I saw a post online by someone asking about film festivals. They asked if Tribeca, Sundance, and SXSW were the “only” ones. There were a lot of comments at a varying degree of helpfulness.

Let me overwhelm you real quick — There are literally thousands of film festivals. So how do you choose?

What’s your budget?

Not of your film’s production, but to submit to festivals. Submitting to film festivals can cost anywhere from $15-75 or more depending on late fees. Apply early to get the best deal, but that means starting this research early too. Maybe even while you’re in production on the film. Or pre-production.

Submitting to film festivals costs money. You’re going to want to be targeted.

Know your film

Do you have a short or a feature? Was it a student film? What genre is it? All these factors are going to determine what film festivals you should be considering.

Do you have a cyberpunk scifi fantasy? Might not be Tribeca material.

Do you have a sappy romance? Not the right vibe for Sick Chick Flicks.

Research the Festival

Alright, so you’ve made a shortlist of festivals that will accept the length of film and the genre. Now you’ve got to narrow it down more.

First, is the film festival legit? Unfortunately, there’s fests out there that are not honest or forthcoming about what they provide. Some are what’s called “awards mills” that just give an award to anyone who submits. This award, and this festival, is therefore useless in proving your worth.

Other questions are: Do they screen all selected films? Is it screened in a real theater or just some random location? Does the film festival have a proven track record or is it brand new? When in doubt, Google the film festival and see if any complaints come up.

What are the Perks of Submitting to the Festival?

Do they offer great awards like representation, film budget funding, or meetings with high profile producers in the film industry? Are there professional judges? These are certainly bonuses if you submit a film and its received well, because it could possibly lead to more work for you in the future or some good meetings with the right people.

Target the Right Locations

There are film festivals everywhere, but you should have a few nearby that you can actually attend.

Attending film festivals is a form of networking, and it looks better if you’re there in person to meet with people and talk to other filmmakers about their films.

Take Advantage of Panels and Special Attendees

Piggybacking on my last comment, film festival attendance is a great opportunity to network, learn and grow as a filmmaker. Make sure to note whose work you like, who you should reach out to later and talk shop with.

If the film festival has informational panels, even better! Go and learn. When appropriate, talk to panelists and ask smart questions, but don’t take all their time. They’ll appreciate the enthusiasm and the consideration to their time and knowledge.

Closing Thoughts

Getting your film into festivals should not be the final decision you make — it should be a well informed decision you develop over the course of pre- to post-production of your film. Choosing the right ones gets you that much further ahead.

This has been on my mind because I’ve been in talks with someone about creating a local genre-specific film festival in Atlanta, and I want to make sure it’s the best it can be on its first year.

Need more info and tips for submitting to film festivals? Check out the sources below!

Sources:

17 Tips to Find the Right Festival for Your Indie Film

How to Submit to Film Festivals: Tips from an Industry Screener – Adorama

Film Festivals: Where to Submit as a New Filmmaker – Backstage