Founders Laurie Kirby and Stuart MacNaught and all the staff put together an amazing and well thought out program for the entire conference. Informative, educational, fun…and wonderful memories created. Thanks, guys!
— Chuck Leavell - Recording Artist – The Rolling Stones
It’s an honor to receive the FestForums Sustainability Award. The conference was a perfect opportunity to further conversations and inspire people to take the next steps in greening festivals across the country.
— Jack Johnson - Recording Artist - Co-Founder & Director Kokua Hawaii Foundation / Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation
FestForums is a great place for filmmakers to get to see what happens behind the scenes at festivals. I learned all sort of ways to support a film in a festival environment.
— Caroline Suh - Owner, Suh Films
Super Worthwhile. Great hospitality. Superbly fun event.
— Colin Stanfield - PEI Film, Food & Idea Festival
“Incredibly well run and full of informative, actionable information.
— Richard "RB" Botto - Founder and CEO, Stage 32
Such a wonderful event with such a lovely group of speakers/industry leaders.
— Anika Grant - Associate Director, Sponsorship, ESSENCE Festival
Major vision. Remarkable.
— Archie McLaren - Founder & Chairman, Central Wine Classic
Impressive job of bringing together the festival worlds.
— Dawson Ludwig - General Manager, Noise Pop Industries
First class setting, well organized, beautifully executed and high level attendees.
— Keith Goldberg - Chief Revenue Officer, Vendini, Inc.
“Wonderful, heartwarming experience.
— Doug Richter - Founder, Meritage Entertainment
They really nailed it!
— Leo Stanko - President, OTW Safety
It was wonderful to meet such an inspiring group of women who are making real
— Wendy Guerrero - Festival Director, Bentonville Film Festival
Amazing event run by the phenomenal leader Laurie Kirby and her outstanding team, who has a great vision to bring Festival Directors together. As Founder & President of WideScreen Festival & IndieWise Film & Music Convention, I’ve benefited tremendously from this event. The first time I attended in 2016, I actually met Quentin Tarantino in the flesh! And this year, we won the Film Innovation Award for #IndieWise!
— Jarrod Knowles
We were certainly impressed with the caliber of attendees and enjoyed seeing some of the most exciting film festivals from around the country attend.
— Michael Pine - Vice President Business Development, Cinetransformer Intl
Laurie and Stu do a great job of creating an amazing place to learn and collaborate to make the festival world better
— Jeff Hyman
Great conversations and information on the event industry!
— Niko Costas - Founder/Director RTEAM
Festforums makes me feel like I am part of the evolution.
— Alex Motaro
The staff worked with us to create a fantastic presentation for the attendees. We were certainly impressed with the caliber of attendees and enjoyed seeing some of the most exciting film festivals from around the country attend.We will look forward to being part of this event for years to come.
— Cinetransformer
“We love FestForums! From the opening words, through all the handshakes and conversations to the larger perspective we were able to gain, FestForums was truly impacting to our team and our business.
At OTW Safety we’ve never managed a mega-star world tour, founded an international group of conscious restaurants, or organized the Democratic National Convention, yet we were made to feel welcomed, valued and important by those who have. Throughout our stay in Santa Barbara, our team learned the key fundamentals and nuanced trade secrets of the festival world, while also connecting to new friends and partners on a more authentic level than I have ever experienced at a professional conference.
— OTW Safety
Love coming to this event! I have made so many lasting connections and built some great relationships from folks that I met at Fest Forums!
— Survey Results
Great event, very well done.
— Survey Results
GREAT job C R, Laurie, Stuart and the whole team at FestForums!
— Barry Berkowitz - Sweet.io
Laurie Kirby and Stuart MacNaught are the true rockstars!! Thank you both for all your hard work for creating another fantastic FestForums in our beloved SB!
— Daniel Ramirez - Manager, Lobero Theater
So that’s a wrap for FestForum. My third year and now a permanent fixture on my annual fall conference schedule. Super fun, informative and wide range of friends across music, food, beer, film and wine festivals. And I might add- exceptional entertainment. On a very personal note - a huge thank you to the founders Laurie Kirby and Stuart MacNaught and my other friends who helped and watched over me as I “gimped” my way through food, meetings, drinks, music and fun throughout Santa Barbara and Solvang. See you guys next year again!
— Victor Siegel
Great meeting of minds and souls for this all female panel about festivals at 2018 FestForums in Santa Barbara, California. Thank you Laurie Kirby and Stuart MacNaught for hosting another memorable event. #festivals #films #hebecine
— Hebe Tabachnik - Film Festival Programmer
Fantastic FestForums Event!!!! Thank you! You two curated an informative and engaging event to connect and facilitate the festival world we all enjoy so much.
— Gail Kvisted - Host, Living Local, Santa Barbara
What a gift to the community you both provide. Inspired by YOU!
— Survey Results
Super Worthwhile. Great hospitality. Superbly fun event.
— Colin Stanfield - PEI Film, Food & Idea Festival
Incredibly well run and full of informative, actionable information.
— Richard "RB" Botto - Founder and CEO, Stage 32
Such a wonderful event with such a lovely group of speakers/industry leaders.
— Anika Grant - Associate Director, Sponsorship, ESSENCE Festival
Impressive job of bringing together the festival worlds.
— Dawson Ludwig - General Manager, Noise Pop Industries