This past weekend I was at Donosskino, the new Donosti Short Film Festival, created this year by the Kristonkino collective. On Saturday, I gave a workshop on distribution at Tabakalera, and among the topics we discussed were festival entry fees and how to manage them.
Fees are one of the most significant changes we are experiencing these years; they have always existed in the United States and are now developing rapidly in Europe and Spain, where just a few years ago they practically did not exist.
When we start distributing a film, one of the most complicated issues is knowing which festivals are worth paying fees for, which will always depend on our budget. For this reason, lately, I have been reviewing festivals with entry fees in the United States that are worth entering and currently have the early deadline open:
#1 Slamdance Film Festival
The most independent alternative to Sundance, held on the same dates in Park City, from January 18 to 25. It has its first deadline on July 17 with a price of $40. Short films must have a maximum duration of 40 minutes; beyond this, they are considered feature films, so medium-length films can participate. In this case, the price is $50. Registration can be done through their own form, by sending a DVD, or via the Withoutabox platform.
#2 Nashville Film Festival
At the end of this month, on July 28, the Nashville Festival closes, which has a price of $35 for short films. It has many other sections, such as documentaries, music films, experimental, etc. It is held from April 20 to 29. Registration can be done through Filmfreeway and Withoutabox.
#3 Ann Arbor Film Festival
Moving into August, the Ann Arbor festival closes its first deadline on August 1. For short films with a maximum of 60 minutes, the price is $30. There are also several sections, including experimental shorts, documentaries, and animation. Registration is only through Withoutabox.
It is held from March 20 to 25.
#4 Santa Barbara Film Festival
A few days after Ann Arbor, the Santa Barbara festival has its early deadline on August 4; for short films, it has a fee of $35 and $45 for feature films. In the same vein as Slamdance, it considers films with a duration of up to 40 minutes as shorts; beyond that, they are feature films. It also uses only the Withoutabox platform.
It takes place from January 31 to February 10.
#5 Sundance Film Festival
The first week of August is completed with the essential Sundance festival; on August 7, the first deadline ends with a price of $40. In this case, it accepts short films with a duration of less than 50 minutes. It is held from January 18 to 28, at the same time as Slamdance. For registration, it uses Withoutabox.
#6 South by Southwest Film Festival
We have to wait until the end of August for the first deadline of another of the most important festivals in the United States; SXSW closes its first deadline on August 25 with a price of $40. The minimum requirement is a premiere in Austin and Texas. For short films, the maximum duration is 40 minutes.
Registration is done through its own form. It is held from March 9 to 18, 2018.
#7 Cleveland International Film Festival
At the end of the month, on August 31, the Cleveland festival has its early deadline. Short films must have a duration of less than 45 minutes, with a price of $50. Registration can be done by three methods: the Withoutabox and Filmfreeway platforms, or their own online form. It only has a regional premiere requirement in Cleveland.
The festival is held from April 4 to 15.
Doing the math
As we can see, prices range from 30 to 50 dollars. If we wanted to participate in all of them, the total price we would have to invest would be $270, which at the current exchange rate is about €236.93.
Keep in mind that I am calculating based on the first deadlines; if we miss them, we could end up doubling this figure.