Are you a filmmaker looking to save money on submission fees? In this blog, I’m going to discuss my top 5 tips for when I feel it’s appropriate to ask for a film festival fee waiver.
Most festivals charge a fee if you want to have your film considered.
The fees themselves can add up quickly. Typically, independent films also have a limited budget.
Asking for a fee waiver can seem like an enticing way to save money, however, they usually are not granted. There are exceptions though for some festivals, which I will discuss in this blog.
I’m both a filmmaker and the founder of the Mile High Horror Film Festival. As such, I understand both sides of it. I understand the perspective of an independent filmmaker as well as that of a film festival. I’ve had films play in festivals around the world and conversely, my festival has considered thousands of films from others.
Every film festival is different. They all have different policies for when and whether they can grant fee waivers. This blog is not implying policies of the Mile High Horror Film Festival. I’m merely sharing tips I’ve learned over the years from my experiences.
5 Tips for When to Ask for a Fee Waiver:
Tip # 1: Festival Alumni
When you are a festival alumnus, I feel that it’s definitely appropriate to ask for a fee waiver. If you’ve played a festival previously, the likelihood that a festival will want to consider your work again is high. Therefore, as a common courtesy, some festivals will grant fee waivers in this scenario. I’ve experienced this myself with my own films receiving fee waivers.
Not all festivals will agree to this, but I think it’s okay to at least ask whether they can grant one.
The worst they can say is no and if you still really want to play there and have it within your budget, you can always pay the proper fee to submit. When you pay the fee, you are guaranteeing that it will be considered.
Tip # 2: Riding the Buzz
If your film has a lot of buzz behind it, a festival may be more apt to consider a fee waiver. There are many ways to generate buzz for your film, such as winning awards, premiering at notable festivals, such as Sundance or even receiving substantial publicity. In general, the more buzz you have going for your film, the more apt a fee waiver might be possible with film festivals.
Tip # 3: Notable Cast or Crew
If you have notable cast or crew involved in your film, that can definitely help. A famous actor or director can definitely make a film more desirable. In that case, a festival may be more apt to consider a waiver because it adds to the overall allure of the film. However, that doesn’t necessarily make it worth watching and a festival may or may not waive a fee for this reason alone.
Remember, film is also subjective. What one person loves another person could detest. Famous or notable people in your film may add to its intrigue, but that doesn’t necessarily mean festivals will play it.
Tip # 4: Reputable Distributor
If your film is lucky enough to have distribution before playing a film festival, I think it’s not out of bounds to ask a festival whether they can provide a waiver. Some films, especially some features do have distribution before they hit the festival circuit. From their perspective, they are typically playing festivals to generate buzz for their upcoming release.
While having a distributor does not guarantee a fee waiver, some festivals are more likely to consider them. The reason for this is that if the distributor is reputable, the film is likely something that others want to see. At least that is what the distributor is betting on and if they have a reputation for distributing high quality films, the odds are that it will be decent, hence, worthy of a fee waiver by some festivals.
Tip # 5: Demand > Supply
My 5th tip is when the demand outweighs the supply. If festivals are coming to you and requesting your film, I think it’s definitely appropriate to ask a festival whether they can grant a fee waiver.
I experienced this with my film, ’The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato’s Allegory in Clay.’ This stop-motion animated short won so many awards and received enough buzz that a plethora of festivals requested it. I paid very few submission fees, even though it played film festivals worldwide.
Final Thoughts:
It’s important to note that you don’t need famous actors, awards, nor distribution to have film festival festival success. These things can help a film to potentially avoid festival fee waivers; that’s the purpose of mentioning them in this blog. However, they are not expected, nor necessary to produce a high quality production that film festivals will play.
Every festival is different as to when and whether they can grant a fee waiver. I understand that submission fees add up quickly and filmmakers need to be selective about where they submit. Budgets are typically tight.
I also understand the perspective of the festival. Most film festivals rely on submission fees as an important part of their operating budget. For this reason, the majority of festivals will not grant fee waivers in most circumstances.
Generally speaking, I don’t recommend asking festivals for fee waivers if you really want to play them. They will not typically be granted. You can always ask, but don’t be surprised if they either say no or ignore the request altogether. Festivals, especially the larger ones are usually busy considering the thousands of other films that were submitted by filmmakers who actually paid to be considered.
When working with a limited budget, my advice is to be extremely selective for where you submit. Ask yourself why you want to play film festivals. Is it to generate buzz, seek distribution or perhaps simply to get your film in front of live audiences? Whatever the case, I suggest doing research and submitting to festivals that match the goals for your film.
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