In recent days, I have received several messages from blog followers asking me about the best short film distribution strategy to start promoting a short film. Taking advantage of these messages, I have compiled some of the most visited posts, although many of them are generalist in nature and not specialized in short films.
To organize them, I have divided this post into two parts: on the one hand, strategies to start with distribution, and on the other, those we can consider if we have already premiered it. Keep in mind that short film distribution involves more phases and considerations, as you will see in the content of these articles.
Additionally, I have structured it by topic, so you can read it more easily:
#1 Starting with the short film distribution strategy
Class A Festivals
One of the first considerations we usually have are Class A festivals, where most require an international or world premiere. Last Saturday, August 12, the Locarno Film Festival concluded, one of the best options for the world premiere of short films.
In this post, you can see the Class A festivals that accept short films:
Short Film Distribution Strategy at Class A Festivals
I published this other one in March, about the best strategy to start distributing at these festivals from the beginning of the year:
Class A Festivals to Start Your Short Film Distribution Strategy
National Premiere and Distribution Strategy in Spain
We must also consider the national premiere; here you can see three premiere options in Spain for short film distribution:
National Premiere Festival Strategy in Short Film Distribution
Nationally, last year I also published some posts about the strategy to reach the Goya Awards:
Strategy for National Festivals for the 2018 Goya Awards starting in January
Strategy for National Festivals for the 2018 Goya Awards
Oscar Awards
When we start promoting a short film, we also consider the festival strategy that qualifies for the Oscar awards. Although these posts feature dates from last year, they remain valid:
Oscar-Qualifying Festivals with “Early Deadline” Open Between August and September
and others where you can download festival lists sorted by deadline:
New Oscar-Qualifying Short Film Festivals
If you have doubts about submitting your short film to the Oscars, in this post I explain the three ways to do it:
How to Participate with Your Short Film in the Oscar Awards
Other Premiere Festivals
There are also a series of festivals with different premiere requirements that are worth considering in this initial phase:
6 Short Film Premiere Festivals for January
In addition to world and international premieres, there are cities where we must also pay attention to the premiere, especially in New York:
New York Festival Premiere Strategy
#2 We are already in the full distribution process
If you have already premiered your short film and are in a more intensive distribution phase, I have published several posts classified by month, with different types of requirements and categories.
These articles are more generalist and are not only specialized in short films:
Strategies by genre and month
5 Fantasy Film Festivals Closing Submissions Between April and May
5 Animation Festivals Closing Submissions in June
LGBT Festivals Closing Submissions Between July and August
6 Festivals for Film School Distribution Strategy
Documentary Festivals
I have dedicated several articles to documentary distribution strategy, where duration is not as important, and you can consider them whether you have a short, medium-length, or feature film:
Documentary Festivals: 5 Proposals for June That Do Not Require a Premiere
7 Documentary Film Festivals with Open Submissions (includes world and international premiere festivals)
Documentary Festival Strategy Post-International Premiere
Festivals Without Submission Fees
Internationally, it is increasingly difficult to find festivals with free submission, which is why in this post I have compiled some festivals that have no submission fees, charges, or platform costs:
6 Festivals Without Submission Fees Closing Soon
Festivals by Country
In this phase, these two posts can also help you: one about international festivals in France and another about festivals without submission fees:
5 International French Short Film Festivals
7 Festivals in the United States with Open Submissions on “Early Deadline”
To conclude
This is a lot of information for a single post, but I hope it is useful, whether you are about to start promoting your short film or are already in distribution.
You can consult it at any time, as most of these festivals do not tend to change their dates much.
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
How is your short film distribution going? Have you planned a strategy in advance? Are you happy with the result?