{"id":93117,"date":"2023-03-23T10:00:57","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T14:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=93117"},"modified":"2025-09-17T17:03:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T21:03:20","slug":"how-to-film-festivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/how-to-film-festivals\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Submit to Film Festivals: Tips from an Industry Screener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Film festivals are an essential part of the movie-making process, and submitting your film to these events can be a thrilling yet daunting task. You&#8217;re eager to showcase your work, but how do you ensure it catches the eye of festival programmers and stands out in a sea of <strong>film festival submissions<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As someone who has been on both sides of the film festival world \u2014 as a filmmaker and as a festival screener \u2014 I have some insight into what really goes on behind the scenes, along with some of the most common submissions dos and don&#8217;ts. This article will give you helpful tips on what screeners are looking for, as well as my personal perspective on the submission process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: How to Submit to Film Festivals: Tips from an Industry Screener\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/4BqYb0NluvTWdyOSQcCPAk?si=70bce31037ee4c61&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Choose Film Festival(s)&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a filmmaker, you might be eager to submit your work to as many film festivals as possible, hoping to increase your chances of getting noticed. However, submitting to too many festivals can be extremely costly and time-consuming. It&#8217;s essential to narrow down your choices to those that are the right fit for your film. But how do you go about doing that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to <strong>research festivals<\/strong>. Look at the type of films they&#8217;ve screened in the past few years and see if they align with your film&#8217;s style and genre. For instance, if you&#8217;ve made a horror film, you wouldn&#8217;t want to submit to a festival that primarily screens romcoms or vice versa. Once you&#8217;ve found a few festivals that seem like a good match, dig deeper into their submission guidelines, rules, and deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another factor to consider is the <strong>festival&#8217;s reputation and prestige<\/strong>. Festivals like Sundance, Cannes, and the Toronto International Film Festival have a long history of showcasing groundbreaking films and launching the careers of many filmmakers. However, they&#8217;re also highly competitive and may have strict entry criteria. On the other hand, smaller festivals are more accessible and have a greater chance of accepting your film. Although they may not provide as much exposure or networking opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, choosing the right festivals means balancing accessibility, relevance, and prestige. Reach out to other filmmakers or industry pros for recommendations and do thorough research. Festivals offer a platform to showcase your work, connect with fellow filmmakers and industry pros, and gain valuable feedback. Choose wisely, submit confidently, and enjoy the ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tyson-moultrie-BQTHOGNHo08-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Movie posters\" class=\"wp-image-93126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tyson-moultrie-BQTHOGNHo08-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tyson-moultrie-BQTHOGNHo08-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tyson-moultrie-BQTHOGNHo08-unsplash.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Tyson Moultrie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Submit to a Film Festival&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One SheetYour film&#8217;s poster is the first thing many festival screeners, programmers, and directors will see. It&#8217;s essential to make it eye-catching and memorable. You don&#8217;t need to spend a fortune designing it, but it should look professional and capture the essence of your film. It will help to draw audiences to your screening, so make sure it&#8217;s a real showstopper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trailer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While most screeners won&#8217;t have time to watch them because they&#8217;re too busy watching your film, uploading a trailer with your submission is worthwhile. Trailers are an effective promotional tool; if your film is accepted, the festival will want one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep it Short and Sweet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to your film&#8217;s cover letter and director&#8217;s statement, less is definitely more. While most screeners won&#8217;t read them (since the focus is on your film) there are occasions where we need a bit more information or context about the film. So, keep it short and to the point. Don&#8217;t make us sift through a novel of a statement just to find the simple answers we need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fill Out ALL Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Filling out all the details about your film will make a big difference in the submission process. Don&#8217;t leave anything out \u2014 whether it&#8217;s genre, budget, cast, crew, or camera used. These details are necessary for screeners and programmers to evaluate your film properly. Don&#8217;t forget to highlight any well-known names or specific genres you feel your film falls into. Keep it to two or three genres max.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Premiere Status, Screenings Updated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s imperative to keep your premiere status and prior screenings up to date in your festival account. We need to know if it&#8217;s a world premiere or if it&#8217;s been shown before and where. Some festivals prioritize world premieres, while others value films that have played at other prestigious festivals. So, don&#8217;t forget to update your poster with any fancy laurels from other festivals. Keep everyone in the loop!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tell Us if You\u2019re an Alumni<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\">Did you know that mentioning your previous film screened at a particular festival can actually work in your favor? It&#8217;s true! Make sure to mention it in your cover letter. It can jog the memory of screeners, programmers, and festival directors who have seen your previous work. It can also show that you&#8217;re committed to building relationships in the industry.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/stephane-yaich-wboXyUolcvI-unsplash-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"Silhouette of film Makers\" class=\"wp-image-93130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/stephane-yaich-wboXyUolcvI-unsplash-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/stephane-yaich-wboXyUolcvI-unsplash-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/stephane-yaich-wboXyUolcvI-unsplash.