Short Film Festivals

Short film festivals are a great way of getting your films shown, there are festivals held all over the UK and worldwide. There are many different types of festivals with different entry requirements eg) Student film festivals, extreme sport film festivals and short documentary festivals. When coming up with ideas for a short film you must consider your target audience and type of short film as you may only be able to enter into certain festivals, the entering process can be quite a long process but could be worth it in the long run.

Entering short film competitions-
Release and promotions strategy.Some festival websites have an online application that you have to fill out before hand, then the festival will contact you if you have been successful and then you will have to send out your short film. You will have to edit our short film to make sure it meets the specific entry requirements and work hard on the packaging of the film, you should use photo-quality paper for a DVD cover with a short blurb on the back along with your contact details and name of the festival or competition you are entering. You should also write a detailed letter to go along with your film that includes information about yourself and you cast and crew and information that would go in a press release for your film. Making sure you do these things will give you a better chance of being considered.



Legal requirements-
"1. Music. If you plan on charging for your film, entering it into contests or festivals (different contests/festivals do set slightly different rules) or any other profit/official distribution, you must use your own music, use royalty free music or get the artists permission (must be in written form, not verbal). This may apply regardless of your intent with the film. You may have to do this just to post it online. Check into local laws as well.
2. Actors/Actresses. Make sure you look into getting the right legal forms for employing/using actors in your film as this may also vary by State.
3. If you plan to use a script that is of your own concept, get it copyrighted. If you plan to use a royalty free script, make sure you fill out the forms/purchase it correctly.
4. When filming in public, make sure you follow the rules when it comes to liability. When doing still photography for example, if the person in the background is identifiable, you must have their written permission on a photo release form before using that photograph."



Web Cinemas-
When my short film is finished I may think about submitting it to a web cinema, here are some examples of websites that may except it,
www.ifilm.com
www.exposure.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork

Film Festivals

Sundance-
The Sundance film festival started this year on the 21st of January til the 31st of January in Park City, Utah, United States of America. It is a festival showcasing the best U.S Documentaries, U.S dramatic, World cinema documentary, World cinema dramatics. The Sundance festival is a American/ International higher class festival aimed at professional short film makers.

To apply you fill out an application online but also make a payment towards it, there are 3 entry dates,
Early entry= $35-$45
Official entry= $50-$75
Late entry= $75-$100


Exposures Festival-
The Exposures film festival is over 3 day and starts from the 17th of November to the 19th, it is based in Manchester, England and accepts work made by students who are studying at a UK institution between August 2009- July 2010. Exposure is a UK wide festival for students and new talent. There is also a smaller festival by the same organisation called 'Underexposed' which is specifically for under 19's.

Edinburgh Film festival-
This is an International film festival showcasing short films and feature length films, it is over 13 days from the 16th-27th of June. Some of the awards are,
Standard life audience award
Best documentary
Best British short film
Skillset new directors award

To submit your short film to the festival you have to fill out a online form from there website and post your DVD screener along with it. Just like Sundance there are 3 deadlines with different prices to pay,
Early Bird £20
Regular £30
Late £35

This does not include short animation, experimental and Scottish short documentaries that are under 20 minutes as they are free to submit. All films cannot be older than 12 months by June 2010 and cash prize awards are given to winners of the categories from around £1,000 to £20,000.


http://www.withoutabox.com/ is a website where you can submit your film to all film festivals in different continents in one go instead of picking individual festivals. On this site you can complete a one form along with uploading your film trailers and promoting your films. Film festivals can also use this website to manage their festival ticket sales and submissions.