FestForge

Brendan Cleaves
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Film Interviews

The FestForge Podcast is a film festival podcast hosted by Brendan Cleaves and Johnny Vivash. Through audio and video conversations with programmers, filmmakers, creative directors and other festival insiders, it explores the work, taste, politics and wonderfully strange realities behind the festival circuit, plainly, accessibly and without the industry jargon.

Episodes

  1. 4 days ago

    Ben S Hyland - How to rule the festival circuit with your short film

    The conversation delves into discussion about the festival strategy, the impact of festival selections, the premiere strategy, and the festival experience, highlighting the importance of festival relationships and the value of festival laurels. The conversation covers the filmmaker's experience with festival opportunities, the Oscars, and the impact of winning awards. It also delves into the challenges of networking at festivals, the differences between European and American festivals, and the significance of casting in filmmaking. The conversation delves into the passion for filmmaking, the engagement with material, and the career benefits. It also explores the journey of a film, the festival circuit, financial rewards, and distribution platforms. Additionally, it discusses the craft of filmmaking, life experiences, handling rejection, and festival survival. Takeaways Importance of festival relationships and laurels Festival opportunities open doors for filmmakersNetworking at festivals can be challengingEuropean and American festivals have different dynamicsCasting is crucial for the success of a film Passion drives actors and filmmakersEngaging with material is crucial for career benefits Chapters 00:00 Navigating Film Funding03:09 The Festival Strategy09:32 The Impact of Festival Selections18:07 The Premiere Strategy23:44 The Festival Experience29:58 Festival Opportunities and the Oscars32:27 Festival Experience and Networking39:32 European vs. American Festivals53:14 Casting and Filmmaking Challenges01:00:41 The Passion for Acting and Filmmaking01:01:30 Engaging with Material and Career Benefits01:03:18 The Journey of a Film and Festival Circuit01:05:27 Financial Rewards and Distribution Platforms01:11:24 Craft of Filmmaking and Life Experiences01:21:12 Handling Rejection and Festival Survival Looking for the right festival strategy for your film? FestForge creates bespoke festival strategies and provides professional film hosting, helping you target the right festivals, avoid wasted submission fees and get more from your festival run. Build your custom strategy today at festforge.art. http://www.festforge.art FestForge links https://www.instagram.com/festforge.art/ https://www.instagram.com/brendancleaves/ https://www.instagram.com/johnnyvivash/ Ben's links https://www.instagram.com/ben_s_hyland/ https://www.benshyland.com

    Ben S Hyland - How to rule the festival circuit with your short film

  2. 3 Aug

    Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival + Quarxx

    The first episode of the Festival Podcast features an interview with Marko Men, the head programmer of the Grossman Fantastic Film Online Festival. The conversation covers the festival's history, unique aspects, film selection process, guest experiences, and survival guide for filmmakers. It also delves into the positioning of the festival in the context of the film festival circuit and its community-building activities. The conversation covers insights from Marco Metzen, the film 'The Ones Who Grieve', the affliction of the Black Veil, the Tesla Tower and electricity, revisited zombie and new wave zombie, period setting and cinematography, the filmmaking journey, handling rejection, festival advice, and the Grossman Fantastic Film and Wine Festival experience. Takeaways Grossman Festival's unique combination of film and wine sets it apartCommunity and networking play a significant role at Grossman Festival Insights into the filmmaking journeyImportance of perseverance and festival experience Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Grossman Festival00:46 History of Grossman Festival01:17 Influence of Karl Brosman and Fritz Lang03:06 Positioning of Grossman Festival04:02 Unique Aspects of Grossman Festival05:29 Community and Networking at Grossman Festival06:53 Guests and Personal Experiences08:02 Securing Guests for the Festival09:45 Film Selection Process11:42 Film Programming and Scheduling24:16 Film Premieres and Selection Criteria25:13 Events and Activities at Grossman Festival27:33 Survival Guide for Filmmakers at Grossman28:32 Introduction to the Festival29:26 Insights from Marco Metzen31:48 Quarks and His Film32:32 The Ones Who Grieve33:25 The Black Veil Affliction34:18 The Tesla Tower and Electricity35:08 Revisited Zombie and New Wave Zombie35:28 Period Setting and Cinematography37:19 Pandemonium and Filmmaking Journey47:28 Handling Rejection and Festival Advice53:14 Grossman Fantastic Film and Wine Festival Experience http://www.festforge.art

    Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival + Quarxx

  3. 1 Aug

    Introduction

    The Fest Forge Podcast is introduced by Brendan Cleaves and Johnny Vivash, who aim to provide insights and knowledge about the film festival experience. They discuss the purpose of the podcast, insider knowledge of festivals, the festival experience, the filmmaking journey, the Fest Forge platform, and the filmmaker's festival journey. Takeaways Insights into the film festival experienceUnderstanding the importance of the festival journey for filmmakers Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fest Forward Podcast00:33 The Purpose of the Podcast01:18 Insider Knowledge of Festivals02:26 The Festival Experience03:38 The Filmmaking Journey04:43 Fest Forge Platform06:06 Filmmaker's Festival Journey www.festforge.art https://www.instagram.com/festforge.art

    Introduction

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The FestForge Podcast is a film festival podcast hosted by Brendan Cleaves and Johnny Vivash. Through audio and video conversations with programmers, filmmakers, creative directors and other festival insiders, it explores the work, taste, politics and wonderfully strange realities behind the festival circuit, plainly, accessibly and without the industry jargon.

Information

  • Creator
    Brendan Cleaves
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brendan Cleaves