When Katy O’Brian arrived at the Sundance Film Festival to promote “Love Lies Bleeding”—Rose Glass’ 2024 bodybuilding noir starring O’Brian and Kristen Stewart—she was appropriately overwhelmed. “It was definitely an experience that I wasn’t really prepared for,” O’Brian admits.
Whether it’s a five-star fête like Cannes or Telluride, or one of the hundreds of genre or indie events that pop up every year, film festivals demand a lot of performers who are there to represent their work. And yet, as actor Thomas Mann—who’s attended major fests like SXSW, Venice, and Tribeca for the films “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” and “Halloween Kills”—reminds us, it’s also a movie lover’s dream. “It’s overwhelming, but it’s exciting. The hard part is over; you’ve done all the work that you can do. You’re there to celebrate—and celebrate other filmmakers’ movies.”
With that in mind, here are Mann and O’Brian’s top tips for actors looking to navigate their festival experience like a pro.
Do your research and know your schedule.
Since the film festival world was a totally new one for O’Brian, she crowdsourced intel from friends and colleagues. “I didn’t know anything about Sundance. So one of my big things to tell people would be to research the festival that you’re going to,” she says. Her friends told her, for example, that Sundance has a more casual feel and dress code than the likes of Cannes or Venice.
But no matter the festival’s vibe, actors can usually expect a jam-packed itinerary. O’Brian arrived at Sundance less than 48 hours before the premiere of “Love Lies Bleeding.” The morning after her flight, she went to a SAG-AFTRA event, kick-starting several networking parties and “nonstop press” leading up to the screening.
Mann says it’s all about staying nimble amid busy days and fluctuating schedules. “There’s likely some big group dinner that either the producer or someone from the movie has put on so that you can all get together and talk about the week ahead, depending on when your premiere is,” he says of a typical day. “Sometimes you do your press day before the movie premieres, which is strange, and then other times the movie premieres and then you have your press day after it.”
How to Meet Powerful PeopleBe enthusiastic and open to meeting people.
While meeting industry folks is a key element of festivals, Mann thinks the word “schmoozing” is too negative a word for it. He explains, “The enthusiasm is really genuine. Everyone is buzzing with this anticipation of what’s going to happen, which movies are going to pop.” That being said, it’s a good idea to talk to as many people as possible, since you could “be talking to the next Sean Baker.”
He says, “I remember meeting Robert Eggers before ‘The Witch’ had even premiered. He was just another guy with his first movie at Sundance. And to see how his career has blossomed since then is remarkable.”
O’Brian agrees that you shouldn’t be afraid to approach people and strike up a conversation. If you’re put in a situation where you’re talking to a director or producer, she says it’s worth it to have some pre-planned comments, even if it’s just a simple, “I loved your movie.” She also recommends having at least one query to spark a dialogue, like, “What did you think of the movie?” or “How are you liking the festival?” You might also ask open-ended questions about what someone is currently working on or specific projects they’re excited to see at the festival and why. And when you feel the conversation is over, always end it with a polite “nice to meet you.” “It’s about approaching people with a genuine interest and authenticity,” she says.
How to Network Like a Pro Make time for self-care.
During the festival, O’Brian often woke up two hours before her day officially began so she could take her time getting ready and not feel rushed. And with so many early mornings and late nights, the actor recommends keeping yourself healthy by taking zinc and vitamin C, plus wearing a medical mask leading up to and during festivals. Taking breaks throughout the day to eat and drink is also essential, even if it’s just “picking snacks at the junket areas that we would go to.” She adds, “Electrolytes [and] staying hydrated is really important.”
O’Brian and Mann also advise actors to be hyperaware of their surroundings, which can affect everything from how you dress to how your body behaves in different climates. “There’s a lot of free drinks at these events, [plus] the altitude. You’re really high up in the mountains. Don’t get too drunk,” Mann cautions. O’Brian suggests being careful of caffeine as well. “I try not to overdo it with the caffeine,” she says. “Especially at Sundance, we’re in a higher elevation so we’re feeling that altitude the first day.”
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Soak it all in.
One thing O’Brian learned at Sundance is to take time to watch the other films being screened there. Not only does it help with those networking conversations, but it’s also worth it as an actor and a movie fan. “Had I really taken into consideration the things that were going on there, I might have tried to see if I could have paid for an extra day or two just to try to get to see some of the movies,” she said.
For Mann, it’s equally important to take a minute to appreciate that you’re at a festival at all. When he attended his first Sundance in 2015 for
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” he remembers being so ecstatic on his last night that he accidentally walked in the wrong direction back to his hotel. “I was crying happy tears,” he recalls, “walking alone in the middle of the night at Sundance because I was just like, ‘This is it. This is what I want.’ ”