Washington Filmworks invited Kathleen McInnis to pen a guest post designed to help filmmakers think strategically about working the film festival circuit. McInnis has guided films through their festival premieres at Toronto, Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Galway and San Sebastian film festivals among many others. She has been a festival programmer and director at such festivals as Seattle, Slamdance and Palm Springs ShortFest.