Tips for Successful Festival Submissions:
General:
- make sure you correctly enter and verify all your details before uploading or sending off your submission.
- don't wait to the last minute to submit.
- if your contact details change after you submit, send a brief email update.
- don't send any other updates or inquiries about your submission, unless you have already heard from the festival that they are interested - it won't help your chances of getting accepted.
- if you have questions, make sure you checked out the information on the festival's website before sending off an inquiry. Chances are, the answer to your question is already out there.
- courier services may not deliver to PO boxes. Use mailing services provided by the post office instead.
Feature Film Submissions:
- submit your finished film in its best form, with full sound mix, titles and color correction. People do understand what a rough cut is, and will take into consideration that it is a work in progress, but a finished print/DVD copy wil always be your better option.
- make sure you will be able to provide a screening version at the time of the festival when you submit.
- make sure you have artwork, cast and main filmmaker photos, etc. ready when you submit, so that you can fully promote your work should it get accepted.
- don't send your screeners in fibre filled padded envelopes. They often break open and make DVDs or tapes unusable. Use air-bubble or other type packaging instead.
Screenplay Submissions:
- submit your best version, a polished, final draft of your work.
- check the spelling. Nothing is more distracting in a screenplay than lousy spelling.
- make sure the screenplay is correctly formatted to industry standards. If you are not sure what the industry standards are, check out one many guides available on the subject.
- make sure your character names and locations remain consistent throughout, expecially when they have changed throughout the re-write process. Double check before submitting.
- don't re-submit later, corrected versions, additional pages. Nobody will have the time to read them.
- print a correctly formatted version, on 3-hole letter size paper, held to gether by a top and bottom brass fastener (the middle hole is left open for ease of handling). If you are submitting from overseas, copies printed on A4 size paper are fine.
- don't use spiral bindings, staples, clips, etc. if you can avoid it. If submitting from overseas, other types of binding are fine. Ringbinder or other bulky type bindings are to be avoided.
- submit with your name and address on the cover, but without artwork or other additions. The writing has to speak for itself - if not, re-write your work until it does.
Unions & Organizations
SAG
Indie
WGA
DGA
PGA
AFI
Agents and Agencies
CAA
WMA
ICM
UTA
Studios
Warner
Disney
Sony
Fox
NBC/UNI
Paramount
Mini-Majors
Weinstein
Co
Yari
Group
Lionsgate
Independents
IFC
Killer Films
Greene Street
Triboro
Trades
Variety
Hollywod Reporter
Screen International
Suppliers
Kodak
Fuji
Panavision
Arri
Technicolor
DuArt