Consulting

Whether you are starting a new festival from the ground up, rebranding and refocusing a community favorite, or just want a fresh set of eyes on something that has been pretty consistently great, I can lend you my expertise and experience at having attended (or worked on) over 100 festivals all around the world. I've been called 'The Festival Whisperer' and have consulted on the launch of five festivals with budgets as small as $60,000 and as large as $1.2 million.  Logistics can be the most frightening aspect of a festival - especially overwhelming when you're starting out and don't even know what to be worried about.  My consulting services come in many levels, with the foundation being an on-call year-long any-question-you-need-answered mentorship. I'm also available to attend your festival as an observer and offer my analysis related to festival best practices, program sections of films, attend other festivals and scout films for you, increase your web presence through year-long dedicated social media marketing, and handle your print traffic.

Let me help you with:

• LOGISTICS: Budgeting, staffing, setting timelines...the list goes on and on. I can help you create a to-do list, complete with deadlines, provide you with a variety of forms, including legal ones that have been signed off by lawyer (note: not offering legal advice, 'cause that would be illegal). You won't be in the weeds alone with me on your team.

• HOSPITALITY: Bringing superstar talent in boosts your event's caliber tenfold. I once got Dan Aykroyd to a first-year festival. I can help you plan for their travel and lodging. And what about the everyday filmmakers who you have programmed? What are they expecting upon arrival? Work with someone who knows festival attendance from both sides.

• TICKETING: Tickets and badges - how to price them? What different levels do you want to offer patrons? What access do they get with each one? What should they look like? Vertical or Horizontal? I can help you compare your plans to similar festivals in similar cities.

• BRANDING: Let's talk about can you offer/do differently from other fests in order to stand out as a 'festival to watch.' Branding is the MOST IMPORTANT aspect to your new festival and good branding pays back dividends for years moving forward. Established festival? Let's look at what your current branding is doing for you and how we can make the most of it.

And when you hire Bears Fonté Consulting, you get more than just me. Jordan Brown has worked by my side for six years, has been on staff at Sundance, Telluride, and Tribeca and is the Assistant Director at the Duluth Superior Film Festival. And we reach out to our vast network of programmers, fest directors, directors of operations, PR agents, filmmakers and lawyers as need be to answer any question you throw at us.  Let us be your secret weapon.