Film festivals can be invaluable to filmmakers looking to prove their skills and break into the industry. They can get you connected with other talented filmmakers and collaborators; or they can get you a distribution deal to bring your project to a big screen in front of wide audiences. Whatever you are looking to get out of your film, festivals are a gateway to that success. But before you start putting your name in too many hats, you have to do your due diligence. In this article I will provide notes that filmmakers can use to develop their own submission strategy.
Back when you started developing this project, you should have had some idea of what you wanted to do with it after it’s completion. If not, ask yourself: what do I want to get out of this? Do you want to get as much exposure, press, and attention to your film as possible, so you can build your network? Maybe you’re submitting a proof of concept to secure funding for a feature length version of the project? Or, if you’re a lucky one, you want to contact with a sales agent to secure a distribution deal. Whatever your answer may be, it’s important to know that once you have it, you need to start researching.
Determining your budget in advance would also be advised as submission costs add up quickly. If you’re also planning on attending the festivals that your film is selected to, travel costs and accommodation will add to it. Attending the festivals is a good idea for those who want to grow their filmmaking circle and meet many new people in the film industry.
Research can be the framework of any strategy or topic. In this case it applies to finding all the festivals that correspond with your answer from the previous paragraphs, and the type of film you are submitting. If you want to get as many eyes as possible on your film, look for mid-range festivals that gather solid audiences. And to increase your chances of your film being selected, it would be a good idea to submit to a festival that is specific to its genre – or accepts multiple genres. It’s important to note that while the big, renowned film festivals gather the most attention and exposure, they also receive the most film submissions and charge the most for submission costs. Mathematically, the odds of you getting selected at these big festivals are lower; whereas if you spread out your budget to smaller, niche festivals, your chances of being selected are much higher and the total exposure you receive would add up across all your selections. Another pro of this strategy is that these niche markets are full of passionate people for the industry and growing your network with those contacts can act as a helping hand to inspire your next project or bring you along with theirs. If you’re an established filmmakers who’s made a name for themselves, the big festivals will be more valuable than multiple small ones because your name and project will be an attraction for audiences, giving festivals an incentive to pick you.
Another aspect to consider when researching film festivals is look for what the film festival offers the filmmaker as well. Do they pay a screening fee (especially for short films), do they offer networking opportunities, adjudicator feedback, awards, cash prizes?
Before submitting, you’ll need to make sure you have a strong EPK – ‘Electronic Press Kit’. An EPK consists of: a concise and well-written synopsis of the film highlighting its hook, bios/statements from key creative (director/producer/writer, etc), and visual assets such as posters, high resolution film stills, trailers/teasers, or any other additional content. A well curated EPK is valuable to a submission because it can catch the eye of programming staff and keep their attention, which will help in the decision of your film being selected. Some festivals take note of your social media accounts. Sharing clips and updates shows the festivals the level of seriousness you have for your work and can leave a good impression on them.
Each festival has their own rules and technical specifications which could rule out your project. Some festivals require that your film submission must be a premiere, meaning that it hasn’t screened anywhere else before. Others have rules on aspect ratios, length of the films, or impose a limit on how long a film is eligible after completion. If the rules of one festival you plan on submitting to restricts you from submitting to another, it’s important to note in your submission strategy the potential of what you could gain versus what you certainly lose. Every festival also has their own dates for submissions. Planning your submissions accordingly will make sure you don’t miss any deadlines.
Once your submission strategy is thought out, the fun and excitement begins. They say that you should always be prepared for rejection – all artists in all disciplines are very familiar with that. However, with lots of support, a great film, some planning, marketing and patience many have succeeded!