Offer customers a discount when they purchase tickets in advance. The more sizable the discount, the more you can convince people to purchase early. Selling advanced tickets has an additional bonus of helping you estimate how many people will come to the festival.
Throw a party with all the glitz and glamor of Hollywood. While you have to pay for the party, the cost of admission will cover those costs as well as raise funds for other things you need. Because the party is a fundraiser, people will likely pay more, knowing that their money will help the cause.
Selling entertainment coupons or even the popular Entertainment Book can help you raise money for your festival. These coupons can include discount tickets for local movie theaters and for restaurants your attendees may eat at before or after the films. You purchase the book at a reduced rate and sell it for a higher price.
Ask the filmmakers whose works are appearing in the festival to donate items for a silent auction. These could be props from a movie or a coffee date with the winner. During the auction, interested people write their bids on a pad placed beside each item, which goes to the highest bidder. Because the items are donated, the money raised is pure profit.
Sell gourmet popcorn. You can purchase a special popcorn for fundraising that has your festival's name on the bag. The popcorn comes in different flavors, such as butter and kettle corn, and you keep the difference between the price you bought it for and the price you sell it for.