Film and Television Festivals
These websites are where you will find all the latest information on film festivals from around the world. Also on this page is a very good article called “Lights, Camera, Action” on 27 ways to better your chance of winning at a film festival.
The Living Web – Film Festivals
Film Festivals Entertainment News
“LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!” or Adventures in Judging Film Entries in a Film Festival: 27 Ways to Better Your Chances of Winning
ELIZABETH ENGLISH
Founder & Executive Director
Moondance International Film Festival
http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com
moondanceff@aol.com
1. Send in your entry as soon as possible, rather than waiting for the last day of the entry deadline.
2. Send your film in the format required by the festival. If they ask for a preview video in NTSC/VHS, don’t send a PAL format. Most festivals preview films on a regular VCR.
3. Have a 16mm, 35mm, BETA or PAL copy of your film ready to send if the festival wants to screen it in one of those formats. Don’t make the festival wait while you try to get back your lone Beta from another festival! When you are asked to send your film in another format for screening at the festival, remember to enclose an SASE if you want the film returned to you.
4. For mailing: Package your film safely, and send it along with the entry form, release form & entry fee in one envelope or box. Do not use those padded envelopes filled with grey shredded kapok, as it damages videos & makes a big mess when opened. Use correct postage.
5. Do not send the submission as registered mail. This often requires the person at the festival who gets the notice of registered mail to go to the post office & stand in line to sign for it. US post offices have a good option: Delivery Confirmation notice. It’s a lot less expensive than registered mail & you can track the package online, to see when it was delivered, and even get a print-out that it was delivered properly, for your records.
6. If you want a confirmation that your submission was received, please send (with your submission package) an attached post card with US postage (if entering a US competition). Write on the
postcard: your name and address in the mail-to area, and on the back or in the message area, write: (name of festival) has received the film (title of your entry) on this date_________.
7. Do not send an SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) with your submission for return of your preview video, if the festival or competition announces that they will not return any entries or submissions. You’ll be wasting the postage.
8. If you are sending your film to the US from another country, note on the customs declaration that the film has no commercial value, or is a commercial sample, so the film festival is not charged a customs fee, in which case, the festival will probably refuse to accept your entry at all, and it will be discarded by the post office or returned to you.
9. Remember to enclose the entry form, release form and entry fee with your film in the same package. If sending more than one entry, send separate entry forms for each one.
10. Entry fees: Attach the check or money-order with a paper-clip (don’t staple it in) to the front of the entry form. If it’s for a US festival or competition, make sure the funds are in US dollars. Don’t just toss the entry fee into the bottom of the envelope. When sending a money-order, write your name on it, so we know who it’s from. When sending a check from someone else or a production company, write your name on it, for the same reason.
11. If you change your address, phone number or e-mail address, please let the festival know this right away, so they can contact you if you win!
12. Send several publicity stills of your film in the submission package. Use the best quality photos you have. If your film is selected for screening, the festival will want to use a still for their print program and media promo.
13. Labeling your film: Please label the box the film comes in, as well as using a label on the film cassette. Also label the side of the film with a narrow label. The festival needs the following information on all film labels: Title of film, name of filmmaker, format, running time of film & genre (narrative feature or short, documentary, animation, etc.).
14. Enclose a cast & crew list in your submission, with the name of the director, producer, editor, cinematographer, writer (if any) and production company at the top.
15. CUE UP YOUR FILM! Nothing is so aggravating and time-wasting as having to sit through all that end-of-reel stuff until the film starts.
16. Plan your film production budget to include film festival entry fees as the main method of marketing your film and your work.
17. Don’t ask the film festival to waive or reduce the entry fee for you. If the festival has a scholarship program available, it will be announced, and you can apply for it. Most film festivals are made possible by the entry fees collected.
18. Do not call or write the film festival to see if they’ve watched your film and if they liked it. Do not ask for comments or critiques unless the festival has announced they will give them. If you want a written or oral critique on your film and the festival charges a fee for that, add that amount to your entry fee.
19. If your film should be a finalist or winner, or is selected for screening at the film festival, plan to attend the screening and participate in the festival by watching others’ films, too, as a courtesy to both the film festival that is promoting your film and to the other filmmakers.
20. If your film is not in English (for a US festival), do not have it dubbed into English. Use English subtitles, instead.
21. HAVE A GREAT, EYE-CATCHING TITLE FOR YOUR FILM! The title should be memorable and unique, whether it’s a narrative fiction feature, a short, a documentary or animation.
22. Make sure your film has a story. Even if it’s a documentary, it must have a story to follow and keep the viewer’s interest.
23. If you are the director, be sure to utilize good cinematography, lighting, sound, costumes, hair, makeup, locations, sets and props. Make sure the film’s lighting and sound is the same throughout each scene. Production values count as much as the story and acting.
24. DIRECT your actors. The actors shouldn’t be perceived as reading their lines and hitting their marks. They should not even be acting, but should BE the character, thinking and feeling and
reacting as the character.
25. Edit so that the film segues seamlessly and always flows forward. Edit out all but the gem of the story.
26. Make your film as short as possible. Consider ruthlessly cutting that 60-minute documentary to 30 minutes!
27. Make sure your entire submission package is viewer-friendly! Every one of the above suggestions are based on personal experience of some mistakes former entrants made when submitting materials to Moondance or to other festivals and competitions.
Copyright (c) 2000-2009 Peter D. Marshall / All Rights Reserved
