Is 720p acceptable?

[HeyAndy]

If you are submitting a short film for a film festival do they have to be in full hd (1080p)?

[Barry_Green]

Depends on the festival. You really have to ask them what their deliverable requirements are. Sundance, for example, will only screen off of a 35mm print, or an HDCAM tape (or, well, at least, that's the way it was a couple of years ago). And HDCAM is 1080-only.

Other fests will screen off of a standard-def DVD.

So you really have to check what festival you're talking about and what their requirements are.

[cheapass]

You can submit to Sundance on DVD and only need to bump up to HDCam if you get selected.

[Barry_Green]

Right, excellent point and I should have mentioned that. The cost of transferring to HDCAM is only incurred if you actually are selected for screening... submission is a whole different boat and is usually a lot more lenient.

[Darren Levine]

Although the question is answered that yes you can submit a standard def dvd to even sundance, should your film be accepted and you only shot in 720, it does not mean that they will reject it if you use that 720 master for the HDCAM tape, chances are it will be just fine. imho 720 is more than enough for any non-effects driven films. resolution doesn't tell stories, it just can help convey them a tad 'clearer'. best of luck ;)