Film Festivals and Short Films at DVinfo.net

Silas Barker · October 31st, 2011, 10:22 PM

Hey guys,
I have spent the last year making and attempting to make the highest quality short film I have ever made so far. I have sent out to about 18 film festivals and I just wondered if any of you had had any positive experiences with film festivals etc. I would be happy if its selected any even just a few festivals after all the work that has gone into it. Check out the trailer and what film festivals on my website here: PERSPECTIVE short film by Silas Barker

Also, I shot the short film on the Canon 5d markii and the Sony EX1r.
Its 16:30 minutes long and is a sci-fi thriller type of film.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Hopefully this is the right place for this thread, if not hopefully it will be moved to the correct place.

Dylan Couper · November 3rd, 2011, 12:18 PM

Sure, happy to help. Spent loads of time sending stuff through the festival pipe, some with great success, other times just burning money. :)

1) CONGRATS! Most filmmakers never even get to that point.

2) Drop everything and go buy the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide - Chris Gore. Seriously, right now. Don't spend another second doing anything with festivals till you do.

3) The success of getting into film festivals goes up the smaller the festival you apply to. Just ballparking it, but for me, maybe 1 in 20 submissions got into a known festival (TriBeCa, SXSW, Sundance - not that I ever got into Sundance...), 1 in 10 into a not "known" but decent size (larger filmy cities, Vancouver, Seattle, etc...) and maybe 1 in 5ish to an unknown fetival (Cherry Pie & Shot Film Festival of Pumphandle Idaho, the DV Challenge)... etc...

4) Festival programmers pick films based more on themes and categories rather than film quality. It's f--king infuriating when you go to a festival that didn't accept you and watch a bunch of crap that fit their "films about rocking chairs" theme. Seriously. :)

Silas Barker · November 3rd, 2011, 04:44 PM

Cool, Thanks for the input!

I ve already entered it into about 18 film festivals, but I think I might get that book. Do you have any trailers or full length videos of any of yours that made it into the festivals? Or website?

Once you were in, did it do anything as far as maybe helping your business or impressing your clients or even being contacted by the big boys at a hollywood studio or anything?

Thanks!
Silas

Dylan Couper · November 3rd, 2011, 10:25 PM

I don't have anything that went the festival route online, mostly due to laziness.

And for question 2, absolutely not a thing, no. Though to be fair that was never my intention.

Lorinda Norton · November 7th, 2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan Couper

...(Cherry Pie & Shot Film Festival of Pumphandle Idaho, the DV Challenge)... :)

Ha ha! Now, you stop picking on my home state, Dylan! Of course, you did include your own DVC in the same category. ;)

By interesting coincidence, some guys from my high school days just won best feature film at the Louisiana Int'l Film Festival with a movie they shot right here at home. Soda Springs - It's never to late to be what you might have been

Good looking trailer, Silas. Best of luck to you!

Dylan Couper · November 8th, 2011, 10:22 PM

Heh, normally I reference Pumphandle Iowa, but changed it to Idaho to see if you'd notice. :)

Silas Barker · November 19th, 2011, 04:14 PM

Alright! Pretty Stoked, we made it into the Trail Dance Film Festival!!

Next question is this...if you attend or not....does that affect your chances of getting any awards or anything?

Also check out the newer better trailer!

Perspective Film | Facebook

PERSPECTIVE short film by Silas Barker

We hear back on Dec 5th regarding Sundance, and Dec 16th for Slamdance!

Brian Drysdale · November 20th, 2011, 03:52 AM

Being there doesn't seem to make a difference at festival, the judges usually don't know who's there. Of course, this applies to the festivals worth being in.

Silas Barker · November 20th, 2011, 07:13 PM

I thought I ve heard before that if they were going to give an award out and you were nt there then it would go to the next best film...but I don't have any film festival experience....

Which festivals would you say are worth being in Brian?

