How to get accepted at film festivals (full guide)

Summary

In this video, filmmaker Kent Lam shares his journey of breaking through repeated short film festival rejections with his film *Will the Machine*. He reveals key strategies for success, including crafting a polished, fresh, and easily programmable film package, leveraging recognizable cast or experienced crew, and creating professional supporting materials. Kent emphasizes the importance of strategic submissions, budgeting for fees, and attending festivals to understand audience reactions. By finding and leaning into your unique creative voice, avoiding clichés, and optimizing film length, filmmakers can significantly increase their chances of standing out and securing festival acceptances.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Recognizable talent in your film, whether actors or experienced crew, increases its attractiveness to festivals.
• ✨ Polishing technical aspects like audio, color, and camera work is crucial, as festivals avoid films that appear amateurish.
• 🌟 A fresh, unique voice and perspective in your storytelling helps your film stand out among a sea of other shorts.
• ⏱️ Shorter films are easier to program into festival blocks, making them more appealing to festival programmers.
• 🖼️ Professional supporting materials, including posters, trailers, and synopses, enhance your film’s overall package.
• 📊 Organizing submissions with a spreadsheet of festivals, deadlines, fees, and contacts improves strategy and efficiency.
• 💸 Budgeting for festival submission fees is essential, as quality films require multiple submissions to increase chances of acceptance.
• 🤝 Leveraging personal connections or previous festival relationships can give your film extra attention and consideration.
• 👀 Attending festivals provides valuable insight into audience reactions, preferences, and what makes a film memorable.
• 🎭 Lean into your filmmaking sensibilities and unique strengths to create films that leave a lasting impression.
• 📝 Avoid clichés and overly experimental content in mainstream festivals to maintain accessibility for broader audiences.
• 🎯 Submit strategically to a mix of top-tier and mid-tier festivals, and do not wait for big festival responses before submitting elsewhere.
• 😂 Creating extremely short comedy shorts (1–3 minutes) can be a quick way to get into many festivals due to programmability.

Q & A

What is the main takeaway from Kent Lam's experience submitting short films to festivals?

The main takeaway is that submitting strategically is key. Kent emphasizes the importance of understanding film festival tastes, packaging your film well, and making sure it's a good fit for the festivals you're submitting to. Personal connections and a well-organized submission process also play a huge role in getting accepted.

What does Kent mean by 'thinking like a film festival programmer'?

Kent advises filmmakers to think from the perspective of the festival organizers. This means understanding their needs, such as how your film fits into the festival's schedule, genre preferences, and audience expectations. By catering to these needs, filmmakers can increase their chances of acceptance.

Why is runtime important for short films in festivals?

The runtime of a film is crucial because shorter films are more flexible in festival programming. Festivals prefer films that are easy to slot into existing blocks, and shorter films (1-3 minutes) are easier to program. Kent's own film, *Will the Machine*, went from over 20 minutes to 13 minutes to make it more appealing for festivals.

What are some of the benefits of having recognizable actors in your film?

Having recognizable actors can make your film stand out among other submissions. It can signal to festival organizers that your film has a certain level of professionalism or production value, which may increase its chances of being selected.

What role does packaging play in submitting to film festivals?

Packaging is crucial in making your film stand out. Kent highlights the importance of having a polished submission, including an enticing title, an engaging cover letter, and professional presentation. A well-packaged film gives the festival programmer confidence in the quality of your work.

How does Kent recommend organizing submissions for multiple festivals?

Kent suggests creating an organized submission spreadsheet to keep track of deadlines, submission fees, and the specific requirements for each festival. This helps filmmakers stay on top of their submission process and avoid missing opportunities.

What does Kent mean by 'cheat code' for getting into festivals?

Kent refers to a 'cheat code' as a strategy to increase your chances of getting into a film festival. He suggests making a very short, engaging comedy film (1-3 minutes) that works well in front of an audience. This type of film can be slotted into almost any festival's programming, acting as a palate cleanser between heavier films.

Why do shorter films, especially comedies, not get as much attention as longer, dramatic films?

Shorter comedies typically don’t receive as much critical attention as longer, more dramatic films at festivals because they’re seen as lighter or less impactful. However, they still help build a filmmaker's resume by getting into multiple festivals, which can lead to opportunities for future projects.

What is Kent's advice on leveraging past festival experience for future submissions?

Kent suggests that filmmakers who have previously been accepted into festivals can leverage their status as alumni to gain extra consideration. By mentioning your past participation or reaching out to festival organizers directly, you can often submit without a fee or have your film given extra attention.

How does attending festivals help filmmakers understand what works for programming?

Attending festivals helps filmmakers learn what types of films attract audiences and stand out. By watching many short films and observing audience reactions, filmmakers gain valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t, which they can apply to their own submissions in the future.