OVERVIEW

If you don’t know what a short film is, check out our "what is a short film?" blog post for a primer on the subject. But for those of you who already have a short film and are ready to screen it, submitting it to festivals is the next big step. If you're an aspiring filmmaker, this can be a great way to get feedback, break into the industry, and reach wider audiences.

Film festivals are also opportunities to network with industry professionals and fellow filmmakers. So, how do you submit?

Selecting festival(s) for submission

STEP 1: RESEARCH THE RIGHT FESTIVAL(S) FOR YOUR SHORT FILM.           

• Start local. Research film festivals in your city and review their submission requirements. Local festivals are a great way to gain recognition in your community and connect with filmmakers near you. Local festival entry fees can also be more cost-effective than big-name festivals.
• FilmFreeway is a one-stop-shop for browsing festivals that are right for you. You can filter your search for film festivals with short categories. The filter feature makes it easy to sort festivals by entry fees, deadlines, and focus areas.

• Festival Focus. Ask yourself which film festival would fit your short film best. Consider selecting festivals that match your film’s theme (horror, LGBTQ, Animation, etc.).
• Years Running. Some festivals have been around for decades; others are in their first year. Lesser-known festivals may increase your chance of selection than famous festivals, like Cannes or Sundance.

STEP 2: REVIEW SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.

• Project runtime. If your short film is five minutes long, that may be too short for some festivals, even if they have a short film category. Time requirements vary, so ensure your project runtime is acceptable for each festival.
• Public screenings. Some festivals, like Tribeca Festival, require that your film hasn’t had a public screening in the state of New York. This kind of requirement is more common when submitting to big-name festivals.

• Tech specs. Most festivals nowadays only accept a digital file or password-protected URL. Sometimes, you can send a physical copy (pretty old school, but Cannes Film Festival still accepts a Blueray + DVD submission.

STEP 3: NOTE ENTRY FEES AND DEADLINES.

• Entry fees. Festivals typically have several submission dates with different fees. The earlier you submit your project, the lower the fee. Festivals that have little to no entry fee typically receive a higher amount of submissions. Lower fees can sometimes mean higher competition.
• Festivals have multiple submission deadlines and a clear final deadline. Keep these three dates in mind: the submission deadline, the acceptance notification date, and when the festival takes place. If your film is accepted, you want to make sure you can attend the festival to promote it!

Prepare materials for submission

Each festival has different material requirements in addition to your film. Have the following information on hand since these are common requirements.

PROJECT INFORMATION

 

1. Make sure your synopsis is truly brief. Include five elements in understanding your story (protagonist, antagonist, goal, conflict, setting) with a summary of each act. Here’s a Studio Binder guide on writing an effective synopsis.
2. If you have a website or social media pages for your project, these can help bring attention to your film.                   

 

CREDITS

1. Give credit where credit is due!
2. This information is especially important if there are directing/acting/writing/producing specific awards at the festival. 

SPECIFICATIONS

 

1. Having specific information on hand will be helpful when determining which festivals you qualify for.
2. Some festivals have awards for first-time or student filmmakers, so note if your project falls into either of those categories.

If you’re a first-time filmmaker, acceptance to large festivals may not be attainable. Don’t be discouraged! If you can still attend the festivals, take the time to watch films in the category you submitted to see what the competition was like.

Please note that some festivals, like Cannes, are reserved for film professionals and may require accreditation to participate.

 

Here are some examples of top festivals around the world. Some of these festivals can be out of the wheelhouse of first-time filmmakers but are great to keep up with and attend if possible!

 

Festival	Location	Highlights	Festival dates
Cannes Film Festival	Cannes, France	Known as one of the most prestigious film events in the world.	May 14-25 2024
Sundance Film Festival	Park City, Utah	Common for indie film submissions and documentaries.	January 18-28 2024
Tribeca Film Festival	New York City	Offers submissions for commercials, trailers, and other short-form content.	June 5-16 2024
Austin Film Festival (AFF)	Austin, Texas	Although known as a screenwriter’s festival, stories are accessible to festival goers on the screen and the page.	October 24-31 2024
Venice Film Festival	Venice, Italy	The oldest film festival with a focus on international cinema.	August 28 - September 7 2024
SXSW	Austin, Texas	A film, music, and tech festival. Film screenings and industry-expert panels.	March 8-16 2024
Newark International Film Festival (NIFF)	Newark, New Jersey	Committed to diversity and inclusion in the film industry.	September 3-8 2024

Newark International Film Festival, and many others, offer other categories that could suit your short project. Webisodes and music videos are common “short” categories that don’t necessarily fall under film but have similar short-length requirements. 

You submitted your short film, now what?

NOTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE 

If you submitted to a festival on FilmFreeway, you can track the status of your submission on the “Submissions” tab. You’ll also see if your film has been selected or awarded for each festival.

FEEDBACK

Rejection is common in the film industry. You may not be selected for every film festival you submit to, but don’t let that discourage you. Maybe the visual elements aren’t aligned yet, but the script is strong. Consider submitting your script to film festivals accepting screenplays.

Some festivals include the reader's comments on your script with your entry fee. Austin Film Festival even offers a coverage program for extensive feedback on your script. This feedback can help you make adjustments before submitting your script or incorporate those changes before you dive into the production of your film.

Incorporate feedback, attend festivals for insight, and network with fellow filmmakers to learn and grow for the next festival season.                                  

Remember that persistence and continuous improvement are key to making a lasting impact in filmmaking.

SHORT FILM ASSISTANCE

Are you looking to submit your film to festivals? We can help! At Need-A-Vid, we offer production and shooting services for independent filmmakers. Whether you have a finished script or just an idea, we can help you create a film teaser, trailer, or proof of concept that can be used as marketing material or as submission to a festival.

Check out our latest short film, Blood Bonds, to see the quality of our work.

 

 

 

Watch the BTS of Blood Bonds to see what went into making it.

 

 

 

Good luck with your film festival submissions, and may your cinematic endeavors shine on the big screen!