Behind the Scenes: A Look at the Selection Process for Film Festivals
Programming a film festival is a bit like cooking a good stew. It's not just about throwing together a bunch of ingredients and hoping for the best—it's about balance, timing, and knowing when to throw in a surprise ingredient that’ll keep everyone hooked. At the Central Coast Film Festival (CCFF), we like to think of our program as a journey, where every film offers a new twist that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.
When building the program for a night, we kick things off with a bang. We choose a lively, upbeat film that gets the crowd excited for what’s to come. It’s like opening a concert with a high-energy song. From there, we keep the vibe moving, but we’re careful not to let the energy plateau. Like any good playlist, we make sure no two films feel exactly the same. We keep the audience on their toes, with the program feeling like a rollercoaster ride—full of unexpected turns and moments that keep them hooked. It’s not just about picking great films; it’s about how they complement each other. If you follow a feel-good comedy with a heavy documentary, the mood can crash. But when you mix it up—light-hearted, then intense, or fun followed by thought-provoking—you create an experience that sticks with people. We want the audience to feel like they’re on a journey, with the right mix of tones and stories to keep them intrigued.
At CCFF, we make sure to have multiple sets of eyes on every film. Our team of passionate film lovers watches, re-watches, and discusses each selection. We know that no single person’s taste should drive the festival, so we actively seek a range of perspectives. This ensures we avoid the trap of programming something that might only cater to one audience. Everyone’s input helps us refine the program, ultimately creating something well-rounded that resonates with a diverse crowd. We always want to prioritise story when selecting our program, which means we will consider films even if they have weaker technical aspects.
We’re also not just looking for the usual suspects. We go beyond the local scene and look at international festivals like Slamdance and the International Film Festival Rotterdam to get a taste for filmmakers and stories that might not traditionally make their way into Australian programming. Casting our net wide opens up a world of hidden gems and fresh voices that our audiences may not otherwise have a chance to experience. It’s our way of bringing global cinema to the Central Coast while offering a different perspective than what you might find on your standard local film festival circuit.
Central Coast Film Festival accepts films of all genres. What is important to our team is that your story reflects your voice, interests or experience. Whether you are into horror films, dramas or musicals we want to see the best expression of your individual passions. Ultimately, if a film moves us, makes us laugh, or leaves a lasting impact on our team, we will ensure it finds it way into our program, so our audiences don’t miss out.