Independent Producers Guide to the Rules for Film Festival Entries

Film competition regulations vary, especially when it comes to the individual rules for film festival entries and what filmmakers must provide along with their submissions in order for their film to be considered for the event. As an independent film producer, it’s very important for you to familiarize yourself with the particular rules for film festival entries which apply to the specific festival locations and categories for which you intend to submit your film in.

Knowing the general eligibility requirements and exactly what must be submitted along with your film project when entering a film festival is not only going to expedite your submission process. But may also help you to prepare to win.

General Eligibility Requirements

Before considering a film festival submission? You’re going to need to establish whether or not you meet the general eligibility requirements set forth by the festival provider.

Every film festival is going to have their own eligibility requirements or rules for producers to follow. It’s all part of how these festivals operate. 

New Entries

As a general rule, most film festivals require that the film entries have not previously been submitted to the festival and reviewed in the past.

They ask that you not submit a film that was already previously submitted. So as to prevent festivals from an overload of submissions that are repeats from past festivals. As this would likely result in lower engagement from festival goers who come to see new content each year. 

Some festivals will allow entries that were previously entered and not selected. Specifically, they will usually ask that the filmmaker only resubmit their film if they have made substantial alterations to the project since the previous rejection.

Specifications

Many further state that it is very rare to select a film after it has been rejected in the past.

The rules for film festival entries may further specify that films must have been produced in the previous 12-months or a term relatively close to that.

Such as “since the past festival” but not always. In fact, it’s quite common for general rule to state that submissions must not be more than 2 years old.

Submission Categories

Each film festival will have guidelines and rules for film festival entries in regards to the categories that you are submitting your project to. It’s quite common for a film festival to have unique submission categories.

Some will be very general. Such as short films and feature films. But most will have genre specific categories or various other means of categorization.

For example, many film festivals will have submission categories. Such as documentaries, narratives, international films, animated films, comedies, and various others. 

Consider This

In addition to the typical categories that we’ve come to recognize from film festivals. Many festivals now include categories for things. Like web series, episodic shorts, and even immersive media projects.

Keep in mind that specialty category submissions, such as those into an immersive media category, may have additional rules beyond those for general category submissions into the film festival.

It’s very important for the filmmaker to be aware of the unique, category specific, submission rules. Which apply to the festival and project category that they are entering. To ensure they are entering the correct category and are following the guidelines of that particular category.

Timing and Deadlines for Entries

As the rules for film festival entries go, most will have a very specific timeline of events for filmmakers to follow in regards to submission deadlines and other steps of the process.

While most festivals will allow submissions well in advance of the judging, they do generally cut-off submissions several weeks (and sometimes a few months) before the festival takes place. 

There are benefits, of course, to submitting early. Although an early submission has no real benefit on the actual judging of your work. Early entries do typically cost less than a later submission would.

Timing

In fact, in many cases, an early submission will result in significantly lower submission fees. But will bear no impact on how judges evaluate your submission.

Keep in mind that there are usually early, regular, and late deadlines. Each could add an extension at any time. But the final submission deadline will rarely have an extension.

Unless the film festival dates are adjust along with the submission deadlines. Most final festival submission deadlines are approximately 6-12 weeks prior to the actual event.

Status of Production

As a general rule, submissions will usually have to be finished productions. In order to submit an entry into a film festival. But not always! The status of the production should be “ready for distribution” or very close to that point when you submit.

Some festivals will accept “rough cuts” or “works in progress”. But keep in mind that not all festivals will allow such submission. And in the event that such a submission is allowed, the project must generally be scheduled for completion prior to the actual festival taking place.

Rough Cut Submissions

Many film festivals require that rough cut submissions be a certain percentage complete or have a finial post-production scheduled deadline that is several weeks prior to the event to allow judges adequate time to review the submissions once finished.

As a general rule, it’s best to submit rough cuts that have the full duration of footage prepared and are just missing the finishing touches such as special effects, incomplete sound, missing scenes or no credits.

In submitting a rough cut version that is near complete the filmmaker has the greatest possible chance for the reviewing party to grasp the creative direction of the original project.

Incomplete Submissions 

When submitting your festival entry, it’s important to make sure that you carefully follow all of the rules and requirements. Incomplete submissions can not only result in your project acceptance having a substantial delay.

There is a risk that the festival will not accept your project for submission at all if you do not submit a full, and complete, entry. There are a number of elements involved in submitting your entry for inclusion.

Things like failure to pay the submission fee, or failure to review all qualifications for your submission. To ensure you meet those qualifications before submitting can result in your project being denied entry.

Or in a delay in acceptance as the reviewer attempts to communicate with you the additional requirements to complete your project submission.

The Takeaway

It’s important to answer all of the questions that are on your submission application. And to include any required documentation, payments for fees, or other needs so as not to have your submission be rendered incomplete.

Submissions that remain incomplete at the final submission deadline are likely to be rejected for most film festivals.

As you can see, there are many different rules for film festival entries that must be followed. In order to ensure timely acceptance and review of your film project.

Following all deadlines, procedures, and individually specified submission guidelines for the film festival that you’re entering is not only encouraged. But warranted in order to secure your spot in the competition!