What are film festivals?

Film festivals are events where filmmakers can showcase their work to audiences, industry professionals, and critics, often including screenings, panels, and awards ceremonies. These festivals can range from small, local events to major international gatherings and serve as important platforms for promoting new films, networking, and gaining industry recognition

Estimated 3,000+ film festivals globally
Over 800 film festivals in the U.S.

What are film markets?

A business-oriented event where films and other audiovisual content are bought, sold, and distributed. These marketplaces are attended by producers, distributors, sales agents, and buyers who negotiate deals and rights for film distribution across various media platforms. Top film marketplaces, in their words:

European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin
The Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film) in France
MIPCOM in France
The American Film Convention
The Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART)

📣 Only apply to festivals that can provide what you need and want!

Ask Yourself: What do you want from film festivals?

Reaching local/specific audiences
Industry connections
Press/promotional/social media opportunities
Networking with other filmmakers
Informative panels with experienced panelists
Creating conversations
Collaborating with location-specific organizations

Things to Consider:

Do your research. Determine what festivals are right for your film by understanding what those festivals prefer to program.
Consider submitting to smaller festivals. Over 12,000 films submitted to the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023, making the competition incredibly fierce.
Your Timing. If a festival premiere is important to you, how long will you wait to get into one? If your film is extremely timely, give yourself a deadline to get into a festival before skipping or finding an alternative festival premiere.
Back Up Plan. Have a plan A, B, and C plan for the festivals you want to get into, and what your ideal release strategy is after that.