Is it worth submitting to Austin Film Festival?
Yes, an entry fee is required to submit your film, but it's worth it. But don't just take it from us. This year Moviemaker Magazine named us one of the Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee. Not only that, but until May 1, you can submit your film for our Early Bird price—just $50.
Consideration requires an additional $20 submission fee. The winner will be announced at the 29th annual Austin Film Festival & Conference happening October 27-November 3.
It's a hard thing to admit, but the ultimate goal isn't about getting into film festivals. It's about making great films — getting into film festivals is just a byproduct of great films. So, take a moment to ask yourself tough questions, get honest feedback, and decide if this truly is your moment.
Only submit when you are sure the film is ready to be seen. You only have one shot with each festival. 99.9% of the time festivals will not re-watch a film if submitted in a previous year.
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Academy Qualified/FIAPF/ BAFTA Film Festivals.
| films accepted | 65 |
|---|---|
| submissions | 650 |
| acceptance rate | 10 % |
| festival title | NorthwestFest International Documentary Festival |
The AFF is a brilliantly run, prestigious film festival. Having your screenplay placed or winning means something in the film and TV business around the world.
One winner will be selected and will receive a $1000 cash prize, AFF's Bronze Typewriter Award, and reimbursem*nts of up to $500 for travel and up to $500 for lodging if used during the Festival.
Average festival acceptance rate is 13% (one in seven submissions). Every 65th submission (1,54%) was accepted at the most prestigious film festivals like FIAPF, Academy Award-Qualifying.
At festivals, directors pitch producers on their films, producers sell those films to distributors and distributors sell the lucky films to cinema chains. In addition to getting a distribution deal on their festival film or a deal on a new film, filmmakers stand to make money from a festival if they win a prize.
I suggest first taking advantage of features of FilmFreeway. Through sorting and filtering filmmakers can craft shortlists of festivals based on deadlines, popularity, reviews, categories accepted, entry fees and more. I recommend not being too focussed on impending deadlines.
How much does it cost to submit to film festivals?
The majority of film festivals do charge for submissions (an average of $27 for short films and $40 for feature films), but this isn't their main source of income. Filmmaker submission fees make up less than 15% of the total income of film festivals.
Many festivals frown on films that are already available to the public online, so if you intend to send your picture to festivals, you'll need to withdraw it from YouTube, at least for the duration.
Open submissions to our U.S. Feature Film categories must be world premieres, while open submissions to our International Feature Films categories must be international premieres. However, we reserve the right to select projects for some out-of-competition programs that do not meet these requirements.
The majority of film festivals do charge for submissions (an average of $27 for short films and $40 for feature films), but this isn't their main source of income. Filmmaker submission fees make up less than 15% of the total income of film festivals.
Yes—there is a $95 fee associated with the Launch application. Application fees are accepted online through the SXSW Shopping Cart.
For questions regarding submissions and special inquiries, please email our new Screenplay Department Manager: Alyssa Alvarado – scriptdirector@austinfilmfestival.com or 512-478-4795.
A non-refundable $220 entry fee is required from all applicants who would like to be considered for participation in SXSW Pitch. For companies that are not selected as a finalist, a coupon code to purchase a registration at the early-bird rate will be sent to each entrant.
