Why Short Films Are Rejected from Festivals and Reasons You Should Make a Short Before a Feature

This is really interesting! Thanks a bunch, more post like this!!
I’m actually just started research and sent to a few Festival my new short film called “FISH HEADS”.
You may have a look at the trailer if you’re interested:

https://vimeo.com/58445265

Just reading the cost of entry to the festival & having been applying to many festivals lately – It’s really shameful how expensive majority of American festivals are to apply to. Really scandalous.

I’ve actually been told by past festival runners that they prefer films that are short – if you’re pushing 12 minutes or more, they’re less likely to take them on because:

-longer runtimes = less films to show
-less films = fewer filmmakers showcased = lower ticket sales to a production’s family and friends

I’m positive that if it’s an outstanding film, they’re open to showcasing it, but the logic above that was described to me by a couple of sources makes a lot of sense as well.

I didn’t know anyone got rejected from Hollyshorts. It didn’t seem like it from the screening I went to at least.

The guy raises a lot of important points. I learned the hard way.

My graduating Short Film, a “Superhero Drama” shot on Super16, was simply too big for its shoes. The Short Film format is very, very different to the Feature Film format and is, in some ways, harder to execute. You just simply do not have the time for multiple characters, extensive back story and sub plots. I’m currently working on a few scripts at the moment, and most of the time I’m asking myself “Is this getting too big?” Just focus on telling a great story in the time that you have.

Maybe Hollywood Shorts is different, and I’m sure SunDance and certain other festivals have their merits.

But I’m wondering why I should actually PAY to submit my film to any festival. Like, ever.

I’ve seen the trash that wins regional film festivals; often times they look like student films. Interviews with the rapping cowboy and his family.. “Best in Show!” at Atlanta Film fest. really? I couldn’t watch more than 5 minutes without turning away.

My “local” film festival told me quite plainly “local films aren’t the draw here”, as they took an identical film from another state.

Many, many film festivals will only accept content through WithoutABox, and I don’t down-sample my 4K timelapse work to the 640 pixels that will fit onto the DVD format.

Who is doing who the favor here? Why should I even bother submitting to film festivals anymore, when they so clearly resent my efforts to share my work?

My philosophy now is to only care about a film festival if my film has been invited. I didn’t realize what a big deal it was to have my film invited to the Vermont Film Festival, otherwise I would have made a grand effort to attend in person.

This thing should be the other way ’round. Why would I pay them to reject my film? Why would I pay them to accept my film, either? Aren’t they charging admission at the door? Wait, so they’re charging the filmmakers and the audience?

Yeah, maybe I just don’t get it. I’ll take 100,000 views from Gizmodo over winning just about any festival except for SunDance or Cannes. At least I don’t have to pay Gizmodo for sharing my video!

I would think that films with bad sound (kinda like in these videos) would probably raise a flag.

I’ve been thinking about and studying this a lot lately because I’m trying to decide on my next project. I think the way to go with shorts is to come up with all that backstory, and just hint at it.

Look at the last episode of The Walking Dead (“Clear”). IMO one of the best episodes they’ve had and an example of what I mean. Without getting into spoilers, the most compelling parts were two people talking. (one actor was particularly great). They talked about things that happened in the past, things that you would have seen if you had been watching the show from the beginning, but you didn’t feel lost. In fact I think it was MORE compelling because there were no flashbacks and your brain was engaged.

I’m still curious to hear from Koo, what happens if the short doesn’t turn out well? For whatever reason it doesn’t connect or the performances just don’t do it, etc..

You basically have almost no chance of making the feature at that point or raising further money.

Granted you’ll still have the $90,000 to make your film, but as you’ve eluded to, that’s not going to be enough to make the feature.

Just curious if you’ve thought of that aspect? Not to be a complete pessimist, but was just curious because I had your idea of making a short based off a feature and was talked out of it by producers who said if the short doesn’t work, kiss the feature good bye.