The typical film festival plan is to submit to one or two major film festivals, a handful of second tier and lastly local city film festivals. There are many dos to consider when entering a film festival: be specific about the film's hook; outline what's in it for the organizers; and ensure the event caters to your target audience. A few will send you a waiver code. A short film can be of any length up to 40 minutes. You will learn about what type of film festivals there are, how to get your film into festivals and what film festivals to submit to. Getting rejected is no fun. That got me a discount code and we were ultimately accepted into the festival and won the festivalâs Best Narrative Feature award. Learn how your comment data is processed. If the festival prefers to have Premiere Status, they will say so. They want to recoup costs at least. Some may ask for it in additional sizes base on their needs. Include a clear representative image for your film for the poster. There are festivals for documentaries only (Sheffield Doc Fest) and ones for horror only (Fright Fest). What you should have ready to go for your film festival run are: Not every festival or press outlet you reach out to will use all of these items, but all will need at least one and you donât want to be stuck trying to put any of this together at the last minute. Explains how amateur filmmakers can get their films shown on the movie festival circuit. And everywhere else, too. But this is not to say that you don't have to follow the law. If . Keep in mind that 1 page of screenplay roughly equates to 1 minute of screentime. So all hope is definitely not lost. Sometimes they state they have no preference. Then, get on with your life. This is a way to catch peopleâs eye and help your film stand out. You only have one screening to promote. You can submit to the Sundances and the SXSWs and the Tribecas. Found inside – Page 178stop submitting their work to independent film festivals. ... After all, many independent filmmakers refuse to send their work for official approval in ... You want the imagery to grab the attention of a person scrolling past and make them want to look closer while also giving them a sense of what the film is about. Think about it this way: the festival wants to sell tickets to screenings. Therefore, I'm pleased to say that the 2014 Raindance Film Festival made a profit! For many festivals, close to 75% of annual operating revenue comes from the flagship festival to which you submitted your film. However there are thousands of film festivals to enter - estimated 3000 active film festivals world wide. WHAT A FILM FESTIVAL CAN DO FOR YOUR CAREER: . There is a fee for entering film festivals ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred. Include anything specifically relevant to the film. You should also consider that the more festivals you apply to, the more you are likely to get into. See what people may have had to say about them before sending in your film. before February 3, 2020 are not eligible for any Sundance Film Festival program . Take still photos during production. You should try to submit your film to as many film festivals as you can. Look to our Film Marketing 101 post for more about how to approach your Official Site and Social Media. have been or will be exhibited publicly at one or more non -festival screenings, broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet, or released via any home video or other public distribution platfor m (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) While you may be able to nab a role in a student-produced film by simply contacting its director, you will need a good agent and solid acting training to break into Hollywood. You will be, after you read this book! I am a filmmaker who has shown films at several festivals and submitted to many more. Michael. The Venice International Film Festival (see the Venice Biennele FAQ to find out about submitting and Venice Biennele: Tickets to learn about attending) has a much longer history than its counterpart in Berlin. Youâre probably going to get rejected from some festivals. It still might not look quite right. Found inside – Page 19How many submissions can they possibly have? ... I guess I should have done the math ($25x18 film festivals = $450 - that's more than my Sony Handicam ... You must personalize the Cover Letter as much as possible. 75% of all film festivals were created in the last ten years. If you already screened in their area, thereâs a real danger that your screening at their festival will be empty, which is not good for the festival or for you. Toronto Youth Shorts January 10, 2018. Once your film is complete and before you submit to any festivals, then you should start putting together your strategy. Festivals start to make their decisions before the final deadline, deciding the themes of that year's festivals and putting together programs for specific run times. Feb 6, 2013 10:52 am. This is the difference between solicited and unsolicited films. Found insideThe Sundance Film Festival gets over 6,000 short films submitted to their shorts programs. Smaller festivals get many less. The shorts program consists of ... In fact, there are few strictures on NYFF's annual slate of films, even in comparison with its own history. Your films belong in the unsolicited category, by the way. Submit 50% to mid-range festivals. What inspired you about the topic? However, web traffic is not the only way to judge who's on top in the battle. When you’re applying to as many festivals as possible the cash prize becomes an important tool for film funding. A win at a major film festival can be a huge deal - an award win for an independent feature film could result in a cinema distribution deal and more. Or, you could use the money to fund new film projects. Indie Karoo Film Festival. This festival is the oldest film festival in the world, having originated in 1932, and is a part of the "Venice Biennale" which is an arts organization that puts on a number of exhibitions in film, architecture, contemporary dance, and theatre. Awards also help to distinguish yourself among the film community. To get funding to make a great short film for a festival, learn more about our short film funding production grants here (although it’s not *really* a grant). Higher submission fees than other festivals even for Earlybird submissions. Just one of the many reasons the Nantucket Film Festival makes our list of film festivals worth the entry fee. Your email address will not be published. Paying $75 - $250 for a rejection letter/email is foolish. Festivals can also present gifts to filmmakers who win awards or have films that really stand out. So, budgeting to attend is very important. I hope this short breakdown has helped. They often award cash prizes or filmmaking services to winning filmmakers. Film Festival Circuit has some good advice on crafting your Directorâs Statement. Just submitting your film to the festival isnât all you can do. Donât ignore the potential usefulness of the Cover Letter option. The only things youâll really need to adapt for every letter are your initial greeting and why your film is right for their festival. This year I served as the Guest Director for the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival. For example, a festival may require a City Premiere, meaning the film can't have been screened in the city that th. The result: Toronto Film Festival slid in as one of the most popular film festivals in North America. That should be the center of your Directorâs Statement. Aside