Film Festival / Contests / Distribution Information
Film Festivals
Film festivals are often the first opportunity for filmmakers to share their work with audiences, industry professionals, programmers, distributors, and potential collaborators. For many independent films, a successful festival run can lead to awards, press coverage, distribution opportunities, and future employment.
There are more than 10,000 film festivals worldwide, ranging from major international events to highly specialized regional and genre festivals. Because submission fees can add up quickly, it is important to develop a thoughtful festival strategy rather than submitting to every festival available.
When selecting festivals, consider:
- Whether the festival programs films similar to yours.
- Premiere requirements.
- Audience demographics.
- Geographic location.
- Festival reputation.
- Industry attendance.
- Submission deadlines and fees.
- Previous selections from CalArts or similar film schools.
Research each festival carefully before submitting. A targeted submission strategy is almost always more effective—and less expensive—than submitting broadly without a plan.
FilmFreeway
Most independent film festivals accept submissions through FilmFreeway, the industry’s largest online submission platform. FilmFreeway allows filmmakers to:
- Submit films to thousands of festivals worldwide.
- Track submission status.
- Upload updated screeners and promotional materials.
- Manage festival deadlines.
- Maintain one centralized project profile.
Students are encouraged to build a complete FilmFreeway profile early, including:
- Poster
- Trailer
- Synopsis
- Production stills
- Cast and crew information
- Director biography
- Contact information
Having these materials prepared before your film is complete can make festival submissions significantly easier.
Festival Resources at CalArts
CalArts regularly shares information about festivals, competitions, grants, and submission opportunities.
Students should:
- Check the online student bulletin board.
- Review the physical bulletin boards near the Equipment Cage.
- Read CalArts emails regularly for festival announcements.
- Speak with faculty and Production Services about appropriate festivals for their projects.
Production Services can also provide guidance on developing a festival strategy based on your film’s genre, audience, and career goals.
Competitions and Grants
In addition to film festivals, students should consider submitting their work to competitions, artist grants, screenplay contests, and filmmaker fellowships.
These opportunities can provide:
- Cash awards
- Equipment grants
- Mentorship
- Industry exposure
- Networking opportunities
- Distribution opportunities
Announcements for many of these opportunities are distributed through CalArts email and student communication channels.
Distribution
A successful festival run is only one stage in the life of a film. Every filmmaker should consider how audiences will discover and watch their work after festivals conclude. Distribution may include:
- Educational licensing
- Streaming platforms
- Community screenings
- Museums and galleries
- Television
- Airline programming
- Digital rental or purchase
- Direct-to-audience online releases
Not every film requires a traditional distributor. Increasingly, filmmakers combine festivals with direct audience outreach, community engagement, educational licensing, and online exhibition.
Students interested in distributing their films beyond CalArts are encouraged to schedule a consultation with Production Services to discuss distribution strategies, audience development, release timing, and available resources.
Distribution Resources
A highly recommended resources for independent filmmakers are:
This resource provide practical advice on festival strategy, audience building, self-distribution, educational distribution, event screenings, and sustainable release planning.
Best Practices
- Develop a festival strategy before submitting.
- Budget for submission fees during pre-production.
- Submit early whenever possible to take advantage of lower entry fees.
- Maintain an organized spreadsheet of submissions, deadlines, and results.
- Update your press kit, trailer, and poster throughout your festival run.
- Celebrate every official selection and award through your website and social media.
- Think about distribution from the beginning of the project—not after the festival run ends.
A film’s success is not measured solely by the number of festivals it plays. The ultimate goal is to connect your work with the audience it was made for. Whether through festivals, educational screenings, streaming platforms, or community events, a thoughtful distribution strategy can extend the life of your film long after production has ended.