ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 months ago - Hardeep Giani

Hi Kenneth. First up well done for making a film. Anyone who goes out and does it needs to be commended, as it can be a struggle. As to this film, you are going to struggle to get this into short film film festivals etc - as its near to the limit excepted by most festivals (less than 40 mins) (I did watch it). Also when you are at that length you need a story that grabs and keeps the audience - people who watch shorts usually expect less and will struggle to stay with the film for that time. Do not waste lots of money entering festivals as there will be many rejections just due to the competition. If you really want to enter some - look on filmfreeway for festivals with Student categories as this may fit into them - OR look for festivals that really champion (and not just pretend to) Micro budget short film making. Things like Zedfest in the US etc. Not Sundance, Tribeca etc as you will only waste money as they have thousands of entries and choose a handful. Also when festivals plan their programmes a film at 37 mins has low priority since it potentially takes up so many slots. You are at the beginning of your journey so learn from what didnt work about this film for the next one. Good luck with it all.

9 months ago - Neil Palmer

Hi Kenneth, I'd mirror completely what Hardeep says! The first thing is to be aware of how many festivals there are and how few actually have value and to ask yourself why you're submitting to them. There are plenty of festivals that really provide zero value as a filmmaker (there are usually tell tale signs) so you do need to do your due diligence but by the same token there are a lot of top tier festivals that you can submit to with no chance of getting in because your film just doesn't fit what they're looking for (not you personally, I mean any of us filmmakers!) So you can really throw a lot of money away without having a clear plan and objective. Make sure you know what you want to get out of the festival. And then hit the FilmFreeway search button. There are a few good organisations that help filmmakers navigate the circuit (Festival Formula is one that comes to mind) and they're usually a good indicator of where you are as a filmmaker (they only take on films of a certain quality) and will help with festival strategies and have an encyclopaedic knowledge of which festivals to submit to. I'd also suggest looking around at festivals that have events that give advice on navigating the festival circuit - there's always one on somewhere! I'm involved with running a film festival myself as a PA and while it's true that the nearer you get to 40 minutes the less chance you have of your film finding a home, many of the best films we've screened have been over the 30 minute mark. So persist, keep one eye open for festivals that just want your money, know why you're spending your money and keep doing what you're doing!

9 months ago - NICHOLAS PROSSER

Hi Kenneth,
I wrote, self funded and directed a short drama film called FREE AGAIN, with a duration of 8 minutes and 15 seconds, which, via Film Freeway, I am now entering into several film festivals in Europe and the U.K Though I worked in televiison for 36 years and 25 as a director with additional producer credits, the genre of short film was new to me. If you want to contact me, please send an e-mail to nicholas.prosser@gmail.com Nick

8 months, 3 weeks ago - Walter Miclo

Just saw your film... Thanks for the wisdom about getting out and doing something about one's movie even when you don't know yet all about it or who's going to be involved with it... It's who you DON'T know... Yet!!!

8 months, 3 weeks ago - Walter Miclo

Film Festival Suggestions:

UK: Beeston England FF

US: Queens World
Cleveland International
Urbanworld Film Festival --- they specifically want films by people of color
Chicago REEL Shorts