Today, we are going to talk to three master PR people – positions that most festivals outsource. Marketing and PR is such a key element of any festival. And it entails much more than promotion of the event – a good PR firm will also manage the Red Carpet experience, press relations, press and blog reviews, and so much more.

JOHN WILDMAN with Wildworks PR is a multi-faceted presence in the entertainment world, known for his work as a film and film festival publicist, consultant, filmmaker, journalist, and critic. Currently, he is the publicist and consultant for independent films, and more than 20 national regional film festivals. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of FilmsGoneWild.com, has been a host on The Daily Buzz NPR broadcast reporting from Sundance, Toronto, and Cannes for the past eight years.

LISA TRIFONE founded Bright Iris Film Company, a publicity agency for independent films. She has worked in film festival management, programming and marketing at Heartland Film and Indy Film Fest; publicity management and logistics at Sundance Film Festival, and arthouse distribution strategy, marketing and national publicity for Film Movement and Music Box Films.

KENDRA RUBINFELD from KRPR, got a taste for PR and Marketing after starting the Our City Film Festival in 2008. Kendra has worked with countless arts and culture nonprofits including DC Environmental FF, the Library of Congress, Film Fest DC and projects with artists and activists the likes of Jesse Eisenberg, Philip Glass, Gloria Steinem, and many more.