Submitting to festivals. at DVinfo.net

Jim Justice · October 24th, 2007, 08:19 PM

Are there standards or requirements as far as using intro test patterns, tones, countdowns, black screen time, etc when you submit to a festival on DV? Are they even required?
My first full length doc is done http://www.flatbrokeproductions.com/journal-news.htm and am submitting to our first festival...just want to make sure I am not missing something that is the basics of movie making 101

Lori Starfelt · October 24th, 2007, 10:15 PM

I've never heard of them being required. Most festivals will spell out their requirements loud and clear. Sounds like a cool documentary. Best of luck. Do you have a festival plan, or are you doing the basic seat-of-your-pants routine that most of us do?

Jim Justice · October 25th, 2007, 05:59 AM

ENTIRELY seat of the pants. I've never done anything of this magnitude that was festival worthy, but I feel this one is. I wouldn't even know where to begin to have a festival plan. I'm sure I will on the next one, and hope I dont screw something up on this one in the meantime because unfortunatley, experience is something you never have until after you need it.

Richard Alvarez · October 25th, 2007, 06:56 AM

Check out www.withoutabox.com Registration is free, and it's a great way to research and submit to festivals.

Most festivals will specify what format they will accept submissions in, and what format they require for screening. These may not be one and the same. Additionally, if you are submitting FILM, they will have requirements on how they want the film spooled. Most festivals will also indicated if they need a slate or leader on your submission. I typically label any discs with the Total Run Time (TRT) and whether or not there is bars, tones or slate at the lead.

Good luck!

Lori Starfelt · October 25th, 2007, 12:23 PM

You should be submitting to sales agents as well. Getting into a big festival is well nigh impossible on your own. Sundance got 7500 submissions last years for 60-something slots. If a sales agents picks up your feature, they will place copies of it with the programmers at the festivals that think are most likely to like the project. That's how they get you in. That, and the festivals like it when a film can afford to throw a big party, and that's the other thing the sales agents do.

If a sales agent doesn't pick your film up, start submitting to smaller festivals first. If you get into those, and you're well-received, you'll get invited to the bigger festivals.

Check with the Film Sales Corporation, and Emerging Features in New York.

October 24th, 2007, 08:19 PM	#1
Jim Justice Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 38	Submitting to festivals. Are there standards or requirements as far as using intro test patterns, tones, countdowns, black screen time, etc when you submit to a festival on DV? Are they even required? My first full length doc is done http://www.flatbrokeproductions.com/journal-news.htm and am submitting to our first festival...just want to make sure I am not missing something that is the basics of movie making 101

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October 24th, 2007, 10:15 PM	#2
Lori Starfelt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, california Posts: 228	I've never heard of them being required. Most festivals will spell out their requirements loud and clear. Sounds like a cool documentary. Best of luck. Do you have a festival plan, or are you doing the basic seat-of-your-pants routine that most of us do?

October 25th, 2007, 05:59 AM	#3
Jim Justice Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 38	ENTIRELY seat of the pants. I've never done anything of this magnitude that was festival worthy, but I feel this one is. I wouldn't even know where to begin to have a festival plan. I'm sure I will on the next one, and hope I dont screw something up on this one in the meantime because unfortunatley, experience is something you never have until after you need it.

October 25th, 2007, 06:56 AM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Check out www.withoutabox.com Registration is free, and it's a great way to research and submit to festivals. Most festivals will specify what format they will accept submissions in, and what format they require for screening. These may not be one and the same. Additionally, if you are submitting FILM, they will have requirements on how they want the film spooled. Most festivals will also indicated if they need a slate or leader on your submission. I typically label any discs with the Total Run Time (TRT) and whether or not there is bars, tones or slate at the lead. Good luck!

October 25th, 2007, 12:23 PM	#5
Lori Starfelt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, california Posts: 228	You should be submitting to sales agents as well. Getting into a big festival is well nigh impossible on your own. Sundance got 7500 submissions last years for 60-something slots. If a sales agents picks up your feature, they will place copies of it with the programmers at the festivals that think are most likely to like the project. That's how they get you in. That, and the festivals like it when a film can afford to throw a big party, and that's the other thing the sales agents do. If a sales agent doesn't pick your film up, start submitting to smaller festivals first. If you get into those, and you're well-received, you'll get invited to the bigger festivals. Check with the Film Sales Corporation, and Emerging Features in New York.