Most major documentary festivals on the circuit have premiere requirements, whether international or world, and at least national. Last year, I already discussed some of them, as the distribution strategy needs special attention in these cases.
In documentary distribution, initial selections can take time, especially if you are trying to participate in the most prominent documentary festivals, such as Vision du Réel, Leipzig, Cinema du Réel, CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Sheffield, etc. The high percentage of premiere requirements in the documentary segment forces us to carefully consider its trajectory.
Once we are in full distribution and have premiered internationally, there are many other festivals worth considering. This June, I have selected five festivals where you can submit your documentary without worrying too much about the premiere, although some have regional requirements. All of them represent a good opportunity if you are actively distributing during these months.
There are two festivals in Poland, and one each in Germany, Ireland, and the United States. All of them share a deadline in June and accept films produced from January 2016 onwards:
#1 International Documentary Film Festival OFF CINEMA
This Polish festival takes place in Poznań, from October 18 to 22. They accept any type of documentary, both short and feature-length. To register, simply fill out a PDF and send a viewing link. The submission deadline is June 30, and there are no submission fees.
#2 DokumentART
It is held in Neubrandenburg, eastern Germany, near the Polish border, from October 13 to 17. It accepts documentaries up to 60 minutes in length, and submission is only possible via the Reelport and FilmFestivalLife platforms. Although it does not have a premiere requirement, it does prioritize documentaries that are premieres. The deadline closes on June 26.
#3 Dublin DocFest
In this case, it is a festival specializing in documentary shorts, up to 30 minutes. Submission fees range from $10, and $5 for students. Submissions can be made through the FilmFreeway and Festhome platforms, until June 30. Screenings of selected documentaries take place on November 11.
#4 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
The first deadline for one of the most important documentary festivals in the United States closes on June 30. It takes place in Missoula, Montana, on the border with Canada. It has a regional premiere requirement for the state of Montana.
This festival has several sections: feature films from 40 minutes, short films from 15 to 40 minutes, and MiniDocs up to 15 minutes. The submission fee for this early deadline depends on these sections, ranging from $40 for features to $25 for MiniDocs, with shorts at $30. Submissions can be made through the FilmFreeway and Withoutabox platforms. It is held from February 16 to 25.
#5 Szczecin European Film Festival
We also conclude in Poland, in the city of Szczecin, near the German border and Neubrandenburg, where DokumentART takes place. It is held from October 19 to 22 and specializes in European documentary cinema, with a maximum duration of 90 minutes. The submission deadline is June 16, and although it prioritizes premieres, it does not have a strict requirement, so you can submit without issues. It has a small fee of $5, and you can submit through the Filmfreeway and FilmFestivalLife platforms.
Summarizing the documentary festivals
If you are preparing submissions for these documentary festivals, you need to register on at least one of these submission platforms: Reelport, FilmFestivalLife, Festhome, FilmFreeway, and Withoutabox, in addition to filling out a PDF form and paying approximately $45 in submission fees.
These are the festivals ordered by deadline:
- Szczecin – June 16
- DokumentART – June 26
- OFF CINEMA – June 30
- Dublin DocFest – June 30
- Big Sky – June 30
I hope these festivals are useful for your distribution strategy, and I wish you good luck with them.