Stephen Follows

Do most film festivals require premiere status?

Out of the full dataset, 9,894 festivals (93.8%) placed no restrictions at all. Only 26 festivals required a world premiere, ...
Stephen Follows

What’s the biggest barrier to cinema-going?

In March 2023, the BFI surveyed 5,000 UK adults for their “ The Wider World of Film ” report and found that the single ...
Stephen Follows

How is the horror genre changing?

Horror is thriving in every corner of film, from IMAX blockbusters to micro-budget gems. Here’s how the genre is shifting, ...
Stephen Follows

What patterns do profitable films share?

Stick to one tone. Films that maintain a consistent mood and emotional contract with the audience perform better than those ...
Stephen Follows

Is 'Go Woke, Go Broke' true for movies?

I have been asked for years whether “Go Woke, Go Broke” is true for movies. So it was a real honour to be able to give the keynote today at the Zurich Summit and answer the question. Over the last few ...
Stephen Follows

Do standing ovations at film festivals mean anything?

Last weekend I was at the Zurich Film Festival and attended a panel with some of the biggest names in film festivals. The topic of standing ovations came up. Tricia Tuttle, the director of the ...