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Stephane Yaich<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Do Screener Committees Judge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While every festival has its own unique criteria for judging films and advancing them up the ladder, there are a few key things that most selection committees look for. It&#8217;s important to remember that what one festival values might not be as significant for another. However, as a general rule, they all want to showcase great stories that entertain and inspire audiences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\">When submitting a film, the<\/span><strong style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\"> story<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\"> is paramount. Even if it&#8217;s a familiar genre, it must be told in a fresh and innovative way. The writing should be excellent and keep us engaged until the end, evoking emotions in the audience. Make it worthwhile, entertaining, and unforgettable. We&#8217;ll be sure to spread the word about your film, but only if it truly stands out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sound<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sound<span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\"> tends to be more often overlooked when it comes to a short film rather than a feature, but it must be known that a sound mix can make or break the viewing experience. No, you don&#8217;t need Oscar-worthy sound or a Hans Zimmer score, but a proper mix can make a world of difference. Be sure the sound is spot on, paying attention to levels, include some foley coverage and properly mixed dialogue is key. Don&#8217;t let poor sound ruin your chances of getting selected.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Performances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\">We all have that one friend or family member who&#8217;s dying to be in front of the camera. But let&#8217;s be real \u2014 not everyone is cut out for it. Cast strong actors (credits or not) who are invested in your screenplay. You want people who can bring your characters to life and make us feel all the feels. Trust me, it&#8217;ll pay off in the end.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Production Value<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\">Hoo boy, let&#8217;s talk production value. Even if you don&#8217;t have a substantial budget, you can still get creative and make each scene and frame look amazing. Attention to detail is key. Get your hands on&nbsp;<\/span><a style=\"font-size: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/best-film-lights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">production lights<\/a><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\">, paint some <\/span><a style=\"font-size: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/l\/Photography\/Lighting-and-Studio\/Backgrounds-and-Supports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">backdrops<\/a><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: revert; font-weight: revert; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif;\">, and even raid your own closet for some cool costumes. A little bit of effort goes a long way. Make your film pop with production design, and the screeners will be invested in your film.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In conjunction with the previous subsections, this is the culmination of your film as a whole. Everything is evaluated and given a score out of five or ten. How did we feel after watching it? Did the filmmaker tell the story with clarity and purpose? Did the film keep our attention from start to finish?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you keeping up or still feeling a bit lost about some other areas of the film festival submission process? Don&#8217;t worry; we&#8217;ve got you covered. Here are some frequently asked questions that often come up regarding the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does it cost to submit to film festivals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A big question on everyone&#8217;s mind: how much does it cost to submit a film to a festival? The truth is, it can be pretty steep. Some festivals have free submissions, but most charge $35 to $45 on average. If you&#8217;re aiming for an Oscar or Bafta qualifying festival, be prepared to shell out upwards of $85 per submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is, you can save some cash by submitting during the Early Bird deadlines. Costs will be the highest if you wait until the Late deadline. We recommend setting a budget early on in the budgeting stage to factor in these expenses. On average, filmmakers spend around $1,500 submitting their film to as many festivals as possible to give it the highest shot at being accepted and seen by audiences. It&#8217;s an investment, but it can be worth it in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can anyone submit to a film festival?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re a professional, hobbyist, or a budding student filmmaker, the festival world is your playground. Short films, feature films, music videos, documentaries, animations &#8211; there&#8217;s a festival for everyone. But before you hit the &#8220;submit&#8221; button, make sure you double-check the festival&#8217;s submission categories. Some festivals only accept certain genres or categories, like micro shorts (<em>under 3 minutes<\/em>) or shorts (<em>under 30 minutes<\/em>). Pay attention to the rules and guidelines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I submit to film festivals?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No longer are the days of mailing your tapes, DVDs and paperwork, and thank goodness for that! We&#8217;ve moved on from online submission sites like Withoutabox, too. Nowadays, if you want to submit your film to festivals,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfreeway.com\/submissions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FilmFreeway<\/a> is the go-to platform. They&#8217;ve pretty much taken over 99% of the market share for festival submissions. The remaining 1% is given to festivals that work through their own websites or other third-party platforms that aren&#8217;t as widely used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A quick side note: If you find yourself continuously making films or submitting to a large number of festivals, it\u2019s worth getting the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfreeway.com\/gold\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gold Membership<\/a>&nbsp;on FilmFreeway. For $13 a month, you\u2019ll get 10 to 50% off submission fees on select festivals and submission fees waived. Once you\u2019ve submitted to all of the festivals on your list, you can cancel this membership anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do filmmakers get paid for film festivals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No. A festival will not pay you for screening your film and you won\u2019t get any sort of distribution from the festival itself. Of course, if you submit to some of the bigger festivals and your film is well received, distributors attending the festival may notice and want to make some kind of deal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where some festivals&nbsp;<em>do<\/em>&nbsp;offer compensation is in the form of accommodations if you\u2019re attending in person as well as meals. Usually this will also include two all access passes for the filmmaker and person of their choice. Keep in mind, even if a festival offers that, they will not cover air fare, per diem, and any extras. Most festivals don\u2019t offer any compensation so it\u2019s wise to anticipate travel costs and lodging if you plan to attend any festival in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How hard is it to get into film festivals?