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The 3 Influencers in My Film Festival Submissions Process
Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 4:17PM 
Ever wonder how long it takes for a movie to be released after it’s made? Join the club. I’ve asked myself the same question, albeit for different reasons of course, upon completing “ABYSS: The Greatest Proposal Ever.” Knowing this short film would not be on its way to Utah to dance alongside the major industry players any time soon, here are some major factors that helped me figure out which baskets to put its (possibility for) theatrical screening eggs in.
Shouts out to Michael Hennessy who expressed interest in learning how I selected festivals to submit my movie to, and the process I used to do so.
Picking Festivals Based on Recommendations:
I go through the list of domestic and international Oscar-qualifying festivals for short films, to find places to submit my work. Being sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives festivals a certain type of advantage in terms of attracting press attention and they usually have industry connections. These types of festivals also tend to give out valued prizes (monetary, in-kind goods, distribution, etc.) for films screening in competition. So, I’m likely to cater my film festival submissions toward events that have a high profile in the eyes of the people who are in charge of the Oscars.
I also read through MovieMaker Magazine’s 25 festivals Worth the Entry Fee, to find film festivals where my movie could be submitted for consideration. In addition, I used nominees and winners of MovieMaker’s reader-survey for the Coolest Film Festivals in the World, to gauge where it would be best to submit my short film.
A portion of the film festivals I selected to send my submissions to were also influenced by recommendations from fellow filmmaking buddies of mine.
Picking Festivals based on My Own Film Festival Submissions Criteria:
Do they program films that have black people in them? On the surface, this might seem like an arbitrary factor in determining where to submit a film but I believe that the program lineup is a reflection of what festival organizers are interested in supporting. If there isn’t a diverse lineup of films featuring and/or made by people who look like me or Latino directors, Mexican directors, etc. in a festival’s most recent schedule, then I’m less likely to believe that my film stands a chance at being showcased at said event.
Are there any black audience members in attendance? I might consider submitting my work to a film festival – even if its program lineup is less inclusive than preferred – if there is a noticeably diverse cultural landscape among the ticket-holders that the event attracts.
Picking Festivals based on a Varying Degrees of Another Movie:
I look for films that have certain elements or hooks similar to mine, and then submit to the festivals where they screened and/or won awards. These characteristics could include anything from technical aspects, to the story or genre. In the case of “ABYSS: The Greatest Proposal Ever,” I looked at festivals where movies such as “How to be Black and Sexy” and “Snow on Tha Bluff” played in previous years. Since my short film was shot on HD, I sought out film festivals that programmed movies that were made on video.
Since the main character's plight involves SEPTA and he hails from North Philly, I added the Philadelphia Film Festival to my list of places that might be receptive to the movie, given its “local” tie-in.
As I continue to play the film festival waiting game, however, I’m quickly learning (or sometimes being reminded of) quite a few valuable lessons including the importance of being realistic about what the distribution and exhibition prospects are for my project.
Although there are film festivals that I hope to NEVER submit a movie to again, there are several film festivals that I look forward to attending and hope to play at – if only just once – sometime in the near future.
When was the last time YOU went to a film festival?
How many local film festivals are in YOUR town?
What would persuade YOU to attend a film festival?
Reader Comments (5)
Looks like you've done your homework and share a lot of good advice here, Nicole. Making an educated decision is always a smart way to go.
MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
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There are so many factors to consider. In my little town of Temple, we don't have movie festivals. But nearby Austin has that SXSW thing that happens. I haven't been to it yet but have been told it's a great time to find some Indie gems.
My number one reason would be to support festivals that feature people of color. It's near and dear to my heart to focus on books for kids with characters of color so I can certainly appreciate your viewpoint. Personally, I'd like to films made by people other than Spike Lee and Madea. New ideas !
MJ,
The expenses that go into attending and screening at festivals are so high (with the average submission fee being around $50...and that's before you even get word back on whether you're "in" or "out" of consideration to play there) that it would be unwise for any filmmaker to pursue a screening opportunity at festivals without making an educated decision beforehand. I learned that the hard way after being scammed by some no-name festival that I shouldn't have even bothered with. There has to be a benefit for the project or the filmmaker...hopefully both...or else, you're just wasting valuable time, resources, energy and money.
Angela,
Texas has a lot of popular festivals that showcase those Indie gems you're lookin to watch :)
The cool thing about SXSW, from what I've read, watched and heard from folks working in film, is that it exhibits more than film -- the event showcases musicians and hosts a lot of interactive engagements for attendees, so you could go to a concert the same day that you go see a movie, while also having a chance to meet some of the musicians and other artists while you're there. I've been wanting to go to SXSW for years but still haven't gotten there just yet. One day...that's what I tell myself.
Pam,
There are new ideas/films being made and released aside from Madea....there's just a larger mountain to climb in terms of getting audiences to know about them; to know that they exist. It's not necessarily about aiming for more work from people of color, as it is being exposed to a wider selection of art, stories and experiences no matter where they come from. Kudos to you for introducing children's books that feature characters of color...especially if you work in an environment where kids are in need of learning materials that they can relate to. I'd like to see more films by Latino directors (or films featuring Latino actors) being supported but I won't hold my breath for that to happen.
It's all a matter of audiences being in tune with their power and exercising their powers to create the type of landscape that supports their interests in the kind of films they want to see. Madea gets play because there is a huge marketing engine and mob-mentality force behind those particular films and thus, that is what gets the buzz. However, audiences do play a huge role in determining the kind of films that receive more mainstream attention than others...even to the point where it's creating an atmosphere where characters and stories are being recycled and spit out onto the big and small screens despite them becoming redundant over time. Audiences continue to eat them up, so it's up to each person across our nation to make a difference in leading by example to support more of the kind of work that they want to see -- no matter what that is -- animation, documentaries, cultural diversity, experimental works, pieces on the disabled, pieces on women, pieces on the elderly, etc.
I think that we can learn a lot from the LGBT communities and the Asian Film communities in terms of how they support the work that they want to see. More importantly, I am interested in being involved with film festivals that support INDEPENDENT film as opposed to the so-called indies featuring star-studded casts, are backed by studios or have some type of tie to Tinsel Town, as do the movies that have seemed to become a staple at many festivals over the last several years or so.
This was so interesting Nicole, to learn a bit of the background in submitting a film.
South Africa hosts film festivals representing various parts of the world, including our own.
What would draw me to a cinema nouveau film? The topic yes, invariably of triumph of human relationship set against a conflicted country, perhaps across the colour line or creed.
Good luck with your Nicole.