The evolution of short film distribution has allowed for significant cost savings when submitting a film, such as eliminating mailing costs and copies on DVD, Betacam, or 35 mm. However, it has also generated new expenses that did not exist before, primarily derived from submission platforms and festival fees.
Some time ago, I discussed the different pricing models of platforms and how they have changed submission management. Now, I will analyze expenses from the perspective of a director or producer personally handling the distribution of their short film.
One of the most significant changes in this revolution has been the conversion of most fixed costs into variable costs. For example, we can now start distributing solely through free platforms and online forms without paying fees, keeping expenses to a minimum. Conversely, if you wish to participate in many festivals based on a specific strategy and have the budget to pay submission fees, these same costs skyrocket and can double or triple the production expenses.
To arrive at an average amount for distributing a short film to festivals, I will review the platforms, aiming for a reasonable number of submissions for the first year. These festivals can be national and international, and I will consider a small amount for the payment of fees.
Two types of expenses to start submitting a short film
Initially, I will divide expenses into fixed and variable. Fixed expenses include those essential for starting to submit a short film, such as a Vimeo Plus subscription and the costs of at least three platforms (although, as mentioned before, these could be variable, it is advisable to consider platform costs for basic distribution).
We could also add DCP copies and subtitles to fixed expenses, as it is necessary to have at least English subtitles, although these costs should be included in the production budget.
On the other hand, the costs of copies for different screenings could be considered variable, as they depend on the screenings and selections the short film receives.
Fixed and platform expenses
Let’s start building the budget. Most platforms are paid, following the reelport model. They have a fee per submission and cheaper packages. The system is designed for purchasing one of these packages, as making individual payments ends up being very expensive and does not make much sense.
Here is a summary of the payment methods available on different platforms:
- Movibeta: 40 submissions for €60.
- Festhome: Unlimited submissions for €40 per year.
- Shortfilmdepot: 50 submissions for €75 and 20 submissions for €50.
- Filmfestplatform: 10 submissions for €20 and 50 submissions for €75.
- Clickforfestivals: 20 submissions for €40 and 50 submissions for €90.
- Filmfestivallife: Unlimited submissions for €48 per year.
As we can see, prices vary greatly, from the cheapest platform, Festhome at €40, to the most expensive, such as the €90 for 50 submissions on Clickforfestivals. It should be noted that platforms like Filmfreeway do not charge for submissions, and others like Reelport have a €2 submission fee without packages, so in our budget, we will include this under submission fee expenses. It depends on each submission and is not worth paying for in advance.
For our calculation, we will count only three platforms as fixed expenses. The rest could be variable expenses.
To the platform expenses, we must add a Vimeo Plus subscription for €45.95 to ensure our short film has high viewing quality with a password. Additionally, we could set aside about €200 for subtitles and SRT files if they were not included in the production costs.
Variable expenses
In this section, we will consider submission fees, which can be very flexible. As an average, we will reserve a minimum of €300 for fees and related expenses, such as international transfer fees and taxes. Furthermore, this section would include expenses for additional platforms.
Doing the math
Let’s look at the fixed expenses to start. Initially, we consider paying for three platforms, such as Movibeta, Festhome, and Shortfilmdepot, which total €150. This would cover 60 submissions, and we could exceed 100 by adding Festhome, all without paying submission fees for now.
If we add the €45.95 for Vimeo Plus to this amount, it would be approximately €195.95. With the viewing link, using free platforms and online forms, we could reach 150 submissions per year without paying fees or additional platform costs.
Now let’s add some variable expenses. Starting with an average of €300 in fees, plus platforms like Filmfestplatform, Clickforfestivals, and Filmfestivallife, the expenses would rise to €583.95. Additionally, we would need to add some further costs, such as hard drives for copies, courier services, and some DVD expenses; although they are rarely used, we might need to make a few. For all this, we could reserve another €200, reaching €783.95.
Travel expenses
Initially, I focused on submission and delivery costs, but in your distribution budget, you could also consider travel expenses for attending festivals. Although some festivals cover part of these, it would be wise to take them into account, especially plane or train tickets, accommodation, meals, and registration for activities organized by these festivals. Some of these may have small fees that you could consider.
I hope this post helps you plan your festival distribution, especially in understanding the concepts you should consider when planning your budget.
If you have comments or want to share your experience with the distribution budget, you can write to me below or through the contact form.