A Guide to Film Festivals — Where to Apply, Getting In, and Networking Explained

Things to Consider About Film Festivals — For indie filmmakers, festivals are everything, and in this video we explain the ins and outs of the festival circuit.

What is a Film Festival? ►► https://bit.ly/42KxIyy
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Special thanks to:
Atlanta Film Festival ►► https://bit.ly/st-oi, https://bit.ly/st-tl
AustinMcConnell ►► https://bit.ly/st-wu
BlackStar Projects ►► https://bit.ly/st-vs
Cucalorus ►► https://bit.ly/st-nc
DP/30 ►► https://bit.ly/st-rc
ETV Film Inc. ►► https://bit.ly/st-vi
Film Riot Extras ►► https://bit.ly/st-hb
Frameline ►► https://bit.ly/3OLPNqg
Hawai‘i International Film Festival ►► https://bit.ly/3UF8PCt
Houston Horror Film Fest ►► https://bit.ly/3UKMRhs
INA Actu ►► https://bit.ly/3UF8TCd
Indie Rights Movies For Free ►► https://bit.ly/3wl6OkD
International Kolkata Short Film Festival (IKSFF) ►► https://bit.ly/4bHcoOl
NICE CROWD ►► https://bit.ly/49gucys
Park City Television ►► https://bit.ly/49lqyn0, https://bit.ly/3OM0NUo
qFLIX Family of LGBTQ-plus Film Festivals ►► https://bit.ly/49hYkcJ, https://bit.ly/3wl3S7A,
https://bit.ly/49f0Kss
RackaRacka ►► https://bit.ly/49CJ8Xh

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Film Festivals
00:21 - History of Film Festivals
01:09 - Chapter 1: Why Film Festivals?
03:45 - Chapter 2: What Film Festivals?
07:25 Chapter 3: How to Get In
10:43 - Takeaways

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FILM FESTIVALS FOR BEGINNERS

You’ve got a film you worked hard on and are proud of. Now it’s time to submit to festivals. But entering the film festival ring for the first time can be overwhelming. It can seem like everyone knows the secret tips and tricks to getting in and getting noticed. In this video, we demystify the film festival process, and give you strategies to navigate the circus.

IMPORTANCE OF FILM FESTIVALS

Looking at the steep submission fees for fests, you may wonder if you need a festival run at all. So before you submit, it’s important to know what festivals can actually do for you. The most valuable commodity for the majority of fests is networking. Most reputable organizations will draw a crowd of industry members, and all organizations will draw a crowd of filmmakers. These meet and greets are indispensable.

If you’re lucky enough to get a feature into a top tier festival like Sundance or Cannes, you may also have a chance at distribution. This is much harder to achieve, however, if you aren’t at one of the Big Five.

TIPS FOR SUBMITTING TO FILM FESTIVALS

If you think the festival route is the path for you, it’s time to decide on which festivals to submit to. This requires a lot of research– you don’t want to waste money by applying to fests indiscriminately. When making your choices, there are a few factors to take into account. First, look at the past winners. Are they similar to your film? Where are they now? If it seems like the festival takes movies like yours and can elevate your career, then that’s a good festival to apply to.

GETTING INTO FILM FESTIVALS

Now comes the hard part. There’s no one way to ensure your movie will get into all your top picks, but there are certain things you can do to give yourself a better chance. Most obviously, your film should be good. For most fests, this means unique– is it saying something different in a different way? It also means professional quality, sound mixed, colored, etc.

Film festivals may feel daunting, but if you submit to the right place, they can work wonders for both your film and your career.


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♬ SONGS USED:

"Double Espresso" - Francesco D'Andrea
"Life's Journey Begins" - idokay
"Curiosity" - Kevin Graham
"All Star" - ANBR
"Keep The Lights Out" - Benjamin Wallfisch
"A Battle in the East" - Rhythm Scott
"Unlimited" - Dario Lupo
"High Rollin'" - Stefano Mastronardi
"Binary Love" - Stanley Gurvich
"Inquisitions" - Kevin Graham
"1986" - Angel Salazar
"Flare" - Theatre of Delays
"I Have a Plan" - Borrtex
"Dojo Tradition (Instrumental)" - In This World
"That Night" - 2050

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