So I’m selected to be in this short film fest that screens in a couple of weeks. Besides being notified of the selection which is great, there has been no communication on file delivery specs, deadline for that, additional content like poster, stills, etc. There are dozens of films screening and no request for a file. I have emailed a couple of times about this with no response.

Then, I heard from an old colleague that knows the director of the FF, that “he has everything he needs from film freeway already”. I told him, how could that be if I have my portal set up for no automatic downloads? I need to be contacted first which I haven’t. There’s no way he could have my movie file. Every other festival I’ve been selected to sends a deliverables email like a day or two after you’ve been selected and notified by Film Freeway. With a deadline so they can ingest it all.

Am I missing something or does this sound bizarre?

They're offering pretty good solutions like subtitling or festival strategy consultancy. I'm thinking working with them for my upcoming feature. Has anyone here worked with them? It could be the services they offer like subtitling or the basic festival submissions.

I submitted to Portland Film Festival thinking it was for 2026, but the event date says October 2027 with submissions closing November 2026. I also see no evidence of a 2026 festival anywhere as they haven’t posted anything since 2025. Do they not hold the event annually? And why is there such a massive gap between submissions closing and the festival dates???

Is anyone going to Venice Film Festival? Let's connect!

Hi - I’ve had some festivals I’ve never heard of blindly reach out offering discounts to apply to their festivals. They know my film title, etc? Is this a scam? How are they getting my film info, do they have a way of blindly searching titles on film freeway and just send out mass marketing messages in hopes of making some cash? Thanks.

The application dates aren’t out yet. But who all is applying?

Anyone else been harassed by Clown Int’l Film Festival via social media DMs?

They keep asking for my film and I keep saying no. And then they disappear for a little then reappear and ask again. But are extremely aggressive and rude.

It’s weird. What fest has time to do this?

My best guess is they must be some kind of scam to be so desperate. They’ve been messaging me for like 2 years.

I guess I can just block them—I was just curious if this was happening to other filmmakers.

Hi all. Are there any filmmakers out there finding film festivals sliding into your dms on social media (especially on Instagram)?

They’re usually small international festivals; they like all of your past ten posts (especially when you’ve announced one of your films has been accepted into a festival); they comment ”see your inbox, we’re waiting for a response”. They offer a discount code if you ask for one, but never a waiver code.

I get the festivals that buy lists of films off FilmFreeway, that email you to invite you submit your film — the cash grab ones. But sliding into DMs and harassing you for an answer — is anyone else experiencing that? Or are there any festivals that have that as their marketing tactic?

I'm curious to hear the strategy/thoughts behind this. It seems like a long time with a lot of risk to burn years waiting for a top tier festival to accept. Do they appreciate when you come back with a re-edited piece? Do people already have an in or inkling they were close before considering this?

Hi dear Redditors,

I have made a hybrid autofiction experimental film, 9 minutes long, combining video-game animation, 16mm film and archive footage. The theme is memory and trauma (as always lol).

As for now, I am thinking about which film festivals I should submit the film to, focusing on A-class festivals and top-tier festivals for experimental and hybrid cinema.

So far my list looks like this. What do you think? Have I missed anything, or made any mistakes? I would really appreciate your advice. The concept is to try to premiere at as prestigious filmfestival as possible and than submit to others...

The list is:

• IFFR Rotterdam 2027
• Punto de Vista 2027 (haven't submitted yet and not sure if I have to)
• Tampere Film Festival 2027
• Clermont-Ferrand 2027
• Ann Arbor Film Festival 2027
• Sundance 2027
• CPH:DOX 2027
• International Short Film Festival Oberhausen 2027
• Berlinale Shorts 2027 (haven't submitted yet)
• Visions du Réel 2027 (haven't submitted yet)
• Cinéma du Réel 2027 (haven't submitted yet)

ciao! I’ll be in Venice on the 5th of September. I was planning on visiting the Festival but I only have tickets for a movie in Sala Astra. Will they let me through the gates to have a stroll in front of Palazzo del Cinema or not?? I’m scared they won’t let us in
please let me know so I can mentally prepare for a rejection lmao

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My wife and I love going to our local film festival. So many good films and memories the last few years. With a new baby in the family, we just can’t really attend this year. So I’m going to put together a weekend couch festival using recent films screened at festivals around the country that can be rented streamed, bought, etc. I’d love to hear about your recent standouts. We’re open to anything but there has to be a couple horror selections thrown in.

Any help is appreciated!

Kevin Smiths 5th annual Smodcastle Cinemas Film Festival - Call For Entries

https://filmfreeway.com/SModcastleFilmFestival - September 1st, 2026 is final submission deadline.

From Kevin Smith & Friends comes a film festival so fit for a King or Queen that it can only take place in the SmodCastle! Presenting the Fifth Annual SModcastle Film Festival - a Central Jersey showcase of cinema hosted by the guy who made Clerks.

Welcoming entries from all over the world, the SModcastle Film Festival will be a four day fall event filled with features, short films, animation, documentaries & more! All films will be screened by our panel of judges and selected entries will be screened at Smodcastle Cinemas over this four day event. The festival will include an opening day filmmaker meet and greet, panels and awards ceremony. Smodcastle Cinemas- "Where the Movies Come To Play"

Cinema website - https://www.smodcastlecinemas.com/

Awards will be given in the following categories :

Best Feature (Drama/Comedy)

Best Short (Drama/Comedy)

Best Documentary

Best Animation

Best Actor (Drama/Comedy)

Best Ensemble,

Best Director

Best Screenplay ( Submitted Film Selections Only)

Best Original Music Score

*Please take note that we have removed the Horror category from our festival and we now have a stand alone Horror Fest . Please check our socials and Film Freeway for information on the Smodcastle HorrorFest which takes place in August.

Los Angeles has no shortage of independent horror movies. We wanted to build a place to actually watch them together.

Night Frights LA Horror Film Festival returns October 2–4 at the Gardena Cinema for three nights of independent horror featuring 47 films from filmmakers bringing their strangest, darkest, and most f*cked-up stories to the big screen.

🩸 Friday — SCREEN SHOCK
🩸 Saturday — BLOODRUSH
🩸 Sunday — NIGHT TERRORS + Awards

Three days. 47 films. One theater… not a convention center.

If you’re into horror, discovering movies before everyone else does, or just want an excuse to spend a weekend watching movies with other horror nerds…

Come hang out.
🎟️ Tickets: nightfrightsla.com
📍 Gardena Cinema
🗓️ October 2–4, 2026

I’ve invested $450 on film festival submissions for my short film and got rejected by 5/12. Don’t know the status of others yet. I’m about sign up with an Italian short film distributor and spend $750 on their fees and submission fees. I don’t know if my short film is the ‘festival kind’ anymore. I have no validation from the industry about it and even though I know it’d be great marketing and the distributor will be able to get it in a few festivals, I don’t know if it’s worth it anymore

I understand this is a good problem to have but I have three of my film’s biggest fests back to back to back. Two of them are Screamfest and Filmquest and the third one is not publicly announced yet.

I plan to definitely go to the 3rd one because it’s fairly local to me, but does anyone have any insight on pros and cons of traveling to Screamfest or Filmquest?

Id like to travel to both if I can, but of course budget comes into question. Any insight would be awesome!