Festival Submission Workflow

Master the complete workflow for film festival submissions. Navigate technical requirements for major, regional, and online festivals with professional precision.

Festival Categories & Requirements

Major Festivals

Sundance, Cannes, TIFF, Venice

3-6 months
Preferred Format:

DCP (2K/4K)

Backup Format:

ProRes 422 HQ

Audio:

5.1 or 7.1 surround

Subtitles:

Embedded or separate SRT

Delivery:

Hard drive or secure upload

Notes:

Highest technical standards required

Regional Festivals

Local and regional film festivals

1-3 months
Preferred Format:

H.264 or ProRes

Backup Format:

MP4 high bitrate

Audio:

Stereo minimum

Subtitles:

SRT or VTT files

Delivery:

Digital upload or drive

Notes:

More flexible technical requirements

Online Festivals

Virtual festival platforms

2-8 weeks
Preferred Format:

H.264 optimized

Backup Format:

ProRes for quality

Audio:

Stereo or 5.1

Subtitles:

Embedded captions

Delivery:

Secure streaming platform

Notes:

Streaming optimization important

Festival Submission Workflow

1

Festival Research & Selection

Research and select appropriate festivals for your film

Research festival programming and audience
Check technical requirements and deadlines
Verify premiere status requirements
Calculate submission fees and timeline
Calculations

Submission fees: $25-150 per festival, Early bird vs regular pricing

2

Technical Preparation

Prepare master files according to festival specifications

Create DCP for major festivals
Export digital masters in required formats
Prepare screener copies for programming
Generate subtitle files in required formats
Calculations

DCP: 38GB/hour (2K), 101GB/hour (4K), H.264 screener: Target ~10GB for HD feature

3

Submission Materials

Gather all required submission materials and documentation

Complete application forms and questionnaires
Prepare press kit and promotional materials
Collect high-resolution stills and artwork
Write director and producer statements
Calculations

Press kit: 10-50MB, Stills: 5-10MB each (300 DPI), Artwork: 20-50MB

4

Delivery & Follow-up

Submit materials and manage festival communications

Upload or ship technical materials
Submit application through festival platform
Confirm receipt of all materials
Maintain communication with festival staff
Calculations

Shipping: DCP drive + insurance, Upload: File size ÷ bandwidth

Technical Considerations

Projection Formats

  • DCP preferred for theatrical projection
  • ProRes 422 HQ as digital backup
  • Test projection before festival if possible
  • Provide multiple format options when requested

Screener Requirements

  • Lower resolution for programming review
  • Watermarked or time-coded versions
  • Secure streaming links preferred
  • Password protection for sensitive content

Subtitle Specifications

  • SRT format most widely accepted
  • Embedded subtitles for online festivals
  • Multiple language versions if required
  • Proper timing and readability standards

Festival Submission Strategy

Strategic Planning

  • Research festival programming and audience fit
  • Plan premiere strategy carefully
  • Budget for submission fees and materials
  • Create submission timeline with deadlines

Technical Excellence

  • Prepare multiple format versions
  • Test all technical materials before submission
  • Maintain consistent quality across all versions
  • Follow up to confirm receipt and technical approval

Common Festival Submission Mistakes

  • • Submitting wrong aspect ratio or resolution
  • • Missing or improperly formatted subtitle files
  • • Audio sync issues or incorrect audio levels
  • • Incomplete or inaccurate metadata
  • • Missing premiere status requirements
  • • Late submissions due to technical preparation delays
  • • Inadequate screener quality for programming review
  • • Failure to follow specific festival technical guidelines

Master Festival Submissions

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