Project Description: [Local Heroes Film Festival]

Welcome to the Edmonton Short Film Festival which manages the Local Heroes Film Festival! We are thrilled to present an exciting opportunity for talented MRU Business students to contribute to our innovative program - the Local Heroes Film Festival.

Main Goal:

The primary objective of this project is to produce a business plan for expanding Local Heroes Film Festival (LHFF) distribution across Alberta.

Project Scope and Expectations:

To achieve the objective of expanding the Local Heroes Film Festival (LHFF) distribution across Alberta, the project can be broken down into several key tasks and deliverables:

Tasks and Deliverables:

Market Analysis Report:

• Task: Conduct a comprehensive market analysis to understand the demand, competition, and potential audience for LHFF across Alberta.
• Deliverable: A detailed market analysis report including demographics, psychographics, competitor analysis, and audience insights.

Stakeholder Engagement Plan:

• Task: Identify and assist staff with engaging with key stakeholders, including local communities, filmmakers, sponsors, and partners.
• Deliverable: A stakeholder engagement plan outlining strategies for collaboration, communication, and partnerships.

Distribution Strategy:

• Task: Develop a distribution strategy that includes potential venues, screening schedules, and logistical considerations.
• Deliverable: A comprehensive distribution strategy document detailing the plan for screening films in various locations across Alberta.

Marketing and Promotion Plan:

• Task: Create a marketing and promotion plan to raise awareness and attract audiences to the festival screenings.
• Deliverable: A marketing plan including social media strategy, traditional media outreach, promotional materials, and event marketing tactics.

Community Outreach Program:

• Task: Design a community outreach program to engage local communities and promote participation in the festival.
• Deliverable: A community outreach program outline with specific activities, timelines, and goals.

Evaluation and Feedback Mechanism:

• Task: Implement a mechanism for gathering feedback and evaluating the success of the festival expansion.
• Deliverable: A feedback and evaluation report template to capture audience reactions, stakeholder feedback, and performance metrics.

Company Overview:

We began as a grassroots festival in 2012, with the goal of promoting our local film community and since then we’ve tremendously expanded to an international and virtual reach.

ESFF seeks to encourage and elevate independent film, with a special emphasis on showcasing Alberta filmmakers. Our Long Shorts program extended this opportunity to international artists. When you attend the Edmonton Short Film Festival, expect to see almost anything—trailers, music videos, web series, drama, horror, comedy, documentaries, commercials, even 360° Virtual Reality. We accept exceptional short film projects from any creation date, even (or perhaps especially) those that are on the fringe of the “normal” festival market. Our galas and workshops have emphasized hands-on, interactive entertainment. Our virtual events have increased accessibility, and further developing our online impact is a big part of the ESFF’s future.

We recognize the power of film to bring people together and to foster an inclusive sense of community. We intentionally organize and participate in events that acknowledge and uplift diverse stories and voices.

As active members of the Edmonton arts community, our network includes other arts organizations, filmmaking professionals, and professionals in related fields. We’ve prioritized collaborating with other local organizations for events and opportunities because we are passionate about mutual support in our community. When ESFF grew to include the Long Shorts Program (showcasing films up to sixty minutes in length and open to submissions from filmmakers from all over the world), our audience grew as well. When the opportunity arose to provide virtual access to the films selected for ESFF, we took it! This has made ESFF accessible to supporters of our international filmmakers, worldwide communities, and those who can’t attend in-person.

Our online audience is highly engaged, with over 5000 followers for our social media posts. Our events, news, and educational opportunities have been boosted by platforms like Global News, CBC Edmonton, the Edmonton Journal, Edify Magazine and more.

We are continually looking for new ways to expand and reach broader audiences, while prioritizing the promotion of local creatives and sponsors. Today, we offer year-round workshops, events, and screeings that reach filmmakers, and an audience from Edmonton and beyond.

In 2023, we officially launched the Local Heroes Film Festival. The LHFF is a unique year round festival that features community screenings for a variety of different community groups. This festival provides a platform for underrepresented communities to make, share, and gather around works that celebrate their history and experiences.

Final Deliverables:

• A comprehensive 10-15 page business plan as per the team of consultants' course curriculum.

Our company is committed to providing a weekly in-person meetings to mentor the team. This mentorship will be tailored to address specific project challenges and foster a supportive learning environment. The mentorship sessions aim to complement the technical guidance and ensure that students not only complete the project successfully but also gain valuable insights into real-world applications of their skills.

This combination of technical support, collaborative tools, and dedicated mentorship hours aims to empower students, fostering an environment conducive to their growth and success in completing the project.

Regular Communication:

• Virtual Meetings. Responding to emails.

Scheduled Meetings:

• Weekly or bi-weekly meetings as required.

Resources:

• Access and sharing of documents and information as applicable.