Incubator began as a month-long program serving visual storytellers from underrepresented communities who are in the midst of developing film projects with social justice themes.

2022

Celebrating 26 YEARS of independent film!

WFF was approved as an Oscar® Award qualifying festival in the Short Narrative, Animated Short, and Short Documentary categories. WFF continues to expand on its year-round programming, adding a select exhibition platform for films vying to be nominated and/or win an Academy Award as a special part of its year-round programming.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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Community + Connections Connect, network & promote your film.

FILMMAKERS LOUNGE AT WAAM Located right in the center of Woodstock & open throughout the day. You will check in to get your credentials, goodie bag, and commemorative program here. Coffee & food are provided. The step & repeat is set up for photos. Feel free to do some work at one of our tables!

Hospitality Lounge Sponsor: Eventive

LIVESTREAM + PODCAST This will be our third year for the WFF YouTube livestream from the WAAM Filmmakers Lounge. You can sign up for slots before and during the festival. The live stream is recorded from 2-3 pm Thursday, Friday, & Saturday and we also do an Instagram live throughout the livestream recording. During the festival you can check out the recordings here: Youtube.com/@WoodstockFilmFestival/streams For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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Q&As, Panels & Awards Show Filmmaker Benefits

FILMMAKER Q&AS The majority of films have filmmakers present for their Q&As preceding the screening. They are 10-15 minutes long, with a Q&A moderator.

PANELS

MAVERICK AWARDS

Tap into the creative process, industry trends, and the future of filmmaking at panels taking place at the Kleinert Center located right next to WAAM in Woodstock.

Past speakers include Steve Buscemi, Ethan Hawke, Karen Allen, Matt Dillon, Debra Granik, and many more.

Your Filmmaker Badge grants stand-by access to Panels.

WFF honors filmmakers with prestigious awards on Saturday October 19th: Best Feature (Narrative + Doc), Excellence in Directing, Ultra Indie Award, Best Editing (Narrative + Doc), Best Cinematography, Best Short Animation, Best Short Doc and many more.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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Screenings & Venue Info Woodstock, NY Theaters & Venues

WOODSTOCK PLAYHOUSE

THE KLEINERT/JAMES CENTER

TINKER STREET CINEMA

MESCAL HORNBECK COMMUNITY CENTER

A staple of Woodstock, this 321 seat theater is an iconic non-profit site of American theatre & music history, established 1938 as one of the first rural extensions of Broadway.

Located at the center of town next to the Filmmakers Lounge.

The panels will take place here Thursday-Saturday. You must reserve tickets for the filmmaker panels.

Just a short walk down Tinker Street from WAAM, this historic 160 seat theater shows current, classic and cult cinema, showcasing WFF films during the festival.

On Rock City Road a 10-minute walk from filmmaker registration. Most of the short films will be screened here.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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Screenings & Venue Info Hudson Valley Area Theaters

BEARSVILLE THEATER IN WOODSTOCK, NY

ROSENDALE THEATRE IN ROSENDALE, NY

Located about 5 minutes drive from the WFF box office, this over 120 seat theater boasts a new state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos surround sound system.

Located 25-30 minutes south of Woodstock, this 260-seat theater first opened in 1850 and over the years has become a gem, not only in the region, but nationally and internationally.

UPSTATE FILMS ORPHEUM IN SAUGERTIES, NY This theater is situated 20 minutes east of Woodstock and features multiple screenings in separate screening rooms.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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Special Events & Parties Filmmaker Benefits

LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES Woodstock is synonymous with music, and this year's festival pays homage to its roots with unforgettable musical performances, music documentarie and celebrations. Filmmakers have standby access to select events.

PARTIES There are parties most nights of the festival exclusive to filmmakers and badge holders such as Friday Night Filmmaker Party. You will receive digital invitations to all! Guest Relations can give you the heads up or stop by the filmmaker lounge for additional info.

GUEST RELATIONS TEAM We recommend that attendees book rooms ASAP at one of the establishments currently holding rooms specifically for our accepted filmmakers. Reach out to your guest relations contact for info about transportation and other questions regarding attendance: For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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Main Contacts Accommodations, parties Tina@woodstockfilmfestival.org Print Trafficking: Movie files, laurels, etc media@woodstockfilmfestival.org Social Media & Podcast/Livestream Katy@woodstockfilmfestival.org Questions about Q&As Charlee@woodstockfilmfestival.org Press renata@woodstockfilmfestival.org sophie.press-assistant@woodstockfilmfestival.org Awards joey@woodstockfilmfestival.org For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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PRESS & SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

Celebrating 26 years of independent film

Please note that we will not be able to post a promo graphic for all 200 + films in the festival in our main grid/feed, but we certainly will do our best. Priority is given to films that are premiering.

