(Key points bolded for the convenience of readers with busy schedules and/or short attention spans.)
I put “film” in “quotes” because it’s really a five-minute somewhat-high-def video of what amounts to a comedy sketch acted out in a relative’s backyard. But I made it and it’s mine!
The sound and lighting could have been better, and I really should have known better than not to wear makeup, but it is what it is. It was fun to make, I learned a few things, and I think it could be mildly entertaining for others to watch.
I could just throw it up on YouTube or some other video-sharing site, but I may have kind of given the other actors (who look great, by the way; damn the young and good-looking) the idea that I would be entering it in festivals and listing it on IMDb.
IMDb’s policy is that they only list movies of general interest, which does not necessarily include video’s shot in a family member’s backyard and uploaded to YouTube, but does include film festival entries – but not all film festival entries. And of course not all festivals will accept five-minute somewhat-high-definition videos. I don’t mind spending a few bucks to enter a legitimate festival if I have a decent chance of being accepted, but I don’t want to throw many away on something that either rejects 99.9 percent of applicants or accepts everything and therefore is not “competitive” by IMDb’s standards.
So, can anyone share any advice based on success entering such products into film festivals and/or getting one listed on IMDb? (Note that I don’t need instructions on the mechanics of submitting data, nor do I need anyone to quote back to me the document to which I linked above, thank you very much. I’m looking for knowledge gleaned from personal experience)
All film festival organizations post their requirements - Sundance, BerlinFilmFest, etc.
Just go to their site, see when sumbissions are due, check out the format for submitting the film, rules on length (min/max) and content, etc. etc.
They get thousands of films submitted, so be patient and make sure you follow all of their guidelines to the “t”…
You might also check the various cable networks, they sometimes have short film festivals, I seem to remember seeing commercials a few years ago looking specifically for comedy shorts for the comedy channel.
I work for an indie film distributor. There’s a HUGE amount of resources out there for first time independent filmmakers. Keep in mind that most festivals get literally 50 to 100 times more submissions than they have room for; even a small festival rejects 98%-99% of all submissions. So keep trying.
My company only distributes films that have been previously selected for festival showing, so I won’t like to them. But do some google searching. Find a local film festival and submit your film. I have a friend who started his own festival, called the Couch Festival, that shows short films in people’s living rooms. You could do something like that. Just reach out to the arts/film community in your area, and you’ll find lots of ways to begin to get involved.
Chicago has the “REEL Shorts Fest” which features only short films. A friend of mine in California got a film of his in a couple of years ago. Information on how to submit an entry is on their webpage.
Thanks for the responses everyone, but it looks like I may not have been clear enough about the information I was looking for, which is not readily available by Googling.
What festivals qualify films for IMDb listing? IMDb lists some that don’t, but they don’t list any that do. I am not aware of any festivals that advertise this on their sites.
Of these qualifying film festivals, in which does an amateur microbudget, amateur short-short film have the best chance of acceptance? Although every festival publishes its technical requirements, many are vague about what sort of short films they favor, and few if any mention how many submissions they receive and what percentage they accept.
Does anybody have any first-hand knowledge of qualifying a film for IMDb that they would care to share?
Anyway, I’ve found partial answers to my own questions. Withoutabox (www.withoutabox.com – don’t blame me, I didn’t name it) is a free subscription service that links to film festivals, and a film submitted to a Withoutabox partner film festival (which is not every festival listed on the site) automatically qualifies gets an IMDb page.
By an amazing coincidence, Withoutabox and IMDb are both owned by Amazon, which also owns CreateSpace (www.createspace.com), a DVD-on-demand service. And selling your film through CreateSpace – surprise – earns you an IMDb page.
I guess this puts the lie to the claim that IMDb only lists films of “general interest.” If I upload a video of my dog licking himself on YouTube it doesn’t qualify, but if I market it through IMDb’s affiliated sites it does.
I don’t think putting it on YouTube would preclude you from entering it into festivals. It’s still your copyrighted material. Of course, check the rules of the festival you are planning on entering. But either way, you should upload it somewhere so we can see it. What is the point of making a film if you don’t want people to see it?
I believe you are correct. What I meant was that making something freely available or even self-marketing it on the Internet doesn’t in itself qualify something for IMDb, but marketing through channels owned or approved by Amazon does.
I appreciate the interest, but I like my anonymity on the board.
It was fun and a learning experience. Some day I’d like to make a film I’d be proud to show the world; this isn’t it. I’m not ashamed of it either; I just don’t think it will bring me any glory or improve anyone else’s quality of life significantly.
So why am I seemingly obsessed with getting it listed on IMDb? It’s a nice bonus for the actors (of which I am one). Most amateur and semi-professional actors have a lot of credits that aren’t easily verifiable, such as student projects and industrial training films. So having a couple entries in the number-one film and TV database gives you an edge on those who don’t. I’ve worked on the casting and representation sides, so I know it can make it a difference.