Film Festival Guide: Learn How To Submit Your Film Worldwide from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Build your own film festival strategy with maximum efficiency
Online submission platforms and services
Common mistakes beginner filmmakers make when submitting their films
Class a, b and c festivals, what is the difference?

Tips & tricks that film festivals keep secret
Creating subtitles, dialogue lists and stills for your film
Dcp (digital cinema package) vs other screening formats
Promotional publicity materials for maximum exposure

Build your own film festival strategy with maximum efficiency
Online submission platforms and services
Common mistakes beginner filmmakers make when submitting their films
Class a, b and c festivals, what is the difference?
Tips & tricks that film festivals keep secret
Creating subtitles, dialogue lists and stills for your film
Dcp (digital cinema package) vs other screening formats
Promotional publicity materials for maximum exposure

Syllabus

An introduction to the course content

There are many reasons you might want to submit to a film festival. Let’s take a look at 5 benefits you can get by being at a film festival

Deciding which festivals to submit to is actually one of the hardest parts of the submission process. Let's categorize and compare them to each other.

Are you looking for a list of all the film festivals around the world, the so-called database? To How many festivals people usually submit their work? How much money do filmmakers spend on festival submissions? What’s the time frame for a festival run? Well, it’s time to look at THE BASICS OF SUBMITTING.

Find the best way to submit your film to a specific festival. Keep track of all of your submission results and stay organised.

Some Decades ago the only way you could submit your film to a festival, was by mail. You had to you use actual mail service to send out a DVD disk with paper forms to the festival. Luckily these days there are more convenient ways to do that. One of them is to use online submission platforms. Let's review 6 most popular submission platforms.

Most festivals ask for the same type of information in their applications. So in this video we’ll take a look at the submission form of FilmFreeWay and then extract it so that we could create one universal master document based on this one form that you can use for creating Press Kits and completing other online applications.

A real life demonstration on how to look for a festival for your film using FilmFreeWay service from start to finish.

Your film’s ‘life’ doesn't begin until its first screening. Let's find out the difference between the WORLD PREMIERE, INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE, NATIONAL or REGIONAL.

Tips to make you find a perfect match for your film and approach the world of film festivals.

Let's focus on media files specifications for screening purposes, publicity strategy and marketing of your film.

Publicity media files and tools in your portfolio add so much value to your film. Essentially, you are helping each other. Journalists and film festivals.

Festival’s technical requirements say you need to provide a screening copy of your film in the exact file format. Let's export your film for further processing in various formats.

Separate subtitles that are not embedded properly are a common source of error. Did you know, that nearly all festivals prefer ‘burnt-in’ subtitles that are part of the image? Let's find out more.

A DCP (Digital Cinema Package) is an alternative to a 35mm exhibition copy. Today it is considered as one of the standards for professional film exhibition. You definitely need to create one!

What happens when your film is selected? How to deal with rejection? When to refuse and when to accept invitations? Finally, how to make the best out of the whole experience?

Have you seen the number of all the “laurels” for not being selected, money spent and effort? Nobody lists that, right? Never give up!

Congratulations! Now what? If you get accepted by a film festival, you should absolutely attend! That’s the reason why you submitted in the first place, isn’t it?

7,5 best practices for getting your film to festivals, connect with an audience and inspiration for your future filmmaking career.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops core skills for filmmakers who want to distribute their work and get maximum exposure

Taught by Daniel Joffe, a recognized filmmaker

Provides a step-by-step guide on how to submit your film to film festivals

Covers essential topics such as festival strategy, material preparation, and common mistakes

Helps filmmakers understand the differences between Class A, B, and C festivals

Provides insights into premiere status and how to avoid getting banned from festivals

Reviews summary

Highly praised film entry guide

Learners say this largely positive course is a thorough guide for submitting films to festivals worldwide. The engaging lectures are well-structured and easy to follow, even for beginners. The instructor is knowledgeable, engaging, and shares valuable insights.

The course is suitable for beginners.

"Clear, instructive, straightforward!"

"Easy to understand for beginners. Well-structured. Thank you Sal."

"yes. a good refresher and learned new techniques"

"Very interesting. Already learned alot"

"Loved the course. It was easy to learn as Iam beginner"

The course content is found to be engaging by students.

"It’s very engaging so far"

"Very clearly explained 👌"

"Easy to listen to and engaging"

"Very interesting course"

"Great information as always"

This course is highly regarded by students.

"Very clearly explained 👌"

"It’s very engaging so far"

"Very interesting course"

"Knowledgeable and easy to understand"

"Thorough course with lots of useful information."

The instructor is praised for their teaching style.

"Love the way he shared his knowledge"

"Easy to listen to and engaging"

"Clear, instructive, straightforward!"

"knowledgeable and easy to understand"

"Mark always delivers! I love his courses!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Film Festival Guide: Learn How To Submit Your Film Worldwide with these activities:

Read 'The Art of Film Festival Submission' by Chris Gore

Show steps

Reading this book will give you a comprehensive overview of the film festival submission process.

View Chris Gore's Ultimate Film Festival Survival... on Amazon

Show steps

Purchase or borrow a copy of 'The Art of Film Festival Submission'.
Read the book and take notes on the key points.
Apply the tips from the book to your own film festival submissions.

Watch Online Tutorials on Film Festival Submission

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Watching online tutorials will help you understand the ins and outs of film festival submission.