All of the info in this presentation is on the filmmaker website linked below social media frames/templates here which include laurels and WFF26 logos. You can use film posters, video stills, and key art with these WFF social frames.

Use our social media toolkit graphics and make WFF (@woodstockfilmfestival) a collaborator on Instagram when you post content such as a trailer or video reels/graphics. When known, please include the time/location of your screening in your caption.

WFF also posts content on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok, Facebook, Bluesky, and YouTube Shorts (which gets the most views).

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT We want to spotlight you/your film! Please self-record a video of yourself doing the following: Introduce yourself, title associated with your film and the title of the film.

Answer the following questions (or create your own): 1) Which filmmaker inspired you to make movies?

2) How did that inspiration impact your film?

Please publish on your channels, tag us, and (on Instagram) invite us to collaborate on your post! You can also utilize the social frames we created with a spot to place your vertical video.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers more info use password ‘WFF25’ ForFor more info use password ‘WFF25’ @@ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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EXCLUSIVE TRAILER DROP + SHORT FILM PROMOS

Celebrating 26 years of independent film

If your trailer is ready and will be released leading up to the festival, during, or after, we are also happy to collaborate on an Instagram post (priority given to premieres and award winners). Email katy@woodstockfilmfestival.org to coordinate.

Please tag WFF in all IG Stories and we’ll be sure to reshare!

SHORT FILM PROMOS Once the lineup is announced around mid-September, short film block promos for social media can be downloaded HERE. We will also send invites to films/filmmakers with Instagram accounts to collaborate on these posts. If you see the IG post for your short film block and are not invited to collaborate, please DM WFF and email katy@woodstockfilmfestival.org

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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PHOTOS PHOTOS OF YOUR SCREENING/Q&A, STEP & REPEAT ETC During the festival, step & repeat, poster signing and some Q&A photos that are taken at the Filmmaker Lounge and at screenings are uploaded daily to the WFF Flickr, so please share on social media + add WFF as a collaborator and tag on IG Stories.

After the festival, we do our best to have photographers share Q&A photos with you, and they will also be on Flickr so check after the festival.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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ADDITIONAL PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Celebrating 26 years of independent film

Complete this form to be featured on the WFF Livestream during the festival. The hosts of the WFF Let’s Talk Film! Podcast, shorts programmer Amanda Naseem + actors, directors, producers, discuss your film’s screening, the filmmaking journey, achievements, and more.

Social media clips are created after the festival. For any additional questions, contact Livestream producer, katy@woodstockfilmfestival.org, or shorts programmer/host amanda@woodstockfilmfestival.org.

We livestream from the Filmmaker ’s Lounge/Registration at WAAM (28 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY 12498) on Youtube & Instagram from Thursday (10/16) to Saturday (10/18), 2-3pm EST. Posters - use this Canva template to create 8.5 x 11 posters. In some instances, we can have volunteers put some of the posters up if you send them to the WFF Box Office at least 4 weeks before your screening; otherwise, we strongly encourage you to put up posters in the area of your screening (Rosendale, Saugerties, Woodstock or Kingston).

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ WoodstockFilmFestival.org/2025-filmmakers

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FAQ Badges & tickets to screenings?

FEATURE FILMS will have 2 complimentary Filmmaker Badges that give standby entry to all films and panels and invitations to all festival parties + 2 complimentary tickets to their screening.

SHORTS will have 1 complimentary Filmmaker Badge that gives entry to their film and standby entry to all other films and panels and invitations to all festival parties + 1 complimentary tickets to their screening.

Where can I send promotional materials?

FEATURE FILMS with in-person screenings should send 2 copies of their poster. The poster size should be 27x40. ALL FILMS with in-person screenings are encouraged to send POSTCARDS. Please send posters so they arrive no later than August 20th to: (by USPS) Woodstock Film Festival / PO Box 1406, Woodstock, NY 12498 (by courier) Woodstock Film Festival / 13 Rock City Road, Woodstock, NY 12498.

For more info use password ‘WFF25’ @ woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-filmmakers

THANK YOU!!

SEE YOU IN OCTOBER!