Where should I enter?!?!

[justinisfilming]

As you guys know, I did this short film called, The Old Man and the Lion, which is still in post but should be done very soon. And while I let my Sound Designer and Composer finish up, I'm starting to look at film festivals. Now this is my first time submitting films to fests so it should be very interesting...

I just signed up for Withoutabox and it's a great resource. But I just don't know which festivals are worth submitting to. Here are some festivals I have in mind.

NYLA International Film Festival
Chicago International Reel Shorts
International Film Festival of Cinematic Arts
Seattle Shorts
Canada International Film Festival
Future Shorts
Nashville Film Festival
SF Indiefest
Illinois International Film Festival
Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival
AIFF
Omaha Film Festival
Independent Film Festival Boston
Cleveland Intertantional Film Festival
SXSW
Cineyouth

I know I'm pretty late for other festivals such as Sundance but I got those major fests on my list as well. I'm just looking at potential film fests I can submit to for this year. But feel free to tell me which festivals you guys have been to or heard is great for next year.

Anyway, can you guys tell me which festivals would be a waste of my time and entry fee? Like I said, I'm conquering a new territory here so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Cracker Funk]

I would focus your entries for fests that you'd actually be able to attend. So, keep it near Chicago.

Realistically, nobody's career is going to be launched with a short film at some random little festival. It's not like there are agents watching all the movies at (I'll just pick one randomly) the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, just waiting to discover new talent.

If this experience is going to lead to a blossoming career, it would be through networking, meeting people whom you might someday work with. And if you're lucky, maybe you meet someone with a lot of money who likes your movie, but that's a bit of a long-shot.

Realistically, for most people and most fests, the festival experience is all about having fun, showing your movie to a paying audience, and then the networking is the icing on the cake. Obviously, you can only do this if you attend.

The one exception to that rule (of limiting your submissions to fests to those that are geographically near you) is that there are a small handful of very prestigious fests that actually can launch people's careers. Even so, in order for that to happen, I think you'd have to attend, and hope you meet someone who can make things happen. I dunno, I'm only speculating, cuz I've never done it. Anyway, on the list you provided, SXSW is pretty dang huge, prestige-wise.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[justinisfilming]

I would focus your entries for fests that you'd actually be able to attend. So, keep it near Chicago.

Yup. It seems like everybody's saying that so I guess I'll do it.

If this experience is going to lead to a blossoming career, it would be through networking, meeting people whom you might someday work with. And if you're lucky, maybe you meet someone with a lot of money who likes your movie, but that's a bit of a long-shot.

Realistically, for most people and most fests, the festival experience is all about having fun, showing your movie to a paying audience, and then the networking is the icing on the cake. Obviously, you can only do this if you attend.

I guess that's one perk of entering to a festival that is close enough. But if my film does get accepted to a film festival let's say, somewhere in California... Would I be responsible for my own travel expenses? Do you know?

I think my plan is most of the film festivals that I'll submit to will be near me, but I'll also take my chances and enter to the huge festivals as well because you never know what will happen to those prestigious film fests. And if I do have to spend my own travel expenses, then I think that wouldn't be a problem because it's a one in a life time experience for me and I'll take networking/and the possibility of me getting a gig or something over the travel expenses.

 

[NickClapper]

I guess that's one perk of entering to a festival that is close enough. But if my film does get accepted to a film festival let's say, somewhere in California... Would I be responsible for my own travel expenses? Do you know?

I think my plan is most of the film festivals that I'll submit to will be near me, but I'll also take my chances and enter to the huge festivals as well because you never know what will happen to those prestigious film fests. And if I do have to spend my own travel expenses, then I think that wouldn't be a problem because it's a one in a life time experience for me and I'll take networking/and the possibility of me getting a gig or something over the travel expenses.

You'll have to pay your own trip expenses for any festival that you get into. Some it will be worth it for the experience, others it'll just be worth if for the laurels you can put on your website.

I wouldn't discourage you from applying to the bigger festivals but remember that they all carry $40+ entry fees and you don't want to waste a bunch of money submitting your first short to unrealistic festivals. I'm not saying you have no chance of getting in, everyone has a chance, but if you spent $200 on submitting to 5 top festivals and didn't get in to any of them then that'd be a shame. It's a good idea to look around at some of the smaller/regional festivals as well and spread your money evenly. Also look for festivals that have free entry, they're always good!

 

[justinisfilming]

You'll have to pay your own trip expenses for any festival that you get into. Some it will be worth it for the experience, others it'll just be worth if for the laurels you can put on your website.

I wouldn't discourage you from applying to the bigger festivals but remember that they all carry $40+ entry fees and you don't want to waste a bunch of money submitting your first short to unrealistic festivals. I'm not saying you have no chance of getting in, everyone has a chance, but if you spent $200 on submitting to 5 top festivals and didn't get in to any of them then that'd be a shame. It's a good idea to look around at some of the smaller/regional festivals as well and spread your money evenly. Also look for festivals that have free entry, they're always good!

Good idea! I would definitely keep that in mind.