Film Festival question..
 

This may be a silly question but I have seen crazier things. I heard that certain big festivals prefer that a film premier at the festival and not be shown anywhere else. So if you had a short film and posted it online prior to entering it into a festival, could that cause an issue?

Re: Film Festival question..
 

Yes, if a festival found out and it was a requirement that hadn't been broadcast via the internet or other means. I'd tend to hold off doing the internet for at least the first year, you can do that any time, but it gives some value to the film festivals in screening your film. I know of films that lost out for their Oscar nomination because they'd been broadcast.

Also, you shouldn't hold back if the time scale to a big major festival requiring the premier is an unreasonable period in the future. The film mightn't get selected and you've eaten into the festival live of your film. I know of one film that lost out on distribution because the director wanted to hold out for one major festival.

Re: Film Festival question..
 

You could read the entry requirements for the specific festival that you are interested in!

Festival requirements vary greatly and it also depends on the catagory you are submitting to within a specific festival.