from submission fees you also have to consider travel costs if you plan to attend the festivals youâre screening at, which is something you should absolutely try to do. Consider where your film fits in your career. Also, do you or anyone in front of the camera in your film have a festival in your hometown? You can also include cast, crew, and production information on the poster but often this will be too small to read or even something youâre asked to remove on certain platforms. When I submitted for last yearâs festival Iâd reached out to that yearâs Guest Director, Victoria Negri, who I had worked with in the past about a waiver code. Quick note: I program for Heartland Film's Indy Shorts International Film Festival and (short films) and Heartland International Film Festival (feature films) in Indianapolis, which offer a combined $90,000+ in prizes annually. The Telluride Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado takes place yearly in a quaint mountain village and features many panels and programs. Here are five important reasons filmmakers should submit their films to as many film festivals as possible. But do not fret; you can still find festivals that will appreciate your work. Sure, everybody submits to Sundance — it's like a lottery — but there are plenty of other festivals, like the LA Film Festival, that are looking for you. But with so many film festivals around the globe, it can be a daunting task to decide which one you should go for. For example, if a young filmmaker is trying to obtain a film grant he or she will have a much greater chance of getting the grant if they’ve already won awards and proven that they can make award-winning content, rather than someone who hasn’t won anything. Take advantage of this. Every film festival will now accept digital files, Blu-ray, and DVD. Apply to Film Festivals after your film is complete. But do not fret; you can still find festivals that will appreciate your work. Over the past 20 years or so, film festivals have beget more film festivals like . Required fields are marked *. The strength of festivals is the opportunity to forge relationships through meeting fellow filmmakers face-to-face. One thing that you should absolutely do is email the festivals and ask if you can get a submission waiver for your film. Your email address will not be published. By getting into one major and several other festivals, you increase your chance of getting noticed. Many festivals offer awards to any filmmaker attending their festival as a means of attracting entries. Short of the Week did the research and found that 2/3rds of top film festivals will accept films that have already premiered online. The film festival circuit is a highly competitive, saturated market. The number one reason for submitting to as many festivals as possible is for the chance to create future opportunities. You can check out our High Concept YouTube video here for short film distribution options, too: https://youtu.be/B6ue4ICi_5c. Filmmakers who don't read the festival rules . Research festivals that your friends and colleagues have had their films accepted to, the festivals youâve heard of that sound like where you want your film to appear, and festivals that are appropriate for the assessment of your film and the niches it fits into. The answer to that question will determine how you approach festivals. Found inside – Page 240Weighing the Cost While some film festivals don't charge for submissions, mostlevy a sizable fee for each entry. Many festivals have multiple deadlines with ... If you need to vent, call up your best friend and go off on it and swear they donât know whatâs good. Even a five minute short should have at least a 30 second video. 6. It evolved out of a Venice art exhibition that had its start back in the late 1800s. In 2020, we screened over 250 amazing short films representing 26 states and 29 countries. Legally, you must obtain permission to use music in your film, regardless of whether you're submitting it to a film festival or not. Your strategy starts with a realistic assessment of your film. Thus, you don't need to worry about converting your film to a motion picture film. Where: Prince Albert. Before you start submitting to festivals, youâre going to need to get your ducks in a row for Press and Marketing materials. Then pitch your film as a good fit for that specific festival. Not necessarily because I had inquired, but I suspect the festival selection committee paid more attention to the submission, because thatâs what I did this year. Make the most of networking meet ups and social events at the festival. The Lonely Seal Screenplay Contests are embedded in the belief the screenplay is the most important element of any cinematic, television or streaming project. All of the snow-white pups perished, except for one called "The Lonely Seal.". Filmmaking Forums. Hope this helps! 2. Niche film festivals focus on specific genres or disciplines. Let's run through the first method, searching with the film festival platform itself, where I will be looking for a good fit to submit my latest documentary short on a Japanese boxer. There are many dos to consider when entering a film festival: be specific about the film's hook; outline what's in it for the organizers; and ensure the event caters to your target audience. The biography should be a brief introduction to where you come from, how you came to be a filmmaker, where you are now, and where youâre headed. And they take only a handful of unsolicited. Found inside – Page 189Many of the film festivals pride themselves in supporting the “independent” ... Should you not get in, continue down your list to second- and third-tier ... Your Cover Letter should have four basic elements: In one page you should be able to introduce yourself, your film, pitch your film, and thank the festival for considering your film. A bad reaction to a rejection can hurt your chances with them if youâre not careful. Here are five important reasons filmmakers should submit their films to as many film festivals as possible. The answer is always: âNo you donât NEED to do any of these things.â You might be fine without them, but the flipside of the democratized filmmaking landscape we all live in today is there are a lot more filmmakers out there vying for the same limited film festival screening spots. Recently, I also served as a director of a Brooklyn-centric film festival called The Art of Brooklyn and reviewed over 130 submissions. Another method for outreach is to find out if you have a connection to anyone on the selection committee for the festival and send them a message about your interest in submitting. There are a few ways you can do this and lots of ways you definitely should not do this. Found insideThe actual process of film submission and film selection supported the ... of film production in every country determined the number each could submit, ... Break down the potential audiences for your film. Actually being able to go to the festival itself. Thereâs still likely to be a lot. Are you looking to host a film festival at AMC? Noteworthy Films: Searching for Sugar Man, Captain Fantastic, Margin Call. So, if those are your target, get your film finished before September. Dear The Film Fund. Celebrate the acceptance. Taking the time to personalize is going to help you get the attention you’re trying to get by writing a Cover Letter in the first place. 250 for a rejection letter/email is foolish guests, forums, speakers, networking parties and 150. 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