ADVICE FOR ENTERING FESTIVALS

THE PROCESS:

If you have never entered a festival before here is the process that your entry must go through. Firstly you send a preview copy of your production for the festival organizers to watch. This would normally be a VHS copy. Sometimes there is an entry fee which is sent with it - this is normally a small amount to cover costs. If they like your film they may request that you send a better format than VHS or the master or a film print so that the best quality will be shown. Some events also like to have additional items such as photographs or a synopsis.

EVENT CATEGORIES:

Film Competitions have prizes to award in various categories. The prize fund and the number of prize categories vary a great deal. These change in nature with the event and in keeping with a major sponsor, location, arts funding etc.
Film Screenings, Presentations or Showings are more of a chance just to get your work seen by other film makers. They are a good chance to meet people if you can get there. They therefore rarely have prizes or entry fees.
Film Festivals can be one or the other or somewhere in between.

THE PREVIEW TAPE:

Make sure that your VHS preview tape is a nice clean, unused tape - having it approximately the correct length (ie not putting a 5 minute film on a 180 tape), not only looks better but could save money on postage as well.
Make sure that you send it in the video format requested - PAL, NTSC or SECAM - don't assume anything.
Always label your tapes clearly as they can get separated from your other materials. If you can print a label on your computer using the 'Avery' type, pre-cut, stickers.
DVD can now be an easier alternative thanks to home burners.

VHS COVER:

Its always worth considering producing a VHS cover for your video with a DTP package. The extra cost of sending a boxed VHS through second class post is little. If you are sending your video abroad via air-mail the cost is noticably more. You can of course always send the cover as flat sheet, unboxed.

THE ONE-SHEET:

It is always useful to have a single side of A4 that accompanies your film.
Include details such as brief synopsis, cast details, crew list, funding - whatever is most unique and interesting about your project. Make sure to include any logos or statements that you have agreed to include on any publicity.

THE PACKAGE:

Always use the proper 'air bubbles' jiffy bag, as opposed to the felt-filled bag, when posting your video. Sometimes the bags can get slightly ripped and felt has been known to get into the videos.
Sending an entry fee is fine if the festival is in this country but becomes more difficult if it is abroard - mostly the USA. The main problem is the small amount that the entry fee costs! You can get an IMO (International Money Order) but this costs approximately UKP 7.00, a large amount if the entry fee is 10 dollars. My advice is to check with the festival organisers. After explaining the problem I have sometimes been let off the entry fee altogether, especially if they want more international entrants. Beyond that ask if you can send cash. I know that this is risky but I haven't had any trouble yet, putting the cash inside the VHS sleeve seems to help. By getting say 30 dollars in small US bills you can enter several US festivals for a very small commission.

POSTING IT:

Again the problems are in sending to extra-Europian destinations - mainly America. Always write Small Packet on your parcel. This indicates that the parcel is a personal rather than commercial package and is a couple of pounds cheaper. You will have to stick a small customs sticker on the package though. Write on that, and on the package itself, Video for Cultural Use or Video for Non-Commercial Purposes - this seems to stop delays and confusion at customs.

THAT'S IT

Good luck.

GET FESTIVAL INFO FROM:

Film Festivals.com - a list (too big sometimes) of every festival worldwide
Without-a-box - a new way of getting down on the paperwork via on-line form filling

TOP FESTIVALS - from BAFTA
AFI Fest - Los Angeles International Film Festival Aspen Shortsfest Berlin International Film Festival Brief Encounters: International Short Film Festival Brooklyn International Film Festival Cannes International Film Festival Chicago International Film Festival Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival Cork International Film Festival Edinburgh International Film Festival Filmfest Hamburg Flanders International Film Festival Göteborg Film Festival Karlovy Vary Los Angeles International Short Film Festival Mecal International Short Film Festival Melbourne International Film Festival Oberhausen International Short Film Festival Regus London Film Festival Reykjavik Short Film Festival Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival Rotterdam Film Festival San Sebastian International Film Fest Sao Paulo International Film Festival Short Expression: International Film Festival, Guanajuato Sundance Film Festival Sydney Film Festival Tampere International Short Film Festival Venice Film Festival	November April February November June May October January/February October August September October January/February July August September July/August May October September September/October January/February September October July January June March September

ALSO RECOMMENDED

Manhattan Film Festival - a shorts festival where the winner makes a feature (July)

Contact us on: films@projectorfilms.com
Copyright 2006 - Projector Films.





	Contact us on: films@projectorfilms.com		Copyright 2006 - Projector Films.