Trying to find a list of significant film festivals

[jwolford76]

With so many festivals, I'm looking for a list of the most significant. At $30 - $50 a pop, what are the best choices? Also, a lot of festivals I have looked at seem to require 16mm or 35mm. Do they not accept DVDs yet? How do most people submit their shorts/features?

[Neil Rowe]

someone posted this a little while back..

http://www.britfilms.com/festivals/browse/


you would likely sumbit on VHS or DVD, and if its accepted you then may have to provide an HD copy or film print for projection pending the festival..some project right off mini-dv r DVD some dont. sometimes WM9 HD is accepted as well. sundance has shown from WM9 HD.

you need to consult the entry guidlines of the particular festival you want to enter.. they will have the info for how to submit and what format is rewuired. and info on projection requirements as well as contact info for questions, or links to FAQs which could answer your ?s on that particular festival.

[jwolford76]

Thanks for the link. I didn't realize how many festivals there really were. With so many, how does a person know which would be the best to enter? I would hate to send an insignificant festival $40 when I could send it to a more recognizable festival. If I have to pick and choose, I would have no idea with so many festivals out there.

[thisiswells]

Investment vs. Return. Looking for recognition? Pick all the small ones.
Confident in your movie to the point of being a fool? Go for Sundance and Cannes.

I personally would enter genre fests before any others.

My 0.02.

[PDX_DVX]

yea, when I have some work that is even worth mentioning I want to enter some local film festivals here in portland, I hear they have some good ones...

[Rosestar]

Try this link, it is one of the most comprehensive lists I've found so far.

http://www.iffla.com/links.htm

[Kirk Gillock]

jwolford - I am currently going through the process of researching and submitting to dozens of film festivals. It is a fun and interesting procedure, much like hunting for a job or cruising for chicks (do people still do that?). I am, by NO means an expert, but I'll try to share what I've learned.


Consideration #1:
First, you need to narrow down the long list of festivals by finding the ones that fit your film and that you qualify for (that decision will be made for you). Is your film a short? Is it a comedy? Is it a documentary? Does it translate well to other cultures? (Not every country thinks skateboards are cool.) A lot of festivals have a theme (horror, animation, etc.) so if yours doesn't fit the theme then you can forget that festival. Also, some are only for local filmmakers, so you might not qualify. Yes, there's a lot of festivals, but the list will become MUCH shorter once you weed through all the ones you're not qualfied for. Do that first.

Consideration #2:
Decision time; Lets say your movie is a short film and you want to submit to a bunch of short film festivals. The problem with submitting a short film to a short film festival is that you are up against hundreds of other short films. Whereas, if you submit to a festival that has all kinds of categories (features, documentaries, etc.) then your chances "might" be better at getting into the short film category. This is just an untested theory. It is best to cover all your bases by submitting to a variety of festivals. You decide.

Consideration #3:
If you are in the US and submiting to a US International Film Festival then you might be up against international films that get a higher priority than your local US production, since the festival wants to showcase films from other countries. So, if your film was made in the US then find International Film Festivals in other countries. Then your movie will be special because it's from the US. I'm an American, but my video was made in Thailand, so I have mainly submitted to International Festivals in the US and abroad. If I just submitted to standard festivals in America my film might get lost in the pile. But having come from Thailand sets it apart. Again, theory.

Suggestion #1:
Use Withoutabox.com (http://www.withoutabox.com/) for everything. It doesn't have all the festivals but it has a lot of the good ones. The site is amazing and is FREE to use and apply to festivals. You fill-in information about your film and it makes a press kit for you which is submitted along with your application. Then all you do is ship a DVD and a check (or pay online). A lot of festivals prefer an online (paperless) application.

Suggestion #2:
If you are confident with the quality of your film (as someone mentioned before) then submit to the larger festivals. If your less confident then submit to smaller festivals, but inside recognizable cities. A lot of big cities have multiple festivals (big and small) so you can choose one of the smaller festivals and, if you win, you get the name recognition of the city. Even though the festival is smaller (WINNER Atlanta's Lackluster Film Festival) people will recognize the name Atlanta and think it's a big festival.

Suggestion #3:
The best suggestion I can give you is to find, not only the festivals that best fit your film, but also the ones that make it stand out as being special. How's that for a generic answer?

As with a job interview, put yourself in the organizers shoes. Ask yourself, "What are they looking for?" NOT "What am I looking for?" You're looking to win, of course! I used a lot of marketing and psychological theories, along with a Magic 8 Ball, to help me select the festivals. I'm not an expert but I hope this helps.

Good luck!
-pk

[Barry_Green]

Chris Gore of www.filmthreat.com publishes a book called something like "the ultimate film festival survival guide". He lists his opinion of the top 10 in the world, including Sundance, Cannes, Slamdance, SXSW, Toronto, Berlin, Telluride... all the majors. I believe he has rankings and discussions of many of the others in his book as well.

[Cheesesailor77]

a big thing is that submitting is different then being selected.

so when u say you don't want to waste $40 on a smaller festival when you can spend it on Sundance or Cannes, the difference is that I can tell you right now, even without seeing ur work, there's almost no chance either of those will show ur movie, but they will keep ur money.

by all means submit if you want to, but unless ur POSITIVE you have the next Pulp Fiction, why waste the money on Sundance when you can be selected AND win some awards at the Atlanta Lackluster Filmfest.

I say try getting it played locally, like at a local college or fest (if you havn't already) and see what response is and take it from there. :)

[BLUESPIDER]

If you have a documentry, Sci Fi, Horror, Fantasy & Animation. www.shockerfest.com

They accept all formats including DVDs.

[Isaac_Brody]

Every festival has their own mandate, and choosing the best fit for your film is probably your best bet.

[Owen]

Why all y'all gots ta be hatin' Atlanta?!

;) sadly, it really is a rather lackluster film festival.

[Kirk Gillock]

Owen - Ha! :) Atlanta has a great film festival. But every big city has their small festivals too. And I think if there was an Atlanta or Los Angeles "Lackluster Film Fest" it would be very popular. It would be like Slamdance. Kind of anti-establishment. Anyone want to start a Lackluster Film Fest in their city?

[Owen]

Even the judges are lackluster. Just look at the half-hearted design job. One of the branches is even broken!

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/898/hotlanta3en.jpg

[Kirk Gillock]

Ha! LOL :) That's good suff, Owen.