How to Submit to Film Festivals: The Dos and Don’ts

Like the majority of filmmakers, it might be your dream to get your short films displayed in a film festival to get recognition. But if you have just started, it might seem impossible.

In this guide, you'll learn how to submit to film festivals, some common mistakes you should avoid, what to expect after submission, and tips to increase your chances of getting selected.

Part 1. How Does a Short Film Get Selected for a Festival?

Film festivals receive around 10,000 to 13000 submissions every year for screening. But not all of them are serious submissions; many people just submit viral YouTube videos, skits, and even wedding videos. It is really important for you to know how they are selected, so you can set your expectations accordingly.

Firstly, a team of screeners reviews the short film. They analyze the film against set standards like storytelling, originality, sound, cinematography, tone, and production quality.

If your's passes the screener's test, a team of programmers then further analyzes it. Some of them review fresh without any previous context to get the audience vibe. The ones that stand out among the rest are discussed further for the final selection.

Fact: The Sundance Institute received 11,153 submissions for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and only 57 short films were selected for the final screening.

Part 2. How to Submit to Film Festivals for Success

If you submit to all the film festivals without a clue, there are very less chances of your short film being selected. You should follow a strategy, and here is how to do this correctly:

Step 1. Match Genre and Festival Style

First, research and find a film festival that is prestigious enough (Not too competitive) and matches the genre and style of your short film. Then, make a list of relevant film festivals in a Google Sheet and add some other information, like the deadline and submission cost, to be more organized.

High-profile film festivals give you recognition and bring credibility to your short films. But the problem is that they are highly competitive, and the chances of getting into them are very low.

Tip: You can also ask for an industry professional's advice or consult local filmmakers who have experience in submitting to film festivals.

Step 2. Choose a Platform for Submission

Next up is to choose a platform to submit your short film. The best one is FilmaFreeway.

To do this, sign up on the official FilmFreeway website, sign in, and click the Profile picture in the top right corner. Here, you have to set up your profile and upload pictures, add contact details, a short Bio, Biography, CV, social media links, and personal details. Make sure you submit the right contact information here, because it will be used to contact you by the film festivals.

Next, go to My Projects > Add a Project.

Now, fill in the information in all 5 sections. These are:

• Project information (Type, Title, Website, Social credentials, etc.).

  

• Submitter Information (Your contact details).

  

• Credits (Names of the director, producers, actors, writers, etc.)

  

• Specifications (Genres, compilation date, etc.)

  

• Screenings/Distribution (Details of the film if it has been screened before).

  

Once done, hit "Save Project." On the next page, you have to upload your film file, poster, and trailer or add a link to where it is hosted.

After you have saved your project, click " Browse Festivals" in the top menu bar.

Next, use filters to search for a film festival according to your requirements, like the categories, fee ranges, and other criteria. Once you have found the right film festivals, click "View Festival" and then "Submit Now." Here, select your project, deadline, and category, and hit the "Add to cart and Cashout" button.

Finally, you can now see your submission in the "Submissions" section.

Step 3. Pay the Submission Fee Early

The submission fees for the film festivals cost between $20 and $120, and that depends on which one you have selected to submit your short film.

A film festival usually gives you 3 submission deadlines: Early Bird, Regular, and Late.

Early bird submission fees are the cheapest, with high chances of getting selected. Because if you submit early, the programmers will review your short film early, and if they like your film, they will put it into the schedule.

But if you submit near the last deadline, not only will it cost you more, but the chances for selection are slim, even if you have made a good short film.

Part 3. What to Expect After Submitting to Film Festivals

You have researched film festivals thoroughly, followed their guidelines, made an amazing film with a unique storyline, submitted it to the right festival, and now you are waiting for the results. Nice!

There can be two scenarios: your film might get accepted, or it might be rejected.

If it gets selected, congratulations, you have gotten the golden chance that is the dream of thousands of filmmakers.

Make sure to avail this opportunity to the fullest. When the film festival staff contacts you to share further details for your film promotion, you have to cooperate with them.

Sometimes, even before announcing your selection, the film festival team might contact you to ask if you can attend the festival. They do so because film festival directors don't want to screen a short film whose creator or crew is absent, as it will hurt the show's reputation, so make sure you agree to it.

Next, if you get rejected, keep in mind it's not the end of the world. It's really hard to see your work, into which you have put your heart and soul, getting rejected.

But rejection does not always mean that your work is not good. Many short films get rejected because they are too long to fit in the screening time, or they are submitted late, and someone else's work on the same topic has already been selected.

So don't lose heart in case of rejection, it's a part of the process. Instead, you should go to the festival, see the short films that get selected and learn what you have missed, and come back stronger.

Part 4. Common Mistakes That Stop Films From Getting In

There are some common mistakes that keep the majority of beginner filmmakers from getting into film festivals. Here are a few mistakes that you must avoid.

Running Time Issues

One common mistake that can cost you months of hard work is when you ignore your short film's run time. When you submit to a short film festival, be sure that your film is actually short.