Check out my trailer and the list of festivals I ve entered here:

PERSPECTIVE short film by Silas Barker

Brian Drysdale · November 21st, 2011, 03:55 AM

The film looks really stylish.

I haven't entered a film for a while, but those listed look like good ones to enter, Some festivals specialise in certain types of films, so you need to check that out. The main thing I found about the US festivals is to enter early to keep the fees down.

You could also try some European or Australian festivals.

It's worth going to the festivals if you can, you always meet new people. I got invites to a few, but the travel costs do add up, although they often have free accommodation at the festival for invited filmmakers..

Dylan Couper · November 27th, 2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silas Barker

I thought I ve heard before that if they were going to give an award out and you were nt there then it would go to the next best film...but I don't have any film festival experience....

Nope.

Quote:

Which festivals would you say are worth being in Brian?

You haven't bought Ultmiate Film Festival Survival guide yet, have you... :) It has lists of every "worthy" festival by all kinds of categories, from animated to gay to horror.

As Brian says, it's worth going to a festival if you can, not for the networking or parties (you can crash any festival to do this) but just to see your work on a big screen in front of a real audience who has paid to be there. Nothing like it, worth every penny to do it at least once.

Silas Barker · December 1st, 2011, 01:34 PM

LOL Well I already entered the film festivals so the book probably wont be much good now lol

Now its just whether or not its worth it to travel out to the film festivals.

I showed the film to about 150 people and also took a poll rating the following areas, here is what I got:
(From 1 to 5).

How was the Story? 3.36
How was the Acting? 3.09
How was the Dialog? 3.00
Cinematography? 4.55
Visual Effects? 4.45
Sound? (Sound Effects and Soundtrack) 4.64
How was the film overall? 3.82

I am guessing that since I was so focused on the cinematography (thats what I do) that I did not provide enough direction for the actors...so that's something I need to work on for next time!

Brian Drysdale · December 1st, 2011, 01:43 PM

Films have a festival life of 2 or 3 years, so you don't necessarily enter all the festivals during the first year of this.

Silas Barker · December 1st, 2011, 02:04 PM

Ah good point. Is the book still up to date? I know film fests must change a lot threw the years

It would be really cool to show you guys the film, I'll see about getting it online sometime for you guys to critique!

Tim Kay · January 9th, 2012, 03:33 AM

What's your ultimate goal when it comes to making a short ? So many excellent shorts end up going nowhere. In La the old motto was everyone had a script in their back pocket. Now it's who hasn't been in a 'webisode' or short. Not saying yours isn't great, but having a plan and target can save you a lot of money and time !

October 31st, 2011, 10:22 PM	#1
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Film Festivals and Short Films Hey guys, I have spent the last year making and attempting to make the highest quality short film I have ever made so far. I have sent out to about 18 film festivals and I just wondered if any of you had had any positive experiences with film festivals etc. I would be happy if its selected any even just a few festivals after all the work that has gone into it. Check out the trailer and what film festivals on my website here: PERSPECTIVE short film by Silas Barker Also, I shot the short film on the Canon 5d markii and the Sony EX1r. Its 16:30 minutes long and is a sci-fi thriller type of film. Thanks in advance for your input! Hopefully this is the right place for this thread, if not hopefully it will be moved to the correct place.

November 3rd, 2011, 12:18 PM	#2
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films Sure, happy to help. Spent loads of time sending stuff through the festival pipe, some with great success, other times just burning money. :) 1) CONGRATS! Most filmmakers never even get to that point. 2) Drop everything and go buy the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide - Chris Gore. Seriously, right now. Don't spend another second doing anything with festivals till you do. 3) The success of getting into film festivals goes up the smaller the festival you apply to. Just ballparking it, but for me, maybe 1 in 20 submissions got into a known festival (TriBeCa, SXSW, Sundance - not that I ever got into Sundance...), 1 in 10 into a not "known" but decent size (larger filmy cities, Vancouver, Seattle, etc...) and maybe 1 in 5ish to an unknown fetival (Cherry Pie & Shot Film Festival of Pumphandle Idaho, the DV Challenge)... etc... 4) Festival programmers pick films based more on themes and categories rather than film quality. It's f--king infuriating when you go to a festival that didn't accept you and watch a bunch of crap that fit their "films about rocking chairs" theme. Seriously. :) __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

