Distribution : Does anyone know the key things that Shorts festivals look for in a film? by Melody Brooke

You can see our trailers for our shots at http://awakenedheartproductions.com

your link isn't working....

She has some great advice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut3-efO2O7w and I really like her book. http://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Make-Short-Film/dp/1401309542

There are a lot of variables when it comes to submitting shorts to fests. First off, the short film market is SATURATED. Unless you have a unique and absolutely incredible short, you don't have much luck getting into the premiere short fests. However, if your short is solid and plays to a certain genre or topic, horror, sic-fi, etc or a particular issue LGTB, etc. then it should be easier (not easy) to get into very specific notable fests. There really is no Key. It all depends on your meesage, which fests you apply to, and what your goals are.

What does it mean "the short film market is saturated" ? I don't understand these words. No the market is not saturated. The truth is that everyone knows that the audio-visual world is a closed world and whoever who doesn't belong to this closed clan, this closed cast, has practically no chance of winning awards, even if he submits masterpiece. That's a pity and a shame. Melody, if you think your film is good then go ahead, chose the right festivals and you'll succeed

They look for your entry fee.

Yes Patrick it's true ! But also you have to select which festivals should be likely to be more interested by your film because most festivals have preferred subjects and styles. Before submitting one film it's better to do an inquiry

Melody, while I have never been on the programming committee for a festival I have been on the selection process for several. Glenn is correct; the sheer amount of short films submitted to each festival is overwhelming. Length is very important. You don't say what the length is but that may be a factor. Also five rejections isn't unusual. You should enter 30. I also recommend makers of short films go to film festivals and see the short films that are programmed. Subject matter is an issue when it comes down to the final choices. Very often the selection committee will send five or six recommended films to fill one open slot - the programmer then picks the one that best fits the overall program. BTW - you transposed the "P" and the "T" in your website link "hearPTroductions" which is why people can't just click on it.

Melody, The formula for getting into film festivals has long been sought by filmmakers, so you're not alone. Probably the most important thing is for you to research every festival before you submit to them. Get a feel for the genres, styles, and lengths of films that the festival typically screens, and for the overall vibe of the festival. You can usually do that on their website or discussion boards. But there isn't any one-size-fits-all formula, and there are plenty of factors at the festivals that aren't under your control. In conversations with filmmakers over the years, I've found that the average festival submission/acceptance ratio is about 10:1.

Yes I agree with Jay, I wrote about the same comment. Concerning the "ratio 10:1" I don't know because the first film I ever sent to a festival (in France) was selected and awarded but maybe I was lucky...

Length is a bigger factor than people realize. I was honestly surprised when a longer short that I shot made it into so many (we thought it was great, but we made it :P). There's only so much time in each block - and the screeners have to fit in that time. A hot topic done well, or emotional classic. Newness. Production values. How well the material is handled.

Hi Melody, there are many many good piece of advise, up there. Usually the filmmakers who don't get in festivals, hates the jury and they say there should be kind of plotting, etc. But I have been many times in festival jury and (the worst) in preselection committee. You can't imagine how many bad films are out there. Even a small festival receive 500 short, ten-fifteen minutes long... So when you write or edit your film, you should think that some people will watch it in between 200-200 films. So you should be very effective. Get the attention very quick and have it until the end of the film. AND HAVE LUCK! :))

5 fests is nothing. I have heard 10 to 1 from other filmmakers who have done the film festival circuit successfully. Plus are yuo submitting to the right festivals?

Absolutely agree with the ratio idea. Have to submit to 30 to 50 fests. One of my films was rejected by something like 25 fests before someone from Slamdance fell in love with it and took it. Length too is important, even fests that say they'll take 20 minute shorts are reserving those slots for name directors or the truly exceptional. Keep it short. Be selective, do not go Clermont-Ferrand / Karlovy Vary / Berlin / Venice and expect to make it; go small, research the films that fest took last year. Also a critical element is attending a fest once accepted. You'd be amazed at how many programmers are there, even at small ones. Network like crazy.

I agree with the following words of Guiness : "Be selective, do not go Clermont-Ferrand / Karlovy Vary / Berlin / Venice and expect to make it; go small", I think he's right with that comment

I would say it depends on how 'short' the short is. I was once told that fest look for obvious story and quality, but also to how many then can screen. If your short is 30 mins, they could screen 6 five min shorts in that time. There are lots and lots of factors. Research is key, but so is the story and time element.

