How much should I budget for film festival submissions?
The average cost to enter a short film into a film festival is around $27. Entrance fees for of a feature film into a film festival will generally cost an average of $40.
Should I submit my film to a film festival?
The only films that matter at a festival are the ones in competition, the rest are there just to sell their film. If being in the film market is your goal (to sell your film), you don’t need to submit your film to the festival.
How much does it cost to submit a short film to Sundance?
Early submission to the Sundance Film Festival will range between $40 and $65 based on the type of entry. The U.S. or International Short Film will cost $40 as well as entry of Episodic Content and New Frontier Projects.
How do independent movies make money?
Independent filmmakers can actually make money if they have a great foreign sales agent who can sell their movies in key overseas markets. Producers will often make their “wish list” when casting a film, and the list will typically be full of well-known names that “travel” overseas.
Do film festivals prefer physical or digital submissions?
It might seem archaic but many smaller film festivals still prefer filmmakers to submit their work on physical DVDs. However, some of the bigger festivals like Sundance and Toronto have modernised to digital submissions via platforms like FilmFreeway and Withoutabox.
Why don’t filmmakers complete submission forms properly?
It’s hard to believe, but filmmakers often submit films without sufficiently completing the submission forms. Programmers often complain about filmmakers submitting forms omitting contact details, or important information like the film’s aspect ratio or genre. “These submissions can’t be considered,” explains Elliot.
Should you get your film screened at a big Film Festival?
If you’re a young or first-time filmmaker, there’s probably no better way to get exposure for your project (and for yourself!) than having your film screened at a big film festival. But getting accepted to screen at these prestigious gatherings are becoming more competitive every year.
How do I submit a film to a Film Festival?
Especially for international submissions, festivals are increasingly happy to just get a password-protected Vimeo link. More of their programmers can watch the film simultaneously, so you can submit the film instantaneously (handy for late deadlines) and for you, the mailing costs are free!