Sundance
- Thread starter TJ-45
- Start date
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+enter+sundance+2013
Keep in mind that festivals like Sundance are really strict on their rules and guidelines, they generally require Premiere status. So if you plan to submit to high profile festivals, you should look at their guidelines before submitting to any festivals.
Keep in mind that festivals like Sundance are really strict on their rules and guidelines, they generally require Premiere status. So if you plan to submit to high profile festivals, you should look at their guidelines before submitting to any festivals.
Thank you for patronizing me. -_- When I looked at their website, I was looking for something like "registration" or something of that nature. When I saw 2013 entries, I thought it meant who was already to be featured.
And thank you, jax_rox. Yeah, I'm actually daunted by the grandeouse nature of it, but I just thought I'd ask.
And thank you, jax_rox. Yeah, I'm actually daunted by the grandeouse nature of it, but I just thought I'd ask.
You kinda had that coming, dude. Though I can sometimes be the king of snark, I'll spare you on this occasion since you already got it from others. But yeah, besides the fact that the front page on their website has a clearly-labeled button labeled "submit your film", it's also true that you could've just googled "how to get into sundance".
Anyway, your question has been answered by jax_rox, so you're all good there. If you don't mind, on a side note I'd like to mention that within the indie filmmaking community, I don't think Sundance has a reputation for being a film festival for and of the people. Contrary to what is believed by most non-filmmakers, I think that most indie filmmakers don't really think of Sundance as a true indie film festival. It's grown too bloated, and too influenced by money. That's my opinion anyway, and I came to believe this because I've read so many disparaging remarks that all say the same thing.
This reputation that Sundance is no longer for the little filmmakers is the very reason why their rival, Slamdance, even exists. Slamdance was founded by a group of filmmakers who were fed-up with all the backdoor dealings going on at Sundance, and they vowed to keep their submission process egalitarian, and they've done that. Most people have never heard of Slamdance, but within the filmmaking community, it's HUGE. It is one of the very small handful of film fests that can really launch a filmmakers' career. Ask Chris Nolan -- Slamdance worked for him.
I hope you don't mind the unsolicited advice on this. If you just feel like you have to submit to Sundance, I can't fault you for that. But if your money is limited (which surely it is), I think you're better off saving your money from Sundance and using it to submit to a different fest.
Either way, best of luck.
Ditto what CF just said.
Pretty much, unless you have a indie film with a >$4M production budget, don't even bother spending a minute on Sundance.
Big box stores don't carry no-name knock-offs on their shelves.
Why?
Because they're often cr@p products and customers would quit coming if they "perceived" the big box store as providing cr@p on their shelves.
So, the big box stores carry sh!t that's pretty marketable: names we're all familiar with.
Same for Sundance.
It's a business.
Don't ever forget that.
Pretty much, unless you have a indie film with a >$4M production budget, don't even bother spending a minute on Sundance.
Big box stores don't carry no-name knock-offs on their shelves.
Why?
Because they're often cr@p products and customers would quit coming if they "perceived" the big box store as providing cr@p on their shelves.
So, the big box stores carry sh!t that's pretty marketable: names we're all familiar with.
Same for Sundance.
It's a business.
Don't ever forget that.
It is possible to get a low/no/mini/micro budget film into Sundance, but the odds are very much against you. The feature "Moonshine", on which I did quite a bit of audio post work, and the 20 minute short "Hard Attack," on which I did all of the audio post, both made it into Sundance for screenings. I have no idea why "Moonshine" got a screening; perhaps he knew someone. "Hard Attack," on the other hand, was excellent; the production sound was stellar, so the audio post was "easy" (easy meaning I could have fun and be creative rather than it being a rescue operation). Shot on 35mm, "Hard Attack" was also really, really funny; it was about a guy who accidentally overdoses on Viagra right before a meeting a very sexy, attractive woman.
Another alternative to Sundance would be the Moondance Festival. There are lots of others out there.
Just keep in mind that poor sound will put your project on the reject pile.
Another alternative to Sundance would be the Moondance Festival. There are lots of others out there.
Just keep in mind that poor sound will put your project on the reject pile.
Did anyone else submit this year? I'm wondering if anyone got their rejection email yet. With only 3 weeks of judging left we should be hearing back any time now.
Sleep with Redford?
One film I DP'd last year and another I ran 2nd unit on were both submitted to Sundance - I know for sure one was rejected outright, causing the film's owner to flip out about the unfairness of it all. (Honestly, it was an awful film)
Still haven't heard about the second, but the film's owner prolly has - he's essentially shelved the finished film, and he reckons Sundance was his final shot at getting some attention for it. (It's not even close to being at a competitive level for Sundance).
Fillmakers are delusional, when it comes to their own projects.
.
Fillmakers are delusional, when it comes to their own projects.
To an extent, I agree with this. Perhaps I'm just projecting here, but I feel like it's kinda normal for artists to swing back and forth between having complete confidence in their work, and having absolutely none. Maybe one day I feel like a total genius, and the next day I'm a fraud. I try to spend most of my time in the middle, but the swings of artistic self-confidence do happen. That's not just me is it?
Anyway, on the subject of Sundance, I feel the same way now as I did when I first wrote a response in this thread, a couple years ago. Screw them bastards! Don't send them your money, they're not for us!
Take a look at last year's Sundance premiere's, vs. last year's Slamdance premieres. C'mon, gimme a break! If Sundance is Indie, then my ass smells of lavender and thyme, when I shit solid blocks of puppy-dog-flavored ice cream.
Besides the fact that most people on this forum simply cannot compete with the likes of Joseph Gordon Levitt, