Testimonials

from filmmakers

I can’t recommend Festival Formula enough. The service they provide is thorough, thoughtful and individually tailored. Plus they’re very lovely people.
Joe Lycett

Festival Formula’s grounded yet encouraging advice gave us clarity and confidence as we navigated where to send our short “Shouting at the Sea.” They helped us make smarter choices, ensuring our festival budget was spent wisely. Their best piece of advice - one we keep coming back to - was not to chase every laurel but to aim for the ones we’d still be proud to feature on our poster three years down the line. It’s advice that has kept us sane, and our film’s journey more meaningful.
Benjamin Verrall

They transformed my chaotic festival strategy into a targeted approach that led to an incredible festival run. What really makes Festival Formula stand out is their genuine passion for filmmakers. Their insights about which festivals to embrace and which to steer clear of were invaluable.
Jeff M. Kallet

If you want to get the most out of your film, Festival Formula are my number one choice to strategise you through the bewildering array of festivals across the planet to find the best ones for your work.
Joe Fereday

Festival Formula helped us to discover umpteen otherwise unknown (to us) festivals just right for our film. They served as a beacon of advice during the submission process and are super fun, lively people to hang out with. Thanks so much!
Michael Taylor Jackson

I loved working with Katie and the Festival Formula team. They provided insightful guidance about where my film would fit best in the festival circuit. I received a festival strategy with some wonderful festivals, which I would not have considered otherwise, and got my first official selection because of it. They make diving into festival submissions hell easy and painless, and I loved the done-for-you spreadsheet with all the info and deadlines. Many thanks, FF team!
Chryssanthi Kouri

It is easy to find film festivals a mystery wrapped in an enigma, to be bewildered by the blizzard of dates/premieres/status and so. The ever approachable Festival Formula team has brought us wisdom, insight, skills and network, opened doors to screenings and the networking that comes through that. Working with FF is no longer an optional extra, it is a budget essential!
Luke Walton

When it comes to film festivals, you need more than just good intentions – you need a team with strategy, insight, and a passion for getting it right. Festival Formula brought all of this to Love Photosynthesis and more. They didn’t just watch the film; they provided in-depth analysis and set up a roadmap for success. It’s rare to find a team that merges professionalism with genuine enthusiasm, but that’s exactly what they bring to the table.
Alisa Zolonz

Festival Formula gave my film a new life and myself some hope right when it was needed. After applying only to the specific major festivals that I’d personally heard of, I received a spate of rejections and was left without much of an idea of what to do – but a crew member’s recommendation to get in touch with Festival Formula quickly led to the film being submitted to and selected for a plethora of international festivals across almost two years. I visited screenings at a number of great festivals that wouldn’t have crossed my mind; and, as a result, I not only had a fantastic time engaging with audiences, but also gained a network of international creative peers – all while my film won awards and gained traction that’s since led to development deals. I can’t recommend the FF team enough.
Sparky Tenshuo

It's not just that they're really good at their job, it's also the level of care and support they offer us as film makers. I have never felt that I couldn't reach out and ask them a question or get some advice. They go far and beyond what I would have expected an agency to provide and for this, I not only recommend them whole heartedly but also thank them from the very bottom of my heart.
Janie Price

from festivals…

Festival Formula has been an exceptional partner for the Atlantic International Film Festival's talent development program: AIFF Filmmaker Lab.  In feedback from our filmmakers they are regarded as the most valuable piece to our program, providing essential strategies and consulting on their films.  Katie and Ian are incredibly knowledgeable, professional and a fantastic addition to our delegation!"
Atlantic International Film Festival
Chrissy King // Industry Programs Manager

Nobody breaks down the festival world like Festival Formula. The landscape is forever changing with the birth of new festivals, stipulations and regulations - it's hard for filmmakers to know which is the right festival to submit their film. The Festival Formula presentations demystify this confusing world into simple terms, clear strategies and actionable takeaways. If filmmakers have got all the questions, then they’ve got all the answers.
Bolton Film Festival
Adrian Barber // Festival Director

Filmmakers, distributors, and sales agents who stand out are those who set out to make long-lasting relationships. Katie, Ian, and the Festival Formula team have perfected the art of relationship building in the independent film community. Their approach to contact with programmers is the same as their clients: their formula is transparency, open communication, honest feedback, and a strong understanding of the landscape. Simply put, they know who they are talking to and who they are targeting. Festival Formula is seemingly everywhere all the time, constantly attending festivals and serving as panelists or judges while also sharing updates on social media like the enthusiastic moviegoers they are. I would highly recommend Festival Formula Ltd. to filmmakers looking for an honest and effective festival strategy partner.
Indy Shorts International Film Festival
Greg Sorvig // Festival Director

