The easiest part of making your film may have been finishing it. The hardest part could be deciding where to submit it.
The next challenge is navigating the film festival circuit, a process that can be exciting, confusing, expensive, and, if you’re not careful, disappointing. Thousands of festivals are listed on FilmFreeway, ranging from world-renowned events to small local showcases. While many are professionally run and offer genuine opportunities, not every listing will be the right fit for your film.
One of the biggest mistakes I see filmmakers make is assuming that every festival deserves equal consideration. It doesn’t. Submitting strategically is far more effective than submitting widely.
That means learning how to read between the lines:
- What does a festival’s wording actually tell you?
- Are the promises realistic?
- Is there evidence of an engaged audience?
- Does the event have a genuine history of supporting filmmakers
- Is it simply collecting submission fees?
These are the questions I began asking after years of submitting films, running festivals, and speaking with filmmakers around the world. The result is my new book, Reading the Warning Signs on FilmFreeway.
Rather than naming and shaming individual festivals, the book examines recurring patterns, common marketing language, and practical warning signs that can help filmmakers make more informed submission decisions. The goal isn’t to tell you where to submit; it’s to help you understand why you should (or shouldn’t).
Whether you’re submitting your very first student short or planning a professional festival strategy, a little research before you click ‘Submit’ can save you time, money and frustration.
If you’d like to learn more, you can find the book here:
I hope it helps you spend less, submit smarter, and get your films in front of an audience that really matters to you.
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