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Submitting to film festivals can be competitive with many variables determining which films are selected. The percentage of submissions versus selections varies by festival. To put things into a bit of context, the top tier film festivals (Oscar qualifiers) can receive up to 10,000 submissions and they only accept around 100 films. That\u2019s around a 1% selection rate. Smaller festivals will have less submissions with a selection rate that hovers around 10% depending on the amount of days the festival is held.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s helpful for filmmakers to remember that there are so many factors, such as the festival&#8217;s theme, location, length, screening blocks, and popularity when they decide on their final films. While the quality of a film is also a major factor, even a stellar film may not get selected due to these variables. Remember that festivals are also very political and subjective, and only have so much time to screen x number of films. If your film wasn&#8217;t selected, don&#8217;t take it personally. Expect the worst, hope for the best, and move on to the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Film Festivals Worth Your Time and Money<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you ready to take your film to the next level and showcase it to the world? The following are the top 40+ film festivals worldwide that you should consider submitting to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">United States<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sundance.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sundance Film Festival&nbsp;<\/a><em>&nbsp;Park City, Utah \u2013 January 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slamdance.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Slamdance Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Park City, Utah \u2013 February 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hamptonsfilmfest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hamptons International Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Hamptons, NY \u2013 April 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/sbiff.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Santa Barbara International Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Santa Barbara, California \u2013 February 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hollyshorts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hollyshorts<\/a><em>&nbsp;Los Angeles, California \u2013 August 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiestreetfilmfestival.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indie Street Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Red Bank, NJ \u2013 No Date for 2025 yet, but likely August<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blackbirdfilmfest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blackbird Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Cortland, NY \u2013 April 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bendfilm.org\/2023-bendfilm-festival-passes\/\">Bend Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Bend, Oregon \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tribecafilm.com\/festival\/submissions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tribeca Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;New York, NY \u2013 June 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blowupfilmfest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blowup Arthouse Film Fest<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Chicago, Illinois \u2013 January 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.austinrevolution.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Austin Revolution<\/a>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;<em>Austin, Texas \u2013 February 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/danceswithfilms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dances With Films<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Studio City, California \u2013 June 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.genreblast.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Genreblast&nbsp;<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Winchester, Virginia \u2013 August 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psfilmfest.org\/2020-shortfest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Palm Springs International ShortFest<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Palm Springs, California \u2013 June 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lashortsfest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LA Shorts International Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Los Angeles, California \u2013 July 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.brooklynfilmfestival.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brooklyn Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Brooklyn, NY \u2013 May\/June 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fest.afi.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AFI Fest&nbsp;<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Los Angeles, California \u2013 No date for 2025 has been posted yet<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.longislandfilm.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Long Island International Film Expo<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Bellmore, NY \u2013 July 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.outfest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Los Angeles, California \u2013 No date for 2025 has been posted yet<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sohofilmfest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SOHO International Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>New York, NY \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfest.scad.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SCAD Savannah Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Savannah, Georgia \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.julienfilmfest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Julien Dubuque International Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Dubuque, Iowa \u2013 April 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nashvillefilmfestival.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nashville Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Nashville, Tennessee \u2013 September 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagofilmfestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago International Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Chicago, Illinois \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cinequest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cinequest Film &amp; VR Festival&nbsp;<\/a>\u2013&nbsp;<em>San Jose, California \u2013 March 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmlinc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>New York, NY \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neworleansfilmsociety.org\/submit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Orleans Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;New Orleans, Louisiana \u2013 <em>October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bushwickfilmfestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bushwick Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Bushwick, Brooklyn \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.woodsholefilmfestival.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Woods Hole Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Woods Hole, Massachusetts \u2013 July 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coney Island Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Brooklyn, NY \u2013 May 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cinemastlouis.org\/sliff\/festival-home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">St. Louis International Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>St. Louis, Missouri \u2013 November 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gigharborfilm.