You finished your film. Here’s how to get it into festivals in 2025

You’ve done it. 

You’ve spent countless hours writing and re-writing your script, scouting locations and casting in pre-production, getting each shot just right on set, polishing your cut in the edit suite, and…

…you’ve finished your film. It’s actually a wrap (for real this time!).

So what now?

Now’s the time to submit your movie to film festivals so the world can see the work you, your cast and your crew have put your blood, sweat and tears into.

Getting into film festivals can give you the exposure you need as a filmmaker. That’s what happened to our alumnus Brandon Trost, who worked on films that made it into Sundance,  SXSW and Newport Beach, boosting his career. 

Festivals are places to get inspired, to share your work, get feedback, meet fellow filmmakers and industry insiders—and they can open you up to distribution deals too. 

With your film in the festival circuit, you’ll have started building a track record that can help you move on to bigger projects and better opportunities. 

But as exciting as it is to submit your film to a festival, without the right guidance, it can be difficult, to say the least. Festivals receive thousands of submissions every year, so how do you increase your chances of getting accepted?

In this guide, you’ll find all the key steps, strategies and tips for navigating the 2025 film festival circuit successfully (and you’ll discover the common mistakes to avoid too). 

It all starts with choosing the right festivals. 

Choosing the right festivals

With over 12,000 film festivals available on platforms like FilmFreeway, it pays to narrow down your options. 

In fact, choosing the right festivals for your film is critical for maximizing exposure and increasing your chances of being accepted. Like setting up two friends on a date, it’s essential to make sure your film and the festivals you submit to are a perfect match.

Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind:

Genre alignment

From horror to comedy, shorts and features—no two festivals are exactly alike. 

That’s why it’s important to research festivals that showcase films that are similar to yours. If you’ve just made a horror, for example, a festival like Fantasia might be a good fit. Or, if you’ve just crafted a compelling documentary, you might have a good shot at Sundance. 

Creating a shortlist of festivals that match the genre of your film will make things a bit more manageable—and you’ll increase your film’s chances of being accepted and seen by the world. 

Prestige vs. accessibility

Getting a film into major festivals like Sundance, Cannes and Tribeca is a dream shared by every filmmaker. They come with prestige, but they’re highly competitive. 

Remember, there are thousands of festivals out there—when you’re starting out, picking smaller regional festivals could increase your chances of getting accepted. They’re also great places to access networking opportunities that could lead to your next project or the next step in your filmmaking career. 

But, if you think your film is a perfect fit for a major festival, why not go for it along with smaller regional ones? 

The odds might not be in your favor, but you never know—your film might just blow them away and get accepted. 

Festival reputation

With thousands of festivals to choose from, not all will give you the best exposure. 

Keep an eye out for smaller festivals with a strong industry presence, or that are known for launching careers, such as Slamdance Film Festival or Midwest Film Festival. By picking smaller festivals with a good reputation, you won’t just boost the chances of your film getting accepted, but you’ll maximize the opportunities and recognition you receive. 

So choose wisely.

Premiere status

Different festivals have different criteria for submissions. 

Some festivals prioritize submissions that haven’t screened yet, so they have their world premiere at the festival. While other festivals are more relaxed, accepting films that have already been shown elsewhere. 

Keep your premiere status updated on your film and pay close attention to submission guidelines to avoid disappointment.

Submission deadlines and fees

In an ideal world, you’d submit your film to a couple of thousand festivals to get the most exposure possible. But the reality is that applying for festivals isn’t free. 

Film festival fees range anywhere between $20 and $120. The costs can easily mount up, which is why it’s better to be more selective when deciding which festivals to apply for.

But the good news is that there’s a way to reduce those expenses: timing. 

Festivals typically offer three submission windows: early bird, regular and late. Earlybird submissions are much cheaper, and late submissions are much more expensive.

Here’s an example of some festival deadlines and fees to give you a clearer idea of the difference timing can make: 

Crafting your submission package

So you’ve identified which film festivals you want to submit your movie to, nice one!

If you want to make a good first impression on festival programmers (and increase your chances of acceptance), you’ll want to craft a polished and complete submission package.

Here are the essential things you’ll need to include:

Film screener

This is a copy of your film. Pay close attention to the festival’s submission guidelines here, as they’ll outline acceptable video file formats, codecs, frame rates, resolutions, sound formats, etc.

Synopsis and trailer 

Provide a short synopsis of your film and an engaging trailer that captures the essence of your film (yes, even if you’ve made a short film!). 

Director’s statement

This is a short, written description that explains the director’s vision and approach to the film. It provides a bit more context around your movie. 

It’s really important to keep this short, sweet and impactful so you don’t overwhelm screeners (the people who decide whether or not to accept your film) as they have a lot of films to get through. 

Marketing materials

You’ll also want to include marketing materials such as:

• Cast and crew bios that give a bit of background to the people behind your film
• An eye-catching poster that captures the vibe of your movie and can be used for promotion. 
• Any accolades or laurels from prior screenings that can increase your chances of being accepted.

Tips for success

With each film festival receiving thousands of submissions every year, how do you make sure yours stands out like a Tarantino masterpiece?

Follow these strategies to boost your chances of acceptance:

1. Think about film festival submission from pre-production

Looking at which film festivals you’d like to submit to—and their requirements—from pre-production will make a huge difference. 