Great info. We submitted to shorts festivals from NYC to Tulsa, OK. Both of our shorts are about 12 minutes long. They have great production values and story lines. What they don't have is an arty feel with huge twists at the end. Which I have been told, they look for. We produced them with feature film quality and great, passionate stories. Any suggestions for specific festivals that might be looking for a female produced, drama and romantic comedy?

Good question melody. Yes there exist international specific festivals for films directed by women, and each time I receive advertising for such festival I throw the message in the basket ! (because I'm not woman !) So if you're interested in that kind of specific festival I'll try to find some names and links and send them to you. See you soon !

Melody, if you can think of any other niches that you film will fit into that might also help. Does your film address any human rights issues? Women's issues? Is it experimental, avant-garde, comedy, coming of age, spiritual? Does it have a sub genre? These considerations can also help you narrow down good fests to submit to. You might also look at fests in your area or in your state. Many have a special award category for films made close to home. If you go to withoutabox and click on their search link, you'll find an advanced search link where you can really narrow down your list of potential film fests.

Melody I promised to look for for some ideas of specific festivals for women and indeed I found some ideas : you can try the following link : http://www.festivalfocus.org/index.php and if you write in the "Site Search" window (at the top left) for example the word "female" then you'll see some festivals specifically for women directors, like the "Female Eye Film Festival" (Woodbridge, Canada), "Female Shorts: Film & Video Showcase" (Alexandria, United States), "International Female Film Festival" (Malmö, Sweden). I hope these few ideas will help you. Good luck.

Melody I think that you can thank Persephone for the great link she gave you !

Yes to the previous. Submit only to festivals that would fit the material: Women oriented material, etc. Check out the Moondance Festival for next year. That's the one I know and have entered.

But in fact I think that women may submit also to classical festivals because I don't like discrimination. Why should there exist specific festivals (or any else) for women only or for men only of for children only or for black or white people only ? I don't understand the reason... Cinema and art is for all the people (men & women, black & white...)

LOL then a company doing a Women's festival in D/FW emailed me and asked me to submit to their festival... a new one... hopefully they will pick it. She liked them.

I wish you all the success !

And while you're submitting your current project, move forward on the next one. Don't sit around hoping that this one short will do the trick. If you have/can find money, budget what you need to get into five more festivals (after very carefully evaluating yours for targeting specific fests), and then on to the next.

Yes Robin, what you say is right and wise, I have quite the same opinion. Also I think a film-maker should select his preferred festivals when he has experimented them

Rejected by 5 festivals is nothing!!!! Keep trying! Make sure it is a festival that is suited for your film! Start with the smaller newer festivals like We Like Em Short in Oregon.

Just found out we are an official selection of Bare Bones Festival in Tulsa, OK!

Congratulations for your success melody !

maybe try this: https://www.withoutabox.com

and let me know what you find out. I'm preparing to shoot a short and tour it as well.

Your Short needs to have no fat on it whatsoever. And Three Acts to it as well.

Hello Melody ! My only answer is that you're an artist so nobody may tell you the truth, only you know what kind of story you wish to make and the only advice I wish to say is to make all your films with heart and soul. Don't listen to the "film scientists", go ahead and make the film that you really want to make, no matter if it's up to date or old fashioned. Oh I precise for all the "great film-makers who pretend to have the truth" that I don't need either "wise" advice nor a morality on their behalf, I'm professional, I was internationally awarded and I cooperate for my films with great music groups. Melody, if you make your films without official "help" and with your entire desire, strength, love, heart and soul you'll please and you'll be appreciated by true festivals.

Festivals are a rip off. Only exist to make money for the people who run them.

Yes Patrick, a lot of film festivals have their main preference for making money, so don't submit your film to those festivals. There's a lot of FF that doesn't ask for a fee. And yes, those festivals are crowded but if you make it in the 10:1 ratio, then you can expect some passion in return. So Melody, I think you can find in those film festivals a better place to send your work

Just make your movies with sincerity, with heart & soul and the audience (festival jury or not, it doesn't matter) will like your work. I'm sure the next future (no in fact the present) of the cinema & the art in general is on the web, not in classical festivals which are too expensive & too academic. It's up to you Melody.

I discovered filmfly.net... so I was able to submit to a LOT of festivals for a small amount of $... a lot of free ones and a larger listing with more information than withoutabox

Thanks for your message Melody. You say "filmfly.net" ? Interesting, I don't know this site, it may be cool for indie film-makers. In any case good luck for your submissions