Most film festivals are scams! It's completely unreasonable that a corporate sponsored festival needs to charge more than a few dollars just to show your film, and more than a second-hand suit just to see it.
WARNING: Most of the 300-plus "film festivals" in North America are not really film festivals. They are screening events. They show a few films and tapes in a less-than-excellent venue and generally do very little for your film. A lot of scams are out there too... Some attempt to charge between $100 and $1,000 to "participate" in their so-called Independent Film Festival.
Start your own "Film Festival"
Having trouble getting your "piece of shit" movie into a real film festival? Don't panic, just start your own festival! You may think you're great and your movie doesn't suck, and that's all that matters.
Don't worry what other people think, just keep telling yourself... "I'm a big Hollywood producer" and "My film doesn't suck" then start your own film festival. You can probably at least get your mom to watch it!
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The vanity film festival is a great way to get your film shown. Every filmmaker should have at least one.
Here are the steps to start your own festival:
Step 1: Pick A Name
Step 2: Find A Location
Step 3: Create A Web Site
Step 4: Forget Ethics - Beg, Borrow, or Steal
Step 5: Hire A Movie Star (Lends Credibility)
Step 6: Be Fashionable
Step 7: Promote Your Film
Step 8: Write Your Own Reviews
Step 9: Start Planning Next Year
This section "inspired" by: How to Start Your Own Film Festival: A 12-Step Program by Brian Flemming - Creator of Slumdance 1997
START YOUR FESTIVAL FOR FREE! Go to www.withoutabox.com and join 3,000 other "festivals" worldwide in less than an hour, FOR FREE! (Well, it's not entirely free, there is a 10% commission paid from your entrance fees. However, you won't pay the fee, it's paid by the poor filmmaker that you convince to submit a film.)
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MANY FESTIVALS ARE ONLY IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY
Be very wary of festivals that charges large fees to enter. Even if you get in, your entry will mean nothing to everyone that knows what a scam that festival is. This could even hurt your film.
There are unscrupulous festivals that would like you to believe that $150 to watch a tape of your film is a fair fee. You'll have to decide for yourself. I suggest dropping that festival from your list unless they invite you, FOR FREE.
- MORE COMING SOON!