Do you have a documentary pending its festival premiere?
Now is a good time to start planning distribution. Some of the most important documentary festivals on the circuit are currently open for submissions.
In documentary distribution, it is increasingly important to plan premieres properly, as many festivals require or value an international or world premiere, a national premiere, or request very recent production dates, so we must take them into account at very early stages of distribution.
In addition, each of them has very different programming lines, despite specialising in documentary, so there can be many differences between them.
Here are five examples of documentary festivals you can consider right now:
#1 Amsterdam Film Festival IDFA (Netherlands)
IDFA is one of the leading references in the documentary field and the clearest bet for a premiere. Each year, more than 250 documentaries are screened.
There are two submission periods, the first before May 1 and the second before August 1, although the latter is only for films produced after April of this year. It requires a world or international premiere and, to a lesser extent, a European premiere.
Like all the festivals mentioned in this post, it accepts all running times across its different sections. In this case, feature films are considered from 70 minutes, medium-length films from 40 to 70, and short films up to 40 minutes. The short film section was reintroduced recently and is now an Oscar-qualifying festival for the Documentary Short Subject Awards.
There is a single submission fee of around €50, and it takes place from November 14 to 25.
#2 Dok Leipzig (Germany)
Leipzig is another of the major festivals on the documentary circuit that currently has its call open. In the same vein as IDFA, it also has two deadlines, the first closes on May 5, and the second on July 7. In this case, a feature film is considered from 40 minutes.
It also accepts animation and has a pioneering section worldwide for animated documentaries.
It takes place from October 29 to November 4.
#3 Doc Lisboa (Portugal)
Although in this case it has a strict requirement for a premiere in Portugal, it also values an international or world premiere.
You have three deadlines, depending on the running time and the month of submission. The deadline is open until March 31 as an early deadline, with a fee ranging from €12.99 to €15.99 for feature films, which includes the Filmfestivallife platform fee.
It takes place from October 18 to 28.
#4 FID Marseille (France)
Although traditionally FID Marseille has been a festival devoted to creative documentary, in recent years it has also accepted fiction, but it remains very important on the documentary circuit.
There are two submission fees, depending on the film’s running time. For short films up to 60 minutes, it is €10, while for feature films it is €25. The submission deadline is also March 31.
It takes place from July 10 to 16.
#5 Jihlava Documentary Film Festival (Czech Republic)
In this case, it does not have a premiere requirement, but it accepts films with a recent production date.
Based on the production date, it has two deadlines: the first until March 31 for films completed between September and December 2017, and a second deadline until May 31 for films produced in 2018.
Unlike the other festivals, in this case submission is free.
It takes place from October 25 to 30,
Review your documentary distribution strategy
Let’s review the different options we have based on two variables: the premiere requirement and the festival dates:
- FID Marseille – World or international premiere – July 10 to 16.
- Doc Lisboa – Premiere in Portugal – October 18 to 28.
- Jihlava – No strict requirement – Production date from September 2018 onwards – October 25 to 30.
- Dok Leipzig – Premiere in Germany – October 29 to November 4.
- IDFA – World or international premiere – November 14 to 25.
To assess the strategy to follow for these festivals, you must understand their programming lines, since, for example, IDFA and FID Marseille are incompatible with each other: both require an international or world premiere.
In the cases of Leipzig, Doc Lisboa and Jihlava, you could consider them after the international premiere, although you could also submit your film now, as they value world and international premieres. This way, you could increase your options if you do not take part in IDFA or Marseille.
In any case, IDFA has the latest festival dates, so if you are aiming for this festival, you would have to reserve the premiere.
If you are still in post-production and you will not make the second submission deadline, you could start designing your strategy from October. Here is a post I published two years ago, which is still relevant for starting to promote a documentary in the last quarter of the year.
Best of luck with whichever option you choose!
Being selected for any of these festivals would already be a success and would help you greatly with the international distribution of your documentary.