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How do you decide what festivals to submit to and how many to submit to? Or is it totally based on the available funds you have and you just spend until you break the bank?
I've started submitting my recently completed short film to festivals through FilmFreeway and it's a rabbit hole you can quite easily get lost down. So, so many festivals and I can see how it could be really easy to get carried away.
There are a few festivals I'm submitting to because of location so that people associated with the film, myself included, can hopefully get to see it on a big screen, others because they cater directly to first-time filmmakers, and others because I just like the way they were presented.
I did also think about that just submitting to a few early on to see if it gets any bites and then go from there.
I personally don't really submit to festivals. Not because I don't believe in them, more like my films are not festival materials. Short little fun things. The only one I seriously entered was Call On Me and it got accepted into a few minor ones, but that was it. It was also in 2020 where sadly all festivals had to be online only, so a complete bust. I don't think anyone bought tickets to sit at home and watch on their computers. I entered it into five smaller fests. From that I was able to tell how it would be probably be received by others as well. You can probably do the same to save you from wasting money. Enter your film into a few smaller ones. If you get accepted into all of them, you know you got something. Try for some medium ones. If they all love it and it's accepted, go for the bigger ones. Another thing to consider when entering is if you plan on going there yourself.
Good luck Warren! And, if you get in somewhere near me, I will go and watch it in person.
I personally don't really submit to festivals. Not because I don't believe in them, more like my films are not festival materials. Short little fun things. The only one I seriously entered was Call On Me and it got accepted into a few minor ones, but that was it. It was also in 2020 where sadly all festivals had to be online only, so a complete bust. I don't think anyone bought tickets to sit at home and watch on their computers. I entered it into five smaller fests. From that I was able to tell how it would be probably be received by others as well. You can probably do the same to save you from wasting money. Enter your film into a few smaller ones. If you get accepted into all of them, you know you got something. Try for some medium ones. If they all love it and it's accepted, go for the bigger ones. Another thing to consider when entering is if you plan on going there yourself.
Good luck Warren! And, if you get in somewhere near me, I will go and watch it in person.
Sound advice, thanks!
I have got it entered into one in Sarasota, I think that's at least in your state?
How about some Aussie Film Festivals too? No good for Tropfest, run-time too long and too specific. Shame, would have loved to go see it.
I can't believe how fast you got this done, mate. Oh, and I got my reward trinkets in the mail yesterday. Thank you!
I will be submitting to Austin but I don't like my chances there... nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I have it entered into 5 Aussie ones so far and have a few more on the list that I'm thinking about.
It doesn't feel fast! I think because the whole thing from the signing of the contract until now has almost been a year, but yes the film was shot on 16/12 to 18/12, so 7 weeks to finish a 15 minute film. I think when you have 3 different people working off one master file at the same time it definitely speeds things up. The colourist, sound mixer, and composer were all doing their things at pretty much the same time, so I think that cut down our production time a lot.
that Filmfreeway thing can suck you dry. I sign up for the gold membership for one month, enter all the festivals I want, then cancel it. It will save you $$$.
I enter small ones that I can travel to. They're close by and easy to get to plus you're far more likely to get screened and even win some awards. Then I always toss it into a couple of prestigious ones because I like wasting money. It's fun to dream, but the more you read about the heavy hitters the more you find most of those spots are spoken for by people within the industry. It's very difficult for an outsider to make it in.
And if you do ever create a true gem that you think's worthy of Cannes or Sundance, you need to hold onto the premiere status for them. Can't screen somewhere else first or they won't want it. Real pain in the ass. Some people shelve their films for over a year to try for it.
Anyway, good luck. It's fun and nerve-wracking at the same time to see your work on a big screen with a large group of people.
that Filmfreeway thing can suck you dry. I sign up for the gold membership for one month, enter all the festivals I want, then cancel it. It will save you $$$.
I enter small ones that I can travel to. They're close by and easy to get to plus you're far more likely to get screened and even win some awards. Then I always toss it into a couple of prestigious ones because I like wasting money. It's fun to dream, but the more you read about the heavy hitters the more you find most of those spots are spoken for by people within the industry. It's very difficult for an outsider to make it in.
And if you do ever create a true gem that you think's worthy of Cannes or Sundance, you need to hold onto the premiere status for them. Can't screen somewhere else first or they won't want it. Real pain in the ass. Some people shelve their films for over a year to try for it.
Anyway, good luck. It's fun and nerve-wracking at the same time to see your work on a big screen with a large group of people.
James
Yeah it sure can. I did sign up for Gold, and it has saved me a bunch already.
I definitely don't think it's a true gem, so festivals like Cannes and Tribeca would really be a waste, but I'll see how it fairs in the small ones.
I should start getting notifications in the next week or two.
If it just made it into one in Australai I'd be thrilled to see it on the big screen.
You basically want to Premiere at the biggest genre-specific Festival you can. It's advisable to cpntact the Festival directly to tell them you want to Premiere at their Festival.
Then enter it into smaller ones you can travel to, or think you have a reasonable chance of winning, but only after the deate of the Premiere at the biggest one you can get into.
If you've got the mooney to travel, you can try to get it into the very few Festivals that actually have film markets (where the Distributors go) which are in reality the only Festivals that actually matter. Because those are the only ones where Idustry professionals attend.
The SHort Film Corner at Cannes, for instance is open to everybody, and allows you to get the full red carpet treatment, attending all the Premieres with all the A List celebrities and their agents. You can also easily arramge pitching sessions with the actual big players.
Ooooh, I can see you at Cannes Warren! Dena had a film show there a few years ago. Was a big deal really, but the director and the producer never even mentioned her...
You basically want to Premiere at the biggest genre-specific Festival you can. It's advisable to cpntact the Festival directly to tell them you want to Premiere at their Festival.
Then enter it into smaller ones you can travel to, or think you have a reasonable chance of winning, but only after the deate of the Premiere at the biggest one you can get into.
If you've got the mooney to travel, you can try to get it into the very few Festivals that actually have film markets (where the Distributors go) which are in reality the only Festivals that actually matter. Because those are the only ones where Idustry professionals attend.
The SHort Film Corner at Cannes, for instance is open to everybody, and allows you to get the full red carpet treatment, attending all the Premieres with all the A List celebrities and their agents. You can also easily arramge pitching sessions with the actual big players.
Considering this is my first film ever where I basically did everything myself I would be happy to premier anywhere that will take me. My preference would be in Australia somewhere because then realistically I can go.
Whether distributors are there or not makes no difference to me as I can't actually distribute the film anywhere other than film festivals. It's part of the contract unfortunately.
Ooooh, I can see you at Cannes Warren! Dena had a film show there a few years ago. Was a big deal really, but the director and the producer never even mentioned her...
Long time no see, Rick! Hope to see more of you.
I think that might be reaching a bit for this little film that could.
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