[Frameworks] Re-submitting to Festivals

Tue Jun 5 12:40:09 CDT 2012

The point Dan makes about whether a festival is willing to screen a
slightly older work is a good one. As someone who submits to a number of
festivals, I've found that it can be difficult to submit older/
re-configured works. Many festivals want only new pieces made in the past
1-2 years.

I know more than a few filmmakers who just change the official production
dates/ credits on their projects in order to submit to festivals that have
these sorts of unwavering restrictions. They figure that (unless they've
painstakingly shot their titles and credits on an optical printer or
something and can't re-do them) it's pretty easy to just re-do the credits,
slot in a new year and give the film a bit more longevity festival-wise.

I also know other filmmakers who simply do not choose to follow any
festival guidelines and submit whatever they want (old works and all)
anyway. Their results are divided though between festivals that don't even
acknowledge the broken rules and program the work vs. festivals that send a
curt email back saying "your work was disqualified because it's an older
piece", etc.

Whether or not you're willing to do these things...contact the festivals
you're interested in first and ask if it's okay to re-submit a changed
work, making sure that your correspondence is either with or forwarded to
the programmer. In my experience, it's always easier communicating with
programmers. They're the ones who are eager to see the work.

At the end of the day if you like the work, feel proud of it and want it
out there, there are lots of ways to keep it circulating!  It may just take
a bit more communication to festivals than normal on your end :)

-C.

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Jorge Lorenzo Flores Garza <jorgelorenzo at hotmail.com>
> To: <frameworks at jonasmekasfilms.com>
> Cc:
> Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 16:08:24 +0000
> Subject: Re: [Frameworks] Re-submitting to Festivals
>  I had an interesting experience once.  It wasn't really re-submitting.  I
> submitted a film at Images Festival once and I didn't get in.  Next year I
> submitted with another one and they contacted me saying they were
> interested in the one that didn't get in the year before.  That was great.
> I guess there are tons of reasons why a film doesn't get in to festivals.
> And it doesn't mean it gets discarded once you get rejected one year.  They
> never got back to me about the second film I submitted...I hope it gets in
> next year...or maybe I should just re-submit.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Jorge L.
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 13:58:02 -0700
> From: bcfilmfest at gmail.com
> To: frameworks at jonasmekasfilms.com
> Subject: Re: [Frameworks] Re-submitting to Festivals
>
> With larger festivals like those you mentioned, it might be worthwhile to
> submit again. Chances are good you'll get a new reviewer, possibly one that
> appreciates "abstract" films a bit more, and there can also be programing
> turnover from year-to-year. Keep in mind that acceptance odds are lower the
> bigger the festival, and a good programer will focus on the individual
> piece & program rather than if the filmmaker has name recognition or has
> shown there previously.
>
>
> It might be worth emailing to see if they show work that’s a couple years
> old, and if they would consider waiving the entry fee for re-submitting. If
> they care more about good programing than money, they’ll probably say “yes”
> or “we’re not interested.” Either way, it could save you a fat check or at
> least help it from getting lost in the shuffle.
>
>
> In general, calling a festival to ask about a programing decision isn't
> going to be much help. Whomever answers the phone likely wasn't the person
> that reviewed the film, and only a few rare festivals maintain notes that
> are easily accessible. It's also generally considered in poor form to put
> someone on the spot like that. The best way is to email the "program
> director" simply to ask if they maintain a record or could provide
> feedback... most often you probably won't get a response, but if they keep
> good records it could be most helpful.
>
>
> As far as length... shortening from 30 to 20 minutes may have a marginal
> effect, as long as it doesn't effect the overall quality of the film.
> "Flow" is more important than the actual length, unless your film really
> gets down-to-the wire in the selection process.
>
>
>
> Dan Anderson, filmmaker/programer
>
> cineplosion.blogspot.com
>
> On Mon, Jun 4, 2012 at 12:06 PM, Ken Paul Rosenthal <
> kenpaulrosenthal at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>  While I'm well aware that re-submitting one particular film to a given
> festival is almost universally prohibited (not to mention a waste of
> money), I've been reading a lot lately on the practicalities of curating a
> shorts program in terms of length. Hence, I'm inspired to reconsider
> something I've long pondered--that my 30 minute film, Crooked Beauty was
> rejected by many 'apparent shoe-in' fests because of it's length. I know
> there are numerous factors that govern acceptance/rejection: from personal
> taste to curatorial theme to nepotism to student pre-jurors pre-empting
> work to the flood of submissions--not to mention whether or not the dvd
> screener played in the juror's computer. I recently shortened my film to 20
> minutes in order to qualify it for two particular festivals whose maximum
> TRT was that length. So all said, I feel moved to re-submit to Sundance,
> Slamdance, SXSW, and the Oberhausen International Shorts Festival. (I
> really really want to re-submit to Ann Arbor, which has screened every film
> I've ever made and rather bizarrely rejected this one--and with no
> explanation whatsoever when I inquired via phone). I've skipped a season
> since entering the first three fests in my list, and wonder if it's worth
> my re-submitting the shortened version, clearly stating the shorter length.
> I've yet to review these festivals' rules and regulations, but am curious
> in general how folks feel about this, and what their experiences have been.
> This note is not about sour grapes, as CB has generally done rather well.
> It's an honest inquiry, so I'd appreciate the responses being respectful
> and practical. Thanks, Ken
>
> www.crookedbeautythefilm.com  (Academic)
> www.crookedbeauty.com  (Public)
> www.kenpaulrosenthal.com
>
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