The Independent's Film Festival & Market Blogging Guidelines

General Guidelines
In order to be qualified as a blog (versus a report), there must be at least 2-3 posts that are emailed to us within 24 hours of the events covered. We will do our best to ensure that those are edited & published same-day as received.

Each post should be approximately 1,000 words maximum. Blogs can cover any of the following:

1. report on panel discussions
2. filmmaker Q&As
3. overview of the festival's programming/themes
4) festival atmosphere, gossip or behind-the-scenes

All festival blog submissions should be sent to both nikki@independent-magazine.org and michele@independent-magazine.org.

Blog entries should cover multiple films or events (if it covers just one film then that is a film review, not a blog) and ideally should give a sense of the atmosphere of the festival or event.

All bloggers are guaranteed press passes OR reimbursement for tickets or passes. (Note: reimbursements must be pre-approved by editorial staff member).

Final Thoughts
We encourage each blogger to do our quick 'final thoughts' questionnaire by answering all or some of the following questions:

-favorite film seen at the fest
-most politically charged film
-most sincere panelist
-most alluring film promotion
-a candid admission from audience member
-height of tension
-height of fashion
-height of artistic expression
-smartest advice for new filmmakers
-wish you were here moment
-films bought or sold
-outlandish script to screen anecdote

Past Blogs
Some examples of successful blogs:
http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/10/blogging-woodstock-round
http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/10/blogging-woodstock-talk-talk-t...
http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/10/blogging-woodstock-ready-set-a...
http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/10/blogging-woodstock-politically...

http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/03/blogging-sxsw-tk
http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/03/sxsw-blog-opening-weekend

http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/01/sundance-volunteer-blogs-all-p...
http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/01/sundance-volunteer-blogs-all-p...

All past festival Blogs can be viewed at
http://www.independent-magazine.org/blog/festivals