The weird world of Film Festivals

[ned c]

Today I received about 50 links to soon closing film festivals from Film Freeway, Of a quick sample of 15 only four reported the number of entries and the number selected for screening; these showed a consistent screening of 5% of entries. The largest had 2,000 entries the smallest 500; I must seriously wonder with a 2,000 entry how is this number effectively reviewed and the selections made? I read that Sundance would receive 6,000 entries in the short film category; how are 6,000 entries fairly previewed?

I know that in many festivals a number of films are pre-selected so limiting the opportunity for screening of the on-line entrant.

Every city; town and village now has a film festival with little transparency of how selections are made; how can we select a festival to enter with a chance of screening? Is this now a money making scam with us film makers footing the bill?

Full marks to BIAFF; I know of no other festival that gives written reviews and the process is openly discussed in the Forum.
ned c

[Dave Watterson]

Thanks, Ned.

We often make remarks like this ... but coming from someone now resident in the USA it has much greater weight.

I hope you will excuse me making the quick aside, that the UNICA Festival is in a special class, because pre-selection is done by each member country picking which films will represent them at that year's UNICA.

[Michael Slowe]

This thread is highly relevant to me as I do enter some festivals if I consider that there may be an opportunity to attend a screening. I am sure that Ned is correct in saying that these are money making events, if not quite a 'scam'. I have noticed that lately they have been offering discounts from their full entry price in an effort to tempt punters. Since my film 'Danny's Red Box' had some success in festivals, I have been receiving numerous invitations to enter the film in other events but this will be due to some clever software hunting for entries.

The figures quoting by Ned are quite amazing, as he asks the question as to how selections can fairly be made from 2,000 films. I imagine entries are circulated among selected people to view them and then suggest a certain number for further consideration.

Dave, I would love to enter films to UNICA but they only accept National entries don't they? I have had a couple included in the UK programme over the years but I would have liked to chance my arm more often.

[Dave Watterson]

Hi Michael

Yes, the UNICA Festival is a competition between the member countries, so each selects a programme of films to represent their land. Unfortunately there has always been a time limit per country, which makes it difficult or impossible to include long films. If that had not been so, more of your films would surely have been shown there.

I am not sure now whether many of the films by Jan Baca, the Catalan master film maker, would be included these days - purely on the basis of their length.

As for selection processes ... Ned has written on this forum about the way films are selected for the DOCUTAH festival ... and most of those are 50 minutes or longer.

[Michael Slowe]

Thanks Dave for this info.

Can I ask Ned, who is hopefully still 'listening', when is the next Docutah and what are the entry details?

[Albert Noble]

$50 entry fee is a bit stiff don't you think?

[ned c]

Hi Michael; www.docutah.com for the website; also on Film Freeway. The 2024 show is over; you can see details on the website. The originator of the Festival and head of the film school retired and a new head of the department appointed. He changed the method of evaluation and everything is now done within the film department. I no longer have any involvement other than as a member of the audience.
ned c

[ned c]

Just a quick note; DOCUTAH is a good Festival for documentary film makers. There are usually between 300 and 400 entries and between 50 and 60 will be screened; a good percentage. Also; come to the Festival; this a remarkable area with five National Parks within driving distance.
ned c

[Dave Watterson]

How much pleasure can a film maker get from having her/his film selected by many festivals, if there is no chance for them to attend?

[Simon Sumner]

Laurels?

[Michael Slowe]

Dave, in answer to your question "very little if any". Laurels are meaningless because they are not worth adding to a film if it's already "printed" and circulated. Attending a screening is very worthwhile if firstly, one has a film selected and secondly, if the event is in the UK.

[Michael Slowe]

Ned, the Docutah site looks amazing. How can one see some of the films, they look really interesting?

[Albert Noble]

Regarding if one needs to be present when your film is shown.....
If you write a published book or paint a picture and it's hung in a gallery,
you will never meet the 'audience' for your work.
The satisfaction is you have shown people you will never meet your work and hope that your work gave them some pleasure or food for thought.

I take this view with all my works. Poetry, Table Top photography, Mechanical TV etc and animated film.

I get thousands of hits each year on my website showing these works and
have never been present when someone takes a look.
But I am well satisfied.

[fraught]

I have known of big name festivals that charge lots of cash for you to submit your film, only to have never watched your film when they reject it and still keep the entrance fee. I won't name names, but I will not submit anything I make to those fests anymore.

I have worked on a couple of festivals in the past as Head Judge or Submissions Coordinator, and I have always ensured that every film submitted is seen by at least 3 people. In fact I have always used the way BIAFF is judged as a gold standard, then tweaked it.

BIAFF is an absolute jewel in the crown when it comes to how films are looked after when submitted. I know a lot us moan and gripe about it at times, but considering the competition of other festivals that are out there... BIAFF provides an unbeatable service to the filmmakers.

[Howard-Smith]

Geoff, I wish you WOULD name names regarding festivals which reject films without even watching them whilst retaining the entry fee. This is thoroughly reprehensible behaviour from money-grabbing fraudsters, money that I personally can ill-afford to lose.