Festival Formula’s panel on film festival strategy at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival is always one of our most impactful sessions. Their thoughtful insight and openness help filmmakers truly understand what festivals are looking for, and how to approach submissions with strategy and confidence. Our attendees consistently walk away feeling empowered and better prepared to navigate the festival world.
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
Mattie Scariot // Festival Director

Festival Formula have not only been a fun and exciting addition to our festival as guests and event hosts, they have become an integral part of expanding the community of Women X and supporting our ethos of celebrating the achievements of filmmakers through their impressive and well acquired slate of films. Their spirit and disruption in the industry is admirable and they have guided us through being a small festival to a staple in the UK festival calendar.
Women X Film Festival
Caris Rianne // Festival Director

“UpTilt has had the pleasure of working with Festival Formula for years, regularly welcoming their submissions into our festival. This year, we were especially thrilled to have Katie and Ian join us in person. They participated in a filmmaker panel, sharing valuable insights on festival strategy and common pitfalls, and also offered one-on-one sessions with our filmmakers. The response was overwhelmingly positive—many attendees said it was the best panel we’ve ever hosted.”
UPTILT Film Festival
Tricia Ireland // Executive Director

Festival Formula is definitely a respected and trusted company within the short film community.
Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival
Tim Redford // Co-Festival Director

Festival Formula are an absolute powerhouse of support to filmmakers looking to break into festivals around the world. As a company they are attentive, lovely and most importantly they know their shit! They’re positive and professional attitude is always a delight and there enthusiasm for supporting filmmakers find the right festival is incredible! We would recommend anyone looking for a festival strategist to seek out them out.
Norwich Film Festival

The film industry is filled and brimming over with charlatans who will sell their snake oil advice to any taker. Festival Formula is a highly refreshing exception and we simply love working with them. Their roster of films represented is thoughtfully curated and consistently programmable. They are fantastic humans. They walk the walk and talk the talk. We cannot recommend their services highly enough. 
St. Louis International Film Festival

Katie and Ian are experts in the world of film festivals and provide insightful feedback and guidance for emerging filmmakers, we always love when they attend our festival, as their knowledge and experience is truly an added benefit to our filmmakers.
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
Skye McLennan // Executive Director

As a long-standing film festival, we've worked closely with Festival Formula for several years and we are always excited when they recommend a film to us, not only because it's an honour to be recommended but also because the quality of the films they look after are so strong and diverse!
Edinburgh Short Film Festival
Paul Bruce // Festival Director

from organisations / educational establishments

Festival Formula's guest talks are always so inspiring for our students, who are keen to get their films into festivals but daunted by the scale of the festival circuit. Katie and Ian do a great job of demystifying everything, with friendly, accessible advice and information. The students are always visibly relieved afterwards!
Bournemouth University
Austin Fisher // Associate Professor of Popular Culture

Working with Katie from Festival Formula was a fantastic experience. Her educational webinar on the film festival landscape delivered invaluable insights to our community, sparking real engagement and action. Festival Formula has been a brilliant partner in the Female Voice Short Film Fund, and we’re excited to continue building together in the future.
First Flights Media Ltd
Nick Sadler // CEO

We love the Festival Formula team! As an educational non-profit, we’re always excited to host workshops and seminars that open up conversations about the often overlooked parts of our industry. The session on Festival Strategy that Katie led was one of our most popular and well-attended talks, and we’re looking forward to growing that relationship even further. We are always trying to find ways to include them in our programming!
Cinematography For Actors
Indeana Underhill // Co-Founder

Festival Formula is an incredible force in the challenging world of film festivals. Their commitment, ambition, and presence at international festivals worldwide make them truly unrivalled. We have thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Festival Formula, not just as filmmakers, but as partners too. Long may it continue!
Slick Film Fund
Chris Overton // CEO | Exec Producer

We deeply value partners like Festival Formula because they embody qualities of integrity and expertise. They are passionate about their work and genuinely care about filmmakers. Their contributions to the industry events we've collaborated on have been invaluable in educating emerging filmmakers about festivals and the industry at large. Katie, Ian, and their entire team are a cherished asset, and we thoroughly enjoy our collaboration with them!
T-Port
Amos Geva // Co-Founder, Managing Director

In the words of our students, Katie was the most exciting and inspiring guest speaker we've had in an extended series of talks curated for the MA in Business of Film. Beyond the insights into identifying a niche, gaining expertise and building - and growing - a first-of-a-kind business that is Festival Formula, Katie offered them honesty and encouragement in answering all questions big and small. Generous with her time and vast, vast knowledge, she was a delight to collaborate with and a highly captivating speaker!
University of Westminster
Kasia Kaczmarek // Module Leader