Show steps

Search for online tutorials on film festival submission.
Watch the tutorials and take notes on the key points.
Apply the tips from the tutorials to your own film festival submissions.

Create a Film Festival Proposal

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Creating a film festival proposal will assist you in creating a film festival strategy and allow you to think through the logistics for your festival.

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Determine the purpose and goals of your film festival.
Research similar film festivals and their programming.
Identify a target audience for your film festival.
Develop a budget for your film festival.
Create a timeline for planning and executing your film festival.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Submit Your Film to a Local Film Festival

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Submitting your film to a local film festival will help you understand the submission process and get feedback on your film.

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Research local film festivals that are accepting submissions.
Review the submission guidelines for each festival.
Prepare your film for submission, including creating a trailer, synopsis, and press kit.
Submit your film to the festivals.
Attend the festivals and network with other filmmakers.

Join a Film Festival Submission Discussion Group

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Joining a discussion group will allow you to connect with other filmmakers and get feedback on your submissions.

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Search for online or in-person film festival submission discussion groups.
Join the group and participate in the discussions.
Share your own experiences and tips with other members.

Attend Film Festival Industry Events

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Attending industry events will allow you to network with other filmmakers and learn about upcoming festivals.

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Research upcoming film festival industry events.
Purchase tickets to attend the events.
Attend the events and network with other filmmakers.

Mentor Emerging Filmmakers

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Mentoring others will help you solidify your own knowledge and give back to the filmmaking community.

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Reach out to emerging filmmakers and offer your mentorship.
Provide guidance and support to your mentees on film festival submission.
Attend film festivals with your mentees and provide feedback on their films.

Contribute to Open Source Film Festival Software

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Contributing to open source software will allow you to get involved in the film festival community and make a difference.

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Identify open source film festival software projects.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills.
Submit your contributions to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Film Festival Guide: Learn How To Submit Your Film Worldwide will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Film Festival Director

Directing a film festival involves organizing and managing a series of film screenings and related events, such as seminars, workshops, and parties. As a Film Festival Director, you would oversee all aspects of the festival, including selecting films, booking venues, and marketing the event. This course may be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to create a film festival strategy, submit films to festivals, and build relationships with filmmakers and other industry professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Festival Director

Film Programmer

Film Programmers are responsible for selecting the films that will be screened at a film festival. They work closely with the Film Festival Director to develop the festival's programming strategy and to ensure that the festival offers a diverse and engaging selection of films. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to evaluate films, identify emerging filmmakers, and negotiate with distributors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Programmer

Film Distributor

Film Distributors are responsible for getting films from the producers to the theaters and other venues where they will be screened. They work with filmmakers, theater owners, and other industry professionals to ensure that films are released in a timely and cost-effective manner. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to create a distribution plan, negotiate with exhibitors, and market films to audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Distributor

Film Sales Agent

Film Sales Agents are responsible for selling films to distributors and other buyers. They work with filmmakers to develop a sales strategy and to represent their films at film markets and other industry events. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to create a sales pitch, negotiate contracts, and build relationships with buyers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Sales Agent

Film Producer

Film Producers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of film production, from development to distribution. They work with writers, directors, actors, and other crew members to bring a film to life. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to develop a budget, schedule a production, and raise financing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Producer

Film Editor

Film Editors are responsible for assembling the footage shot by the cinematographer and other crew members into a coherent and visually appealing film. They work closely with the director to ensure that the film's pacing, rhythm, and tone are all in line with the director's vision. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to use editing software, create transitions, and add effects.

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Film Critic

Film Critics are responsible for writing reviews and articles about films. They attend film screenings, interview filmmakers, and analyze films to provide their opinions and insights to the public. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to write film reviews, conduct interviews, and research film history.

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Filmmaker

Filmmakers are responsible for creating films, from writing and directing to producing and editing. They work with a variety of crew members to bring their creative visions to life. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to write a screenplay, direct actors, and use film equipment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Filmmaker

Screenwriter

Screenwriters are responsible for writing the screenplays for films. They work closely with directors and producers to develop the story, characters, and dialogue for a film. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to write a screenplay, develop characters, and create dialogue.

See salaries and explore the career path for Screenwriter

Cinematographer

Cinematographers are responsible for the visual look of a film. They work with directors and other crew members to create the lighting, framing, and composition of each shot. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to use a camera, light a scene, and compose a shot.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cinematographer

Actor

Actors are responsible for bringing characters to life on screen. They work with directors and other actors to create believable and engaging performances. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to audition for roles, prepare for a performance, and work with other actors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actor

Film Marketing Manager

Film Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns for films. They work with distributors, exhibitors, and other industry professionals to ensure that films reach their target audiences. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to create a marketing plan, develop a media strategy, and measure the success of a campaign.

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Film Production Coordinator

Film Production Coordinators are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a film production. They work with producers, directors, and other crew members to ensure that filming runs smoothly and efficiently. This course may be useful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to create a production schedule, manage a budget, and coordinate with vendors.

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Film Archivist

Film Archivists are responsible for preserving and restoring films. They work in libraries, museums, and other institutions to ensure that films are preserved for future generations. This course may be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to identify and preserve different types of films, how to restore damaged films, and how to catalog and store films.

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Film Studies Professor

Film Studies Professors are responsible for teaching courses on film history, theory, and criticism. They work at colleges and universities to educate students about film as an art form and a cultural phenomenon. This course may be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role, such as how to develop a curriculum, lead a discussion, and write scholarly articles.

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