November 3rd, 2011, 04:44 PM	#3
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films Cool, Thanks for the input! I ve already entered it into about 18 film festivals, but I think I might get that book. Do you have any trailers or full length videos of any of yours that made it into the festivals? Or website? Once you were in, did it do anything as far as maybe helping your business or impressing your clients or even being contacted by the big boys at a hollywood studio or anything? Thanks! Silas

November 3rd, 2011, 10:25 PM	#4
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films I don't have anything that went the festival route online, mostly due to laziness. And for question 2, absolutely not a thing, no. Though to be fair that was never my intention. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

November 8th, 2011, 10:22 PM	#6
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films Heh, normally I reference Pumphandle Iowa, but changed it to Idaho to see if you'd notice. :) __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

November 19th, 2011, 04:14 PM	#7
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films Alright! Pretty Stoked, we made it into the Trail Dance Film Festival!! Next question is this...if you attend or not....does that affect your chances of getting any awards or anything? Also check out the newer better trailer! Perspective Film \| Facebook PERSPECTIVE short film by Silas Barker We hear back on Dec 5th regarding Sundance, and Dec 16th for Slamdance!

November 20th, 2011, 03:52 AM	#8
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films Being there doesn't seem to make a difference at festival, the judges usually don't know who's there. Of course, this applies to the festivals worth being in.

November 20th, 2011, 07:13 PM	#9
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films I thought I ve heard before that if they were going to give an award out and you were nt there then it would go to the next best film...but I don't have any film festival experience.... Which festivals would you say are worth being in Brian? Check out my trailer and the list of festivals I ve entered here: PERSPECTIVE short film by Silas Barker

November 21st, 2011, 03:55 AM	#10
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films The film looks really stylish. I haven't entered a film for a while, but those listed look like good ones to enter, Some festivals specialise in certain types of films, so you need to check that out. The main thing I found about the US festivals is to enter early to keep the fees down. You could also try some European or Australian festivals. It's worth going to the festivals if you can, you always meet new people. I got invites to a few, but the travel costs do add up, although they often have free accommodation at the festival for invited filmmakers..

December 1st, 2011, 01:34 PM	#12
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films LOL Well I already entered the film festivals so the book probably wont be much good now lol Now its just whether or not its worth it to travel out to the film festivals. I showed the film to about 150 people and also took a poll rating the following areas, here is what I got: (From 1 to 5). How was the Story? 3.36 How was the Acting? 3.09 How was the Dialog? 3.00 Cinematography? 4.55 Visual Effects? 4.45 Sound? (Sound Effects and Soundtrack) 4.64 How was the film overall? 3.82 I am guessing that since I was so focused on the cinematography (thats what I do) that I did not provide enough direction for the actors...so that's something I need to work on for next time!

December 1st, 2011, 01:43 PM	#13
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films Films have a festival life of 2 or 3 years, so you don't necessarily enter all the festivals during the first year of this.

December 1st, 2011, 02:04 PM	#14
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films Ah good point. Is the book still up to date? I know film fests must change a lot threw the years It would be really cool to show you guys the film, I'll see about getting it online sometime for you guys to critique!

January 9th, 2012, 03:33 AM	#15
Tim Kay Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SF & LA Posts: 195	Re: Film Festivals and Short Films What's your ultimate goal when it comes to making a short ? So many excellent shorts end up going nowhere. In La the old motto was everyone had a script in their back pocket. Now it's who hasn't been in a 'webisode' or short. Not saying yours isn't great, but having a plan and target can save you a lot of money and time ! __________________ Event Production Services \| Video Production San Francisco