Festival Tool Kit

Navigating the Busy Fall Season

The Fall Fest season is a peak season. It’s the most important, and the busiest.

Things kick into gear with Telluride Labor Day weekend, and move swiftly to Venice and Toronto, then back to the states for the 60th New York Film Festival. Many industry players call Telluride their favorite, with many studio and Oscar contenders playing there, before continuing their journeys with Venice and/or Toronto. New York is more of a community event, but well respected by industry vets and community alike.

Needless to say, these fests are very tough to earn a coveted slot. Similar to Sundance odds, we’re looking at 1-2% submission acceptance for indies. Not good odds.

The silver lining, there are dozens of credible events to consider for the fall season. If you dig a little deeper, depending on your goals, there are many opportunities to explore.  Submission deadlines are in full swing. 

Each of these events has its own mission, and an angle that differentiates it from others.  All have solid programmers, a reputation for producing quality events and have credibility with industry professionals. If you’re trying to advance your career, festival reputations matter. Don’t waste time or money on lower tier fests that don’t register with distributors or industry professionals. (We’re doing a Film Festival Mastery webinar Thursday if you’re interested.)

There are several thousand festivals taking place in the fall season. I’m trying to help you simplify submissions by recommending 15 fests worth consideration. I’ve personally attended most of these, but not all. If I have not attended, I’ve had staff members or clients who have. Here are some things to keep in mind: