how to choose a film festival
- Thread starter TheMacB
- Start date
capitalP
Veteran
Good question, here's what I did on my last film and what I will do on my new film. My last film I just went with the big names and more wellknown festivals... this may work for some but the chances are obvioulsy slim.
So on my new project, I'm going to target specific festivals that are catered to the genre of film I'm doing. Say for example, if you do a film about Zombies, then entering a ZombieFest would be a good choice. But ultimately it will get expensive, so chose wisely.
So on my new project, I'm going to target specific festivals that are catered to the genre of film I'm doing. Say for example, if you do a film about Zombies, then entering a ZombieFest would be a good choice. But ultimately it will get expensive, so chose wisely.
It's a tough question. The festivals that are actually worth your while are few and far between. And by worth your while, I don't just mean the "big" ones. The much smaller ones can be really appreciative of your work, with audiences who want to meet you and talk about your film, and which offer an all around collegial atmosphere. Too many smaller festivals just want your submission fee. Buyer beware! They just want your money and have no intention of programming your flick. I've seen festivals continue to accept submissions and the accompanying submission fees long after their program has been completely decided upon. Then there are the festivals who DO program your film, and it's like you might as well be dead. They don't want to meet you. They don't thank you for letting them screen it (even though WE pay THEM to screen our movies). I guess we're supposed to be so happy they screen it at all that we just accept bread crumbs. Filmmakers should demand more. Festivals should offer us more, if only a nice follow-up thank you card!
DannyDarko
Active member
Check out Chris Gore's "Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide". It's THE go-to book for this kind of thing.
DerrickTempleton
Well-known member
good advice
Robbie Comeau
Como's back. back again
Woah, we have to pay for this withoutabox site to send out a film?
Beat Takeshi
Two-Hip Shakur
You have to pay the places that hold the fests. Its like $45 a pop and up. Using withoutabox.com can make it a little cheaper with their discount. Then you have to pay the shipping of the DVD which they all want, they hardly ever want an online version unless they are overseas and you work out something with them but after you still have to send them the DVD.
Robbie Comeau
Como's back. back again
Oh im over that idea. Terrible. lol. Is there anything like withoutabox, that you can just send them your film online, then they look at it, then hire you, then they pay for you to go to hollywood, and you can be a pro director/dp? And make hollywood movies?
Hehehe, kidding, but really is there a site that you can just submit a film for free?
Hehehe, kidding, but really is there a site that you can just submit a film for free?
DannyDarko
Active member
Cannes allows short films to be submitted for free! Also, search WAB for "free fests". There's plenty out there with no submission fees.
Look for festivals you can actually attend if you get accepted--that's 90% of the fun in getting accepted.
Make sure they have plenty of filmmaker events where you get to meet other filmmakers and the audience.
Find out if and how they comp filmmakers. Some offer meals, lodging, all-festival passes, etc.
The more parties and special events, the better. Filmmakers should be comped.
Are there industry forums and chances to make business contacts?
Check past attendance figures.
Check the quality of the venues.
Don't waste your money applying to the big fests unless you really have great film. If you do have a great film, apply to a bunch of name-fests.
Don't hesitate to get on the phone and call the festival director or one of the fest executive staff to find out what the fest is about. You can also get clues if they like the kind of film you're submitting and are likely to program it.
Make sure they have plenty of filmmaker events where you get to meet other filmmakers and the audience.
Find out if and how they comp filmmakers. Some offer meals, lodging, all-festival passes, etc.
The more parties and special events, the better. Filmmakers should be comped.
Are there industry forums and chances to make business contacts?
Check past attendance figures.
Check the quality of the venues.
Don't waste your money applying to the big fests unless you really have great film. If you do have a great film, apply to a bunch of name-fests.
Don't hesitate to get on the phone and call the festival director or one of the fest executive staff to find out what the fest is about. You can also get clues if they like the kind of film you're submitting and are likely to program it.
Beat Takeshi
Two-Hip Shakur
Yeah Barry makes a good point. One of our films got accepted in a film fest in Naples Italy but we couldn't go. They found it on IFC and asked us to send it to them. Half the fun is attending the screenings, standing on stage and making a fool of yourself. You get to meet a lot of people and if they are legit, have great after parties. Don't go for the places that make you pay for the party, I think Jay had a situation where the place wanted and extra $350 for the party. WTF!