ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 3 months ago - Anna Bogutskaya

Hi Alexandra, Galway is a fantastic festival (Academy Award qualifying too!).

10 years, 3 months ago - Louise Marie Cooke

Hi Alexandra, as a filmmaker I try to submit to as many as I can afford, someone once told me a good film will get into one in ten festivals submitted too and a great film two in ten but make sure to check out the premier status of big festivals because you don't want to run the risk of getting in having already given away your premier to another smaller festival. I run the film site re:VAULT so would advise checking out our list of festival deadlines coming up soon
http://revaultfilmden.co.uk/deadlines-coming-up/

I also work for Wimbledon Short Film Festival so would suggest submitting here ;)
http://www.wimbledonshorts.com/

All the best and good luck!

10 years, 3 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Thank you Xavier :)

10 years, 3 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Thank you Stuart!

10 years, 3 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Thanks for your reply Daniel :) I think the LFF is the BFI I mentioned.

Regards,
Alexandra!!!

10 years, 3 months ago - Xavier Henry-Rashid

All the festivals listed are UK based, when in fact the largest and most important documentary festivals (that often prioritise regional premieres) are abroad. Oscar qualifying or BAFTA qualifying are an indication, but not necessarily all are 'worth while'. Clermont Ferrand is possibly the most important marketplace, Shortsfest in Palm Springs, Tampere etc. If you get into Sundance or SXSW's shorts programmes you'll be inundated with invitations/acquisition requests. If you build your momentum across the North American or European circuit you'll get good street cred, which to be honest, rarely happens from launching films first in the UK (Encounters and London Short Film Fest are good btw). I think I have a list of short film festivals/short film buyers lying around in case you want to DM me.

10 years, 3 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Hi Shooters,

Does any of you have an experience submitting your film to any of the following festivals?

The Smalls Film Festival
Edinburgh Short Film Festival
Fingal Film Festival Dublin
Underwire Film Festival
Encounters Film Festival
Winchester Film Festival

10 years, 3 months ago - Stuart Wright

From a standing start with no reputation and no star value in you short applying to any film festival is a hit and hope procedure. Make a budget for festival submission costs. Fire many bullets and you'll hit a few targets.

If you have a reputation and/or star value in your film you could contact festivals outside the usual application route and/or appoint a festival doctor on a retainer.

Biggest lesson I've learnt is that there is no transparency about why you've not been selected. There is no rhyme or reason as to why festivals choose you - they just do and you're grateful.

It's not surprising really. Even the middle league festivals get 100s more submissions than they can programme.

Best of luck

10 years, 3 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Hi Xavier, could you please send me the list you've got with short film festivals/short film buyers? I can't find your personal profile to PM you privately...

10 years, 3 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Hi Anna,
thank you for your response :)
I will submit it to Galway too!

Regards,
Alexandra!!!

10 years, 3 months ago - Daniel Cormack

Cork is in Ireland, so not a UK festival.

I've had films screened at and attended Cornwall and Wimbledon and they're both great festivals. I haven't been to Portobello. It's a long established fest, but the last time I looked into it, they screened every film submitted, so not particularly selective.

I'm surprised you mentioned LSFF (formerly the Halloween Festival), but didn't mention the London Film Festival. I would definitely go for the LFF before LSFF, as LFF require a premiere and so you do sort of have to choose your first choice.