Get ready to take notes, because Kat Candler, director of Hellion and Queen Sugar, is sharing her favorite film festival experiences for beginning filmmakers. Candler knows that festivals aren’t just about submitting your work, they’re about finding your people. That’s why she recommends the Maryland Film Festival, where every North American film screening is hosted by the artists who made it, and John Waters picks and hosts a favorite film each year. But it’s the mixers and receptions that really make this festival special, with a hospitable atmosphere that encourages networking and collaboration. Candler also recommends the Dallas VideoFest, which has a commitment to experimental shorts and video-art-leaning works, and the Kansas City Film Festival International, which celebrates the relationship between cinema and jazz and includes a youth film contest. And if you’re looking for more on the film and video production industry, be sure to check out our articles on top destination jobs for videographers, Adobe’s new content aware fill tool for After Effects, and the cameras and lenses behind HBO’s original series.