This July, work with festivals intensifies. There are many calls for entries, and new submissions need to be organized, updated, and prepared, in addition to making time for a few weeks of vacation.
Many of these calls for entries are currently open and are for festivals held between October and November. These months accumulate the most festival celebrations in the year.
The sources for finding festivals and checking open calls are very diverse, but among them, submission platforms are occupying an increasing amount of space. Many directors and producers exclusively submit their films through these platforms.
Working only with submission platforms can be more convenient and faster, but it also has its problems. Many festivals do not use them and have their own online form, without relying on third parties for submission management.
Therefore, if you limit yourself to distributing only through platforms, your options are reduced.
Figures on the use of submission platforms
Calculating based on festivals in 2017, out of approximately 5200 festivals I had registered in my database last year, about 3088 used a submission platform.
Therefore, submissions through platforms already represent more than half of all festival submissions, and I believe the same statement could be made for the sector in general.
This also means there are over 2000 festivals that can only be accessed via an online form (or submission is done via PDF, which I also include in this figure), a number that remains very significant to overlook.
Some characteristics of festivals with their own online forms
There are a series of characteristics maintained by festivals that work with their own forms, which are worth knowing:
#1 They will likely maintain this system for a long time
If they continue to work with their own online forms after the rise of platforms, it is unlikely they will change now. Most of them have had the option to work with platforms but have decided to maintain their own systems.
#2 Most are free
Making online payments is complicated, which is why many use platforms precisely to manage fees. If they maintain their own online forms, it is because they do not need to manage submission fee payments.
#3 Distribute without costs
In addition to the lack of fees, you don’t have to pay the platform’s service fee. It’s important to note that in Europe, most platforms charge a fee. This means costs are reduced, even to the point of disappearing.
#4 They can help prevent fake festivals and pseudo-festivals
Most of these festivals use submission platforms due to their ease and immediate access to thousands of filmmakers willing to submit to festivals. Creating an online form and managing submissions requires more work, which is why this type of “festival” does not usually use them.
Over 90 festivals that only use online forms
Due to these differences and the need to properly compile these festivals, I have created a four-page list with many of the festivals with open calls that only have online forms and therefore will not be found on submission platforms.
I have worked on the August and September deadlines, resulting in a total of 93 festivals of very diverse types, a significant number to consider in your distribution strategy at this time.
To download them, here is a form you need to fill out with your name and email address. If you are already a blog subscriber, you don’t need to fill it out; I will send it to you directly by email:
>> This form is no longer available. If you are interested, you can write to me via the contact page.<<
I have published this list now, in mid-July, so that you have time to start making submissions as soon as possible. It is important to remember that filling out online forms involves more work and requires dedicating more time to distribution.
All of them are very different festivals. I have added the website and the prices of fees in cases where a submission fee is charged, although as I said before, there are not many.
I hope these lists help you, both to start festival distribution now and to continue if you are already in the process, expanding the possibilities of festivals where your film might fit.