MyCFS
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The CFS Guide to Film Festivals
Film Festivals 101 – Research and Submissions
Film Festivals 101 – Research and Submissions
Film festivals are the most obvious place to start when you are looking to exhibit and potentially find distribution for your short film. First, you should honestly evaluate your film and figure out where it belongs or if it is good enough to belong anywhere. Remember, your reputation is at stake. Do you really want your 1st class project immortalized in the festival catalogue sitting on some executive's desk with a big X marked through your name?
But once you’ve decided to send it out there – which festivals should you submit your project to?
The big ones?
The famous ones?
There are too many film festivals to name, and entry fees can range from free (many non-U.S. fests) to $50 or more. So, unless you plan on going broke submitting your film to every festival under the sun you’ve got to start by doing some RESEARCH:
If you think your film has a chance for one of the large prominent festivals (whether by the quality of your film or through a personal connection), then you will want to monitor your premiere status. They may not want you to have an official publicized screening in the region where that festival takes place. Internet and television broadcasts could also disqualify your film. But if a lucrative distribution deal comes along that might affect your future chances at a festival, take the deal while you can and consider your film a success.
Once you decide which festivals you want to apply to, make yourself a 12-month festival calendar and note the entry deadlines and festival dates so you can keep up with your submissions.
Withoutabox.com
Withoutabox.com is the most widely used film festival resource by filmmaker’s and film festivals around the world. It’s free to join and it will give you access to a simplified submission process, upcoming festival deadlines and information about film festivals you may never have even thought of submitting to.
To sign up go to: https://www.withoutabox.com, click on “Start a Free Filmmaker Account,” enter your information and click “Register.”
It’s that easy and it is a MUST HAVE for every filmmaker.
Top Ten Festivals for CFS Students
Below is a list of ten great festivals for students to submit their short films to – but there are so many more! Make an appointment for Film Festival Advising to get the best advice on where your film can find an audience.
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