How to get accepted at film festivals (full guide)
Video Overview & Insights
Getting your short film or feature into film festivals is tough, even with a strong film. Here's how I finally got accepted to a bunch of film fests.
Live/in-person festivals are about to open back up, who's submitting this year?
Get your free copy of my film festival spreadsheet to organize your own film fest strategy - https://standardstoryc.ck.page/filmfestspreadsheet
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I’m submitting my first ever film to my first ever film festival and I’m hoping for something positive out of it.
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I gotta know what do you besides YouTube to make money to pay to submit at your films? I'm just trying to find any work really so that I can support myself and pursue my film career.
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Getting into film festivals seems simple from the outside, but there’s actually a lot of strategy behind choosing the right ones. This guide explains it really well. Great tips! 🎬🔥
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Really appreciate how straightforward, open, and informative this video is. Thanks for making it.
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I am a 24 year old man from India. I am pursuing masters in physics from an university. I found that i am more inclined to films than science. I want to pursue filmmaking. Please suggest me some roadmap!
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Can you please send me the spreadsheet you made for film festivals
00:00 - Intro
00:47 - Your Film as a Package
My last name is Annable. Maybe i can just ride to coattails of Dave
05:16 - Getting Organized & Strategic
09:56 - Budgeting Appropriately
Nagarame nannni meaning is Thaks to city. This film is copy of Conquororers Of Golden City
11:59 - Leveraging Your Network
12:54 - Standing Out
There is Malayalam film same story writer is famous Malayalam writer Sree MT Vasudevan nair story name Nagarame Nan nni
16:43 - Runtime/Programmability
18:40 - How It'll Be Easier Next Time
I would add that if your film is selected respond promptly to the organizer when they ask for a downloadable link to your film, number of passes, whether you’ll be attending, etc.
About me:
I've been making short films for 20 years, starting at age 11. I directed my first feature film, Bad is Bad, in 2010. Made for only $6,000, the film went on to reach over 7 million views and garner critical acclaim. More recently, my short film, Will "The Machine", screened and won awards at film festivals around the world. Released online in 2019, it reached over 1 million views in just a month. I also work as a video editor, cutting ads for clients such as Apple, Netflix, and Beats by Dre.
Ever thought about doing this for hire?
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One day I’ll get into multiple film festivals!
More User Perspectives
Damn, I thought I was watching a whole show 🤣 forgot it was only 13 minutes. I’m tight! This needs to get picked up !
@SHOTBYFRANKIEFROMTHETRAPHow did you get Denzel Whitaker in your short film?
@loucappetta7370oh shit lol as long as i’ve watched u i didn’t know u were also from Richmond!
@wazy_musicCan we label our film as "IT WAS SCREENED AT" right after submitting it to the festivals or we've to label only after the official selection ?!
@thevishalfilm7I have a film I want to
Submit pls
How
Do I go about it?
I guess even a link on a very old thread gets deleted, sigh. So-...any recommendations for fests who really like animated sci-fi shorts? No links plz. Thanks.
@HGRRecordsWilcoxHey do you have any recommendations for teenage film festivals? Like for high school students
@LalalalalalalalalalalalalalaiDude, shit's hard
I did this twice now and I was reasonably successful the first time considering it was my very first short but goddamn im going through it the second time rn and it's tough.
I got an movie story idea ,I can't myself shoot it bcz it need 3D sets,& is it the story submitted in film festival or we need to prepare a movie first?
I am newbie to this ,I get film ideas I feel a strong urge to turn it into a movie bcz my gut feeling saying people will love it but write now it's in a story format what should I do?
This is my first time putting thru my grad film into film festivals and ngl its disheartening not getting in, kinda feels like you are an awful film maker. But I know Ive just gotta move on and gg go next. Thanks for the vid. Really helpful! :)
@eksfilmsDude this was an awesome breakdown, thanks so much.
@nathanberryWhat an excellent contribution to all of us! Thank you and congratulations!! 👏
@khataient1385you are a life saver
@arjunsachin1857We loved the film at AFIN International! Well done and I hope you send your future films our way
@GP2EntertainmentMaking SHORTS. :-) You do not film, you video. Film, filming, and filmmaking are the most misused words in the industry. 🙂 Digital Video and film require different skill sets. Having DIFFERENT historical and TECHNOLOGICAL timelines spanning 150 years. Have PRIDE and KNOWLEDGE of the gear we use including the words that describe what we do. Our tools are Digital Video, Non-linear, and CGI. We are moviemakers, not filmmakers and we do what film wishes it could. We are Videographers and/or cinematographers. 🙂 We video or are videoing, we do not film. That's the other RARE professionals who know how to use film and film cameras, like an ARRIFLEX 435 Panavision R-200 and Steenbeck flatbed film editors. Know the difference and have a better understanding of the craft. You will also stand out in an industry polluted with point-and-shoot "pros". Respect to you.✌♥
@RocketrymanI am from India and I loved your ideas... They are universal...
@AZLAANmumbaiThank you for this value packed video. Is this golden spreadsheet available somewhere pretty please? ❤
@live_delightful_lifeThank you.
@DEBBIEGRAPHYI’m making a feature film called Fired, It will be 88 minutes long. But I have to be careful with my IPad’s storage. It’s not unlimited.
@maxsvoicecollection@StandardStoryCo Hey man, love your videos! I liked and subscribed. I was wondering if you could make a couple of videos on these subjects:
1. How to determine a budget for your short film
2. How/Where to hire a film crew/actors for your short film ( also on that subject, which crew members are the most essential?)
Must someone move to LA for this because i cant afford that 😅
Also can i do this with animated films because i really am passionate about animations
What about someone who doesn’t have connections to those guys?
@SayiyaNax-pingThanks for all the tips and sharing your personal experience, this helps a ton.
Just got my first rejection from my first and only application (mistake number one right there). I was wondering a lot about runtime when I made my movie, and the programability issue makes a lot of sense, as you described it. My 'short' film is 55 min long (!) and is not even eligible for most short film competitions. I'm now divided as to whether I should cut it down to a shorter runtime or maybe if it would be actually better to submit it to feature film contests?
Thanks again and keep up the good work!
wish festival is the best for just having lots of fun
@flamingocupproductions5329If mr Lamb barely got in with his skill and experience… is it safe to just not bother and put that effort in other areas?
@swashyhimself@StandardStoryCo Do these steps apply to a short animation film or are there other steps that you would recommend?
@RicardoArceGreat info! Curious if festivals have technical requirements like film has to be 4k quality or certain aspect ratio or 10-bit color, that sort of thing?
@JoshPostVlogs0:36 a frame used as miniature :D
@FranciszegVery useful, thank you
@BlackWrathProductionsThis was a very informative. Thank you so much.
How can I get the spreadsheet?
Fantabulous
@lisabaxter7786i realize the vids a bit old but do you have a list of the film festivals you entered
@bearjagsThank you!!
@frankguthrie2825