It is because the festival programmers usually like 5-8 minute short films because they are easy to fit into film blocks.

If some other filmmaker has made a film similar to yours and the only difference is the run time, there are great chances that their film will get selected.

Weak Acting or Direction

Many new filmmakers ignore the importance of good acting and direction and compromise on casting newbies in their films, which automatically reduces the possibilities of getting selected.

There's nothing bad in giving chances to beginners, but their acting should come naturally to them..

If you have a good budget, hire a good actor, and if they have a history with the film festival, it will be a plus point.

Repetitive or Familiar Stories

Festivals are always on the lookout for the newest and creative stories, so if you are repetitive, it would be a long shot. Your idea might be unique, but it's also possible that you submit it late and some other filmmaker has already stolen your shine.

So, be creative, but don't wait for the submission.

Part 5. What Festivals Look for in a Short Film

If you have a great storyline, it's equally important to know what the film festivals actually want to see, so you can adapt accordingly.

Original Storytelling and Voice

Film festivals will never display a film with a boring storyline. They are always on the hunt for fresh, original, and creative films that can appeal to the audience.

The best way to get an idea about what types of films are accepted at the film festivals is to visit them and watch all the films at the screening like a normal audience.

You will notice that out of the 50-70 films that are screened, only a couple of them have moved you because of their exceptional storyline. You have to make something unique like that.

Secondly, use your unique voice in the film instead of copying others. Everyone has one thing in which they are exceptional; find out yours, put your 100 percent into it, and create your masterpiece.

Emotional or Entertainment Value

A good short film provokes strong emotions in its audience. Festival programmers highly prefer short films with relatable story lines that address a genuine problem and create an immediate connection with the audience.

You should focus on elements like sharp dialogue, facial expressions, relevant visuals, and purposefully designed sounds in your film to evoke emotions of joy, sadness, or anger that can leave a lasting impression on the audience's mind.

Also, present your narrative cleverly and humorously to make the film memorable. The idea is to touch the audience's soul and mind with great storytelling, acting, and direction, and if you achieve this in your film, you can easily beat the average ones.

Technical Fit for the Story

Film festivals value technical excellence. Technical aspects like Cinematography, editing, sound, and production design of your film must align with the film's core intent. All these details make your film look professional among the normal ones.

Film festivals choose the films that are best in everything because they will reflect the credibility of their programs and team. So, never compromise on these things, and hire a professional who can handle all this stuff in a better way.

Part 6. Tips to Give Your Short the Best Chance in Film Festivals

Now, you know which mistakes to avoid, it's time for some quick tips for you to polish your work before submitting.

Edit Ruthlessly for Length

In short films, every second matters; you have to edit it like your life depends on it. In festival programs, the programmers have to screen around 40-50 short films, so if the length of your short film is too long, the odds of getting accepted are greatly reduced.

Think like this, you have submitted a 21-minute-long short film that would take the space of three 7-minute films. In that case, your film will only get selected if it's exceptional.

So, it's recommended to keep your films concise, start with a good opening, deliver a strong message in your unique way, and close with a question or a mic drop moment.

Use Strong Visuals and Sound

Strong visuals and sound are the soul of every film, and without them, it's almost impossible to get into the festival. The festival programmers spend months choosing the best short films for screening.

Think like a film festival programmer and ask yourself, will they screen a film that doesn't even have appealing visuals and good sound effects? Obviously not! They will not put something unprofessional because it will make their festival look unprofessional.

So, work on that aspect and use strong visuals and specially designed sounds to deliver the emotions in the best possible way.

Build a Professional Package

A package refers to all the material you provide when you submit to film festivals. This material helps the screeners and programmers team understand the context of your short film and do its promotions in case of selection.

It includes a final error-free film copy and runtime. Other supporting material includes Synopsis, Director's statement, technical specification, and your film crew's bios.

Also, you need to submit a trailer and poster for your short film. All these details will appear on the submission page, and if submitted correctly, they will definitely help you look professional and get noticed.

Part 7. Enhance Your Shorts Movies Before Submitting to Film Festivals with HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer

Before submitting your short film to a film festival, you want to make sure that it is of professional quality, and if you are not into using editing software, things might get tricky. HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer can help you with that. It provides you with AI models to improve different elements of your video with a single click.

Here's how:

• Step 1.First, visit the HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer site, sign in, and upload your video by clicking "Start Free Now".

  

• Step 2.In the dashboard, select any of the AI models to enhance your short video. For example, you can select Face Model to improve the facial features or use the Low-Light Enhancement model to adjust for better brightness in the clip.

  

• Step 3.Then, choose a resolution, click Preview, review the results, and download the enhanced video.

  

Part 8. FAQs of How to Submit to Film Festivals

Conclusion on How to Submit to Film Festivals

In this guide, you have learned thoroughly about how to submit to film festivals.

You also explored things like choosing the right festival, common mistakes filmmakers make, and tips to improve your short film.

Always remember, this is the game of strategy and consistency. It's not easy to get into these festivals as a beginner, but with a strategic approach and planning, you can achieve your dream.