It means you’ll be able to allocate a portion of your budget toward film festivals. And it’ll make it easier to prepare everything you need for your submission.

For example, during production you can make sure you have a photographer on set to take high-quality stills for marketing materials. 

And, by shortlisting which film festivals you’d like to submit to ahead of time, you’ll also know what specifications your film will need to adhere to so you can get accepted—things like maximum duration, whether it needs to be mixed to 5.1 surround sound, codec and video file format.

Knowing the criteria ahead of time means you can make sure your film meets requirements so you can avoid any unnecessary disappointment.

2. Submit early

Submit your film early, and you’ll not only save on fees (sometimes by up to 50%!), but you’ll receive more attention from film festival programmers. 

Programmers are usually swamped by the amount of submissions close to the late deadline—so if you submit early, they’ll be more receptive to accepting your film.  

3. Research past winners

The best way to make sure your film is a good fit for a festival? Research past winners and find out what they have in common.

It also pays to analyze the programming patterns from previous years to tailor your submission. Some festivals organize their programs by theme, or like to include a variety of uplifting and moving films to take their audience on a journey. 

Knowing where your film could fit in and tailoring your submission accordingly could increase your chances of acceptance. 

4. Track submissions

If you’re submitting to a few festivals, it can be easy to lose track. It’s helpful to create a spreadsheet to monitor deadlines, fees and whether or not a festival has accepted your film.

5. Mention your alumni status

If a previous project of yours has been screened at the same festival you’re applying to, make sure to mention it. It can really strengthen your application.

Common mistakes to avoid

You’d be surprised.  Many filmmakers make the same mistakes when submitting to film festivals—mistakes that mean their hard work goes unnoticed 

Don’t be one of them. Avoid these pitfalls during the submission process:

1. Submitting to irrelevant festivals that don’t align with your film’s genre or style

Festival programmers want to make sure they showcase films that represent the spirit of their festival and meet the expectations of their audience. If your film doesn’t align with the genre or style that the festival centers on, chances are you won’t be accepted. 

2. Missing deadlines

Keep an eye out for upcoming deadlines—missing them could mean you miss your chance to get your film seen and recognized.

3. Submitting incomplete packages

Make sure to read up on all the requirements for submitting to your chosen festivals. Sending through a package that doesn’t include all the necessary elements means you’ll instantly be rejected—no matter how good your film is. 

It’s a waste of the money spent on the submission, too. 

Overlooking technical specifications for file formats or metadata requirements

Pay close attention to the technical specifications, metadata and file format requirements that you’ll need to adhere to. Some festivals might even require a specific file naming convention. Overlooking these details will cost you your chances of being accepted. 

Festivals to submit to

Whether you’re aiming to get your film in front of industry insiders, build your reputation on the indie circuit or connect with like-minded creatives, there’s a festival out there for you. 

Here are some notable options to consider in 2025:

May

• IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival (Portugal): May 1–11
  A standout for emerging independent filmmakers, IndieLisboa celebrates fresh perspectives and experimental storytelling.
  
• DOXA Documentary Film Festival (Canada): May 1–11
  A haven for documentary filmmakers, DOXA is known for promoting thought-provoking, socially-conscious films.
  
• Cannes Film Festival (France): May 13–24
  One of the most prestigious festivals in the world. A true launchpad for careers—but incredibly competitive.
  
• Kraków Film Festival (Poland): May 25–June 1
  An important European festival for documentaries, shorts and animated films, with a strong international presence.
  

June

• Tribeca Film Festival (USA): June 4-15
  Known for bold storytelling across genres, from shorts to features.
• Sydney Film Festival (Australia): June 4-15
  Celebrates world cinema, including features, documentaries and short films.
• Annecy Animation Festival (France): June 8-14
  A must for animation filmmakers, from traditional to cutting-edge CGI.
  

August & September

• Venice International Film Festival (Italy): August 27-September 6
  One of the “Big Three,” with a rich legacy of showcasing masterful filmmaking.
• Toronto International Film Festival (Canada): September 4-14
  A major launchpad for Oscar contenders and a gateway to North American distribution.

Busan International Film Festival (South Korea): September 17-26
Asia’s most prominent film festival, spotlighting new Asian talent and global voices.

October

• BFI London Film Festival (UK): October 8-19
  A broad showcase of international and British cinema, ideal for reaching critics and global audiences.
  

November 2025

• IDFA – International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (Netherlands):  November 12-23
  The premier global destination for documentaries, combining artistic excellence with journalistic integrity.

Keep in mind that submission windows and deadlines for these festivals often open months in advance, so start early, do your research and plan ahead.

From script to screen

The 2025 film festival season offers countless opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work, connect with industry pros and take meaningful steps toward a career in the spotlight. 

Whether you’re chasing global prestige or building buzz on the indie scene, the key to success is preparation: finding the right festivals, crafting a standout submission package and avoiding the common missteps that could derail your chances.

Remember, festivals are more than just a competition. They’re places to connect with the filmmaking community, to get inspired, find new opportunities and to grow as a filmmaker. 

All your hard work on your film has led to this moment. So, take a deep breath, polish your pitch, and get ready to press submit.

Just think of alumni like Brandon, who now have successful careers with their work in the film festival circuit. 

Now, it’s your turn. Your film is ready for the world. It’s time to let the world see it.

Want to sharpen your filmmaking? Take a look at our film degree.