With my final animation project from the MA program finally complete, I’ve decided to return to the film festival world. What seemed like a straightforward process of “just submit your film” very quickly turned into an intricate dance of strategy, creativity, and careful budget management, the last time I attempted this with my LIAF sting ‘Heartwarmer’.
I wasn’t able to allocate a budget for the short ‘Heartwarmer’, which left me with only a few free festivals to apply to. These were also narrowed down to even less, what with minimum run time requirements and other hidden costs on submission platforms like Short Film Depot. Despite all this, ‘Heartwarmer’ was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the Black & Brown Femme Film Festival, while still in consideration for 2 others.
Researching relevant festivals became a part-time job in itself. I’ve discovered there’s an entire hierarchy I was previously unaware of. The major international festivals like Annecy and the Student Academy Awards are obviously dream destinations, but their submission fees are intimidating for a student project. I’ve been focusing on student-specific competitions and smaller animation-focused events that might be more receptive to emerging artists, but since this is my final film I am a bit more inclined to budget a fair amount to at least give myself a shot.
From this experience, I learned that I will need to really prepare for when I begin to submit my final film ‘Root Rot’, to festivals. Beyond the obvious requirement of having a high-quality export of my animation, I also realised I needed an entire ecosystem of supporting materials. The poster design is important, as it needs to capture the essence of my character-driven piece while being visually striking enough to stand out among hundreds of other submissions. I’ve learned that festival programmers often see the poster before they watch the film, so it’s essentially my first impression.
The financial reality is rather sobering, however. Submission fees range from $20 to $75 per festival (I don’t know how to change the currency on these sites yet), and when you’re applying to more than one festival, that adds up quickly. I’ve had to prioritise pretty ruthlessly, focusing on festivals that specifically celebrate animation and character work rather than casting a wide net (as much as my ego would love me to). Some festivals offer student discounts, which will be a lifesaver for my limited budget.
I’ve also discovered the importance of timing. Many festivals have seasonal submission windows, and the prestigious ones often require submissions months in advance. This means planning my festival strategy almost as carefully as I planned my film’s production schedule. Missing a deadline for a perfect-fit festival because I didn’t research early enough would be heartbreaking. For example, I worked overtime almost non-stop in the week leading up to the Student Academy Awards, only to be stumped by the submission requirement of having to submit my work for grading before submitting to the festival. This was obviously impossible as our deadline was still a week away from the festival deadline, and as I didn’t want to risk disqualification, I ended up not submitting anything. This was extremely disheartening as I had worked pretty hard to rush the project for this early deadline, but I had to recognise this was mostly to satiate my ego and short-term gratification, as I could simply apply next year and ensure the quality of my film.
The waiting game is perhaps the most challenging part. After months of intensive work on the film and weeks preparing submission materials, there’s nothing to do but wait for responses. Some festivals notify applicants within weeks, others take months. I’m trying to view this period as an opportunity to continue developing my portfolio and preparing for job applications rather than anxiously checking my email every hour.
Regardless of the outcomes, the process has taught me valuable lessons about presenting my work professionally and understanding the broader animation community. Even if my film doesn’t get accepted anywhere, I’ve built skills in marketing and self-promotion that will serve me well in my career. And who knows? Maybe I’ll get that email that starts with “Congratulations” and makes all the effort worthwhile.
Leave a Reply