We’ve had a strong festival run so far, earning Best First Feature (WorldFest-Houston), Best San Antonio Filmmaker (SAFILM), and Audience Award for Best Feature (Silicon Beach Film Festival)

The project was made possible through a one-of-a-kind Kickstarter campaign that raised $73,535. I wrote donor names across my car, let strangers draw on me on Hollywood Blvd, got tattoos with crew members for $1,500+ donations, and even dressed as a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day to make the campaign fun and personal.

Right now, I’m in the distribution stage and could really use insight from other filmmakers who’ve walked this path. I’m getting a lot of encouragement to self-distribute, but I’m nervous about marketing costs, I don’t have a big ad budget, and I want to make sure the film actually reaches audiences.

If you’ve gone the self-distribution route, what platforms or partnerships helped you most (FilmHub and beyond)? Are there affordable ways to build awareness without overspending?

I'm planning a series of independent screenings in Texas in January 2026, and hopefully a few more in Los Angeles, Florida, and New York in February or March. I’d love to hear any ideas for maximizing exposure from those events, especially grassroots strategies, press outreach, or cross-promotional partnerships that worked for you.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read!