After months and years capturing footage — not to mention an equal amount of time editing — you’re ready for the next step in your filmmaking journey: submitting your work to a film festival. But it’s not as simple as hitting “submit.” Each film festival has its own criteria, exclusivity restrictions, and timing — not to mention fees. You’ll also have to decide if you want to submit to a narrow-niche festival or a larger, more general event.
The opportunities abound when it comes to submitting your work to film festivals — and we’re not just talking Cannes or Sundance. Today, we’re highlighting a variety of popular and under-the-radar film festivals you should consider, with logistical details to inform your decision.
1. Santa Barbara International Film Festival | January; Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival pairs diverse screenings with tropical digs on the California coast. The event showcases over 200 films, ranging from documentary features to animation shorts, with a special prize for a documentary that addresses social justice issues. Judges prioritize U.S. and world premieres, and films that have been released on U.S. network television or theatrically prior to the event aren’t eligible. Fees are between $35 to $100.
2. Slamdance Film Festival | January; Park City, Utah
The annual Slamdance Film Festival is “by filmmakers, for filmmakers.” The event focuses on raw and innovative filmmaking, and accepts films from every genre and topic, from every country (with all languages accepted). Slamdance has no distribution rule for shorts and episodes; features must not have U.S. distribution. Fees average between $40 to $110.
3. New York Wild Film Festival | February; New York City
With screenings in the exclusive Explorers Club Headquarters, the New York Wild Film Festival immerses guests in the adventure-film spirit from the second they walk in the door. The event focuses on content that identifies issues and inspires exploration, with takeaways to help protect the planet. All films must be submitted through Film Freeway, with modest fees required. According to the submission page, exclusivity is not mandatory.
4. SXSW Film Festival | March; Austin
South by Southwest is a staple in the film industry, but this annual event is more than just screenings. The massive schedule includes everything from live music to inspiring keynotes, with an epic film conference and festival to help emerging and seasoned filmmakers showcase their best work. SXSW has a variety of categories, including fiction and music videos. Fees range from $10 to $110, depending on the category, and priority is given to new work and premieres (but they don’t require exclusivity).
5. Telluride Film Festival | Labor Day Weekend; Telluride, Colorado
Few things inspire filmmakers like the bubbling creativity that fills the tiny mountain town of Telluride every August. This major film festival engages film lovers and filmmakers through screenings, debates, and outdoor events. Telluride Film Festival was the first to debut Juno and Brokeback Mountain, but it’s not just for top-of-their-game filmmakers. Anyone can entire shorts features, documentaries, animations, and more, as long as the films have not been shown “the North American block,” according to their website. Submission fees vary between $45 to $90.
6. Toronto International Film Festival | September; Toronto
The Toronto International Film Festival highlights the “most outstanding films produced in every part of the world.” It’s designed to promote contact between industry professionals to further develop the Canadian motion picture industry. The festival gives preference to premieres, but it’s not required. Categories range from short films to documentaries, and fees average between $45 to $120.
7. La Femme International Film Festival | October; Beverly Hills, California
Designed to celebrate and advance the work of female producers, writers, and directors, the LA Femme International Film Festival features a variety of films from female creatives across the globe. Submission options span multiple categories, including documentaries, commercials, music videos, and animated shorts. To support female filmmakers, the festival requires that a woman is involved in the film as either director, producer, or writer. The event has no exclusive premiere requirements, and fees average around $50 to $115.
8. NewFest | October; New York City
This annual celebration of LGBTQ films, presented by HBO, features 140 films, panels, and parties every October. NewFest invites LGBTQ filmmakers and artists to submit narratives, documentaries, episodics, and shorts that center on the diverse stories highlighting the LGBTQ experience. Films can be submitted through Film Freeway, with categorical fees required. Exclusivity is not required.
9. The Food Film Festival | October; New York City
As one of the film industry’s most delicious festivals, The Food Film Festival creates “multisensory food and film experiences” by letting guests eat the exact dishes they see on the screen. This annual event has a variety of categories, including “The Film Foodmaker of the Year” and “The Made in New York Award.” Each film requires an entry fee, provided after completing registration, and the festival does not require premieres.
If you need a little inspiration to take your film from post-production to festival, check out the Adorama TV Film Form series, where experts walk through the creation of their top films.
Feature image via Shutterstock
