Mastering Film Festival Submissions: Insider Tips for Filmmakers
From a festival's point of view, like that of Rebel Film Festival, the key element is the quality of the film you submit. It’s not surprising, but here's the twist: even if your film isn’t flawless, there are strategies you can use to improve your chances of selection. These are not shortcuts to success but rather best practices that can enhance your selection rate and help you save part of your budget for future projects.
Be Selective
The first tip is to develop a proactive festival selection process. Forget about random choices like darts or tarot cards. Analyze the festivals you are considering. If you don't plan to attend the festival, even if your film is selected, you won’t gain much from the experience.
Play Your Cards Right
Use any natural advantages you have, such as genre, gender, or location. Many festivals are looking for specific demographics or genre films, and most are keen to program local films. Review previous programming to see if your film fits well and if you and your crew would blend with the festival's atmosphere. Networking is a significant benefit that festivals offer.
Be Thorough
Fill out all the information on your FilmFreeway project profile. The more details you provide, the more material the festival has to market your film. Active social media followings, captivating trailers, posters, and synopses are invaluable and will earn you brownie points. If your film is selected, having a pre-written synopsis saves the festival time and helps you present your film in the best light.
Cover Your Bases
Write a personalized cover letter on FilmFreeway, not a generic one. Show that you have researched the festival and explain why it's a great fit for your film. Festivals appreciate hearing positive feedback from alumni, and the festival circuit is smaller than you think, with frequent encounters with the same people. Mentioning a recommendation from someone can make you stand out.
Smile and Be Courteous
Always be polite and courteous, even in the face of rejection. The festival circuit is interconnected, and unprofessional behavior can harm your reputation. A positive attitude can go a long way in maintaining good relationships with festival organizers.
In Practice
To illustrate these points, let's use our festival’s selection process. We receive around 500-600 submissions but can only screen about 40-50 films. We go through several rounds of elimination, initially selecting films that meet our screening standards. We judge mostly on storytelling, entertainment value, and filmmaking skill, narrowing it down to about 150 films.
These films are re-watched and rated to create a preference league table. Films at the top have a better chance of selection, but location also plays a role. We support local filmmakers and consider the audience they bring. A personal cover letter mentioning local connections can make you more valuable. Doing these things can give you an edge over a film that might be slightly better but less engaged.
Good luck, and happy festing!
By Sal Framondi,
CEO/Founder, OPPRIME.tv
Producer, Black Filmmakers Matter
What OPPRIME.tv Offers Filmmakers
OPPRIME.tv is a dedicated streaming video-on-demand platform showcasing award-winning independent films. Our platform, www.opprime.tv, aims to empower independent filmmakers with insights into the industry’s business model, promoting effective monetization and successful film launches.
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