Understanding Film Festival Premiere Status

Some film festivals require that film submissions screen as a local or world premiere. Screening your film at the CalArts Open Show, Producers’ Show, Showcase, and/or Bijou Festival is not generally considered a premiere for most festivals because it is an internal, school-sponsored screening primarily intended for the CalArts community, friends, and industry guests. 

The CalArts Open Show, Producers’ Show, Showcase, and Bijou Festival are not widely accessible to the general public, so film festivals generally do not consider these events to be public theatrical releases. As such, most festivals still consider your film eligible for premiere status after they screen at CalArts. If in doubt, you should confirm with the festival in question.