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gig Harbor Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Gig Harbor, Washington \u2013 September 2025<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">International<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.festival-cannes.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cannes Film Festival&nbsp;<\/a><em>&nbsp;Cannes, France \u2013 May 2025&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiff.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tiff<\/a><em>&nbsp;Toronto, Canada \u2013 September 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sitgesfilmfestival.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sitges Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Sitges, Spain \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fantasiafestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fantasia International Film Festival<\/a><em>&nbsp;Montreal, Quebec, Canada \u2013 July 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asff.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Aesthetica Film Festival&nbsp;<\/a><em>York, United Kingdom \u2013 November 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.raindance.org\/festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Raindance Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>London, United Kingdom \u2013 June 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.austinfilmfestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Austin Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Austin, Texas \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/corkfilmfest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cork International Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Cork, Ireland \u2013 November 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.shortshorts.org\/index-en.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Short Shorts Film Festival &amp; Asia<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Tokyo, Japan \u2013 May\/June 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.locarnofestival.ch\/LFF\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Locarno Film Festival&nbsp;<\/a><em>&nbsp;Locarno, Switzerland August 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.miff.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Melbourne International Film Festival&nbsp;<\/a><em>&nbsp;Melbourne, Australia August 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/sff.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sydney Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Sydney, Australia \u2013 June 2025<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.boltonfilmfestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bolton International Film Festival<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Bolton, United Kingdom \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most festivals live over on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfreeway.com\/festivals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FilmFreeway<\/a>&nbsp;, while a few do require submissions directly through their individual website. It goes without saying that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all of the incredible film festivals across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-93127\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/jake-hills-23LET4Hxj_U-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"Film festival screening\n\" class=\"wp-image-93127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/jake-hills-23LET4Hxj_U-unsplash.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/jake-hills-23LET4Hxj_U-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/jake-hills-23LET4Hxj_U-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Jake Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My Festival Run is Over. Now What?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Filmmakers use the terms &#8220;submission life&#8221; and &#8220;festival life&#8221; to describe the process of submitting to festivals and waiting for their response. This process can take up to a year due to festival deadlines and premiere considerations. After being accepted, it can take another year for all the festivals to finish screening.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, be smart. Don\u2019t fall into the trap of submitting to every festival on the planet, dropping $10k on submission fees, and spending three years trying to get the film out there. Be judicious in your selections and complete everything within two years. Accept the film has had a decent run and move on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s also something to be said about having a life online after the festival run, should you choose to take that route. You can submit your film to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vimeo Staff Picks<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortoftheweek.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Short of the Week<\/a>, or even the highly popular YouTube channels&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCMOB6uDg7e-h8OuCw8dK2_Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alter<\/a> (<em>horror<\/em>),&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@Omeleto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Omeletto<\/a>&nbsp;(<em>Oscar qualifiers only<\/em>), or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/watchdust.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dust&nbsp;<\/a>(<em>Sci-Fi<\/em>). You can always release it on your own channel as well if distribution isn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">That\u2019s a Wrap!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hopefully, you have a better understanding of how to submit your short, documentary, or feature film to film festivals and increase your chances of being selected. Remember to choose festivals that align with your film&#8217;s style and genre, follow submission guidelines, and make your film stand out with a compelling story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Submitting your film is just one step in your journey as a filmmaker. Whether your film is selected or not, take the feedback you receive to grow and improve your craft. Keep creating and submitting, and who knows? Your work could become the next big hit at Cannes, Sundance, or Toronto International. Go out there, grab your camera, and let the world see what you&#8217;ve got.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Film festivals are an essential part of the movie-making process, and submitting your film to these events can be a thrilling yet daunting task. You&#8217;re eager to showcase your work, but how do you ensure it catches the eye of festival programmers and stands out in a sea of film festival submissions? As someone who [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11111166,"featured_media":93132,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[556,15685,11094,18189],"class_list":["post-93117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-video","tag-film-556","tag-film-festival","tag-filmmaking","tag-movies"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Submit to Film Festivals: Tips from an Industry Screener<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How can you ensure your film catches the eye of festival programmers and stands out in a sea of film festivals submissions?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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