After having lost six or eight hours of precious production time, we decided to employ hammer and crowbar to pry the door off its hinges, nearly killing us as it toppled to the floor. And what we found were ancient fuses as big as a man's fist, which then took hours to replace. Things always get more complicated on your worst days. It tests your resolve. Distributors want to see how a film will play with more regional audiences.
Festivals are great places to show the film, create buzz, get feedback, meet people.
I've met so many industry people in the process. I know a lot more now about how everything really works than I ever did before. It took him a few years to put together the sets, equipment, and cast for Freezer , his short about a man trapped in a warehouse freezer who believes he may soon die. I don't so much measure success by awards or even box office success, however these things are important and wonderful to have. Success is in the eye of the beholder.