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Always carefully select the festivals<\/strong> It is therefore in your own interests to do some research and make sure you\u2019re picking the right ones for your film. When you contact the festival to send them your work, always try to include the particular reason why you want it screen at that particular event. At the end of the day, programmers are trying to give your film good exposure through their own audience, so obviously the two have to match.<\/p>\n Complete all the details<\/strong> Keep it short<\/strong> Reach out to the programmer<\/strong> Carefully manage your World Premiere<\/strong> Be careful about the support or file you submit<\/strong> Same goes for Vimeo links or other online submissions: quality is crucial, and also be careful not to change the private video\u2019s password after you\u2019ve submitted.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be pressing<\/strong> Don\u2019t be disappointed if you don\u2019t get in<\/strong> Always carefully select the festivals Applying to festivals is time-consuming and expensive. They all have different requirements in terms of paperwork, cover letters, synopses\u2026 but most of all, every festival programmer has different tastes and ideas about which films to screen. It is therefore in your own interests to do some research and make sure […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[567,566],"series":[],"class_list":["post-2305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tips-and-tricks","tag-film-festivals","tag-indie-films"],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.productionbase.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TOTI-Podcast-Artwork.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.productionbase.co.uk\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/turn-on-tune-in-2","embedCode":"
\nApplying to festivals is time-consuming and expensive. They all have different requirements in terms of paperwork, cover letters, synopses\u2026 but most of all, every festival programmer has different tastes and ideas about which films to screen.<\/p>\n
\nApplication forms are often long and detailed, but it is massively important to fill them in properly. Even if they ask about some technical details you\u2019re not entirely sure of, it\u2019s worth it to check online what they are asking for. You don\u2019t want to be remembered as the filmmaker that wasted their staff\u2019s time as they had to email you back asking for missing details.<\/p>\n
\nRemember that hundreds (if not thousands) of filmmakers apply for each edition of each festival. It takes them weeks to watch everything they receive, so they don\u2019t have much spare time to write 5 pages of bio and overly detailed synopses. It\u2019s good to give a first impression of your work and make them like it even before they start watching it, but be careful keeping your emails and any other form of communication as concise as you can.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s always good to establish a personal connection with the decision-maker who\u2019s going to eventually determine your admission to the festival. You can achieve such a connection in several ways: networking is always a good idea \u2013 always attend other festivals and events to have a chance to meet some of the people who can actually get your film screened. Them knowing your name, or even just you knowing theirs, could make you stand out among dozens of other filmmakers.<\/p>\n
\nOffering the festival to screen your film as a World Premiere might be a value added to your work, as it adds marketing potential to your film. The only problem is: you only get one World Premiere, so manage it wisely. For example, if a small festival offers you a World Premiere but you were aiming at a bigger one, with more exposure, or which you think may suit your work better, try giving them a call and check if they\u2019ve already watched it or made a decision about it.<\/p>\n
\nWhether you use a DVD or a digital version, the support you send is the one thing that truly matter about your submission. If you use a physical support, make sure it\u2019s labelled and packaged properly, that it works and that the film\u2019s quality is good enough.<\/p>\n
\nKeep in mind that festivals\u2019 programmers have to watch hours and hours of films each year: it will take them a while to get back to you. You don\u2019t need to call them up every day to ask them about their decision, as it may actually lower your chances of getting selected.<\/p>\n
\nPlenty of quality material is discarded by festivals each year: the oversupply in the industry simply causes good films to outnumber available slots. This takes nothing away from your film and certainly shouldn\u2019t discourage you from submitting to other festivals where you might have better luck.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"8 Tips For Submitting Your Indie Film To a Festival<\/a><\/blockquote>