How To Submit Your Film and Get Accepted in Film festivals.
You have made a good film and you can’t wait to share it with the audience and get feedback about your project.
When submitting your film to the festival do these steps below;
1. Set up an account on film submission platforms
There are several film submission platforms on the internet such as Festhome,withoutAbox, click for festivals and the most popular one is Filmfreeway.
After your account profile is set up, make sure you upload your film file and fill in the details such as film title, directors, producers, cast, production year, shooting format, synopsis and directors statement. Make sure all this information is filled incorrectly.
2. Research the festival before submitting
A lot of filmmakers make the mistake of submitting films to festivals that do not want their films, you see a free film festival, the next thing you do is enter and submit and you never take your time to know if it is a festival for your film.
It will save you time, money and disappointment when you take some time to google and visit the festival website to read rules and regulations, check out past films accepted to the festivals and their award-winning films and filmmakers and also take time to check if the edition has specific subject matter like environmental, domestic violence, human right, LGBT and among others if you submit a film that does not address any of their stated topics your film will not be accepted so take note of this it is very important.
3. Get your Promotional and Marketing materials right
Make your press kit, film for your film this is a very important document for your film but many independent filmmakers overlooked it. It’s part promotional piece and part reference document.
A good press kit should include:
- Cover page / Film poster
- Film synopsis
- Directors Statements
- Bio’s and credit
- Still photos / Headshot of key actors
- Accolades
- Distribution
Design a stunning film trailer, get your social media accounts in order, make a Facebook, Instagram page for your film, get followers and engage them by keeping them up to date with your film crew and cast. If you have a budget for a website make one this will also help you create a brand for yourself and your film. You don’t know who is following your work, you attract them when you have unique branding strategies.
Choose the best still pictures that sell your film, post them on all your media platforms and make a poster that looks professional, a picture that tells your story without words. create a great trailer by showing some of your best performance scenes. Nothing sells films better than the trailer, make it short and let the viewers want to see more.
4. Secure Your Rights
You must ensure you have the right to music, sound, effects or footage used in your project. If you are using any materials you haven’t procure this has a consequence you can be blacklisted by the festival or sued by the right owner, so my advice is for you to look for music or clips which are free to use, youtube and other websites have these materials.
5. Be Reachable
You work so hard making a great film putting together standout promotional materials and connected all dots, a time for you to receive great news from festivals, sponsors then they discover you have incorrect email or phone numbers, this must be village people handwork so here is what you need to do; creating a social media, websites and email make it easy for film festivals to reach you. Make sure your email is recognisable either your name, film title or your name and at film title as your domain i.e tundeoladele@gmail.com or tunde@cryforlove.com and have the same details across all your platforms.
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