From Sydney to South Beach - James Woolley on Running Film Festivals That Matter

In this episode of The Producer and the Publicist, we sit down with James Woolley, Executive Director of the Miami Film Festival, to explore the fascinating world of film festivals from the inside out.

James shares his journey from working in Australia’s screen scene (Sydney Film Festival, Queer Screen, and more) to leading one of the most dynamic and diverse festivals in the U.S. We unpack the different flavours of film festivals, from big-name galas to niche genre gems and what filmmakers really need to know when submitting their work.

 In this episode, we cover:

– How James got his start in festivals

– The buzz of festival life

– Why genre festivals play a different, but equally vital, role

– The do’s and don’ts of festival submissions

– What emerging filmmakers can do to build lasting festival relationships 

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing your film on the big screen at a festival — or you’re just curious about what happens behind the scenes — this episode is packed with insight.

The Producer and the Publicist is the podcast where we talk to the people behind the screen — to find out how they got their start, what keeps them going, and the advice they have for emerging creatives and film students alike.

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