A film festival is an event in which films are shown and often awarded.
Film festivals were originally introduced in the 1920s to provide a platform for filmmakers from all over the world to show their work.
Cannes is one of the most prestigious film festivals where movies are screened every year.
Film festivals offer filmmakers an opportunity to receive feedback on their work, as well as meet new people who share similar interests.
Top Film Festivals in the World
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and well-known film festivals in the world. It is held annually in Cannes, France for 10 days, starting from the end of May. The festival is organized by the French Union of Film Producers (UTP).
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) aims to foster creativity, innovation and discovery of new cinematic talent from Canada and around the world. It also promotes Canadian filmmakers abroad.
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual American film festival that takes place every January in Park City, Utah. Founded by Sterling Van Wagenen and John Earle, it began in 1978 as a more low-key alternative to its predecessor’s location on Broadway which ran until 1976.
Rules and Tips for Submitting your Films to a Festival
– Submit your films to festivals as early as possible. The festival circuit is a busy place and the sooner you submit, the better.
– To find out which festivals are worth submitting to, use film festival databases such as Shortfilmdepot and FilmFreeway
– Avoid submitting your film to more than five festivals at once.
– Remember that most festivals have different submission requirements which include: entering a title and description for your film, filling out contact information, and uploading a photo or poster image.
Why You Should Consider Submitting Your Films to a Top Film Festival
Filmmakers should try their luck at a top film festival because of the following reasons:
1. It’s an opportunity to gain exposure for the film and the talent behind it.
2. A chance to win awards and prizes which can help boost your career.
3. It can lead to better distribution deals – so you don’t have to worry about marketing your film yourself or fighting for placement on streaming services, etc.
4. Films that screen at top festivals are likely to be watched by more people than those that do not attend festivals- leading them to gain more acclaim and recognition on sites like IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, etc.
