Why is this subject, “Film Festivals & Looking After Your Mental Health,” important in the world?
When the global pandemic began back in 2020, I noticed that there has been much more of a focus on how important it is to look after one’s mental health due to the feelings of isolation and loneliness (among other things) that it brought up.
The pandemic was one of the factors that planted the seed for me to write my latest e-book ‘Film Festivals and Looking After Your Mental Health.’ There are certain triggers within the film festival world that can flag to filmmakers that they need to take more care of their mental, physical, and emotional health.
What is the pressing issue right and how are you addressing it?
Here’s how I identified the main pressing issue described above. Pretty much all of the filmmakers I work with want to aim high and submit to the big top-tier film festivals. This is a totally normal and extremely common goal.
Everyone has free will, so even when I advise the filmmakers who don’t have a film that’s
suitable for these kinds of festivals not to submit, they can always do what a client of mine calls ‘submit and see’ to give it a go, just in case it might, by a very slim chance, get in— and also for a bit of fun.
The above is the type of approach to take only if one is emotionally detached from their film and can accept and trust in the right type of festival strategy for it. If one is still precious, that’s when the mental health gremlins can creep in.
For example, a client of mine wanted to submit to these bigger festivals even though I pre-warned her that the response would be a pass. She said that wouldn’t bother her, and she could take the rejection with a grain of salt. When decisions from the festivals started to trickle in, she got quite a few yeses from some lovely smaller, reputable festivals (which she also later won awards at), but there were also a lot of no’s coming in from the bigger festivals. I told her not to worry and joked that we both already knew that these would all be passes, however, she was beginning to get very upset. After speaking with her GP, she was diagnosed with imposter syndrome as she was having severe symptoms of thinking that she wasn’t good enough as a director and had let her family and herself down.
The truth was she was a brilliant director; she had just simply made a film that was not the right fit for the top-tier festival audiences, and instead, it thrived at much more suitable festivals that appreciated its narrative and saw the value in it.
The way that I am addressing the above pressing issue is through my new book and to ensure that every festival strategy I create for a client includes 2 key components – 1. the most suitable types of festivals to submit their film to and 2. advice regarding how to look after themselves mentally and physically during the festival journey.
Dr. Rebekah Louisa Smith Biography
What is your background in this subject?
I’m a film festival strategist and have been running my company and building my brand, The Film Festival Doctor, for the past 13 years. I have been working in the film industry since 2008. My hard-working team is committed to nurturing filmmakers by creating a film festival strategy that will help them secure film festival screenings, win awards, and curate positive recognition within the film industry. So far, we have helped our clients win over 2,000 awards and one Oscar nomination.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I am obsessed with the latest hair health innovations. I find that I am always investigating how organic and natural hair care products really are. Ingredients in shampoo and conditioners can often be full of silicone and damage the hair more than one thinks. For the past five years, I have been educating myself by speaking with the top hairdressers in the UK and USA— and journals to find the best hair care products. I finally found a brilliant brand when I moved to Dallas at a local salon selling products by a company called Oway (organic way). I’m now on a mission for everyone in my inner circle to use these products and strengthen their hair. I’d love to create my own hair care line one day that is full of natural and organic ingredients for men’s and women’s hair.
What are your passions outside of your career?
Tarot and walking. I’m very spiritual, and I love working with tarot cards for personal development. I find that all sorts of esoteric resources such as oracle cards, tarot cards and human design techniques can really help you look inwards and help you grow. I’m also a massive fan of long walks. I have to do a 90-minute walk each day not just to keep fit but also to connect with nature and take time out of a busy workday. When I get back from my long walk, I feel inspired and ready to get back to work. If I don’t go for a long walk, I lose my creativity.
Are there any social causes that you believe in and support?
I’d like to see an end to discrimination in the workplace. In the film industry, there is still too much unfair treatment, predominately because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, and age. The list, unfortunately, goes on, and I’m a firm believer in 50/50 equality. That’s why I love working with more people of color and minority groups and helping them get their films seen on the festival circuit so they can make an impact on a global level with their artistic works.
What is next for you?
In 2024, I’ll be continuing to build my brand, launching several new products and another e-book, which I am really excited about as both are original and unique! I’ll also be offering an Oscars submission management service and one-to-one coaching sessions to filmmakers who need more emotional support during their festival journey.
Film Festivals & Looking After Your Mental Health
Tell me about your book.
My latest book; ‘Film Festivals & Looking After Your Mental Health’ is by far my most groundbreaking and original book. I focus on the topic of mental health and share with the reader several essential tips and techniques (including the Emotional Freedom Technique and vision boards) with regard to how to adopt the right type of mindset and take care of yourself as one navigates the world of film festivals. The book also includes interviews with three filmmakers who share their own journeys to offer other filmmakers practical advice, guidance, and support.
Where can people buy the book?
You can download my e-book from the shop page on my website. Here’s the direct link https://www.thefilmfestivaldoctor.com/shop/ I chose to make the book free of charge as I want every filmmaker to own a copy of the book as I believe it to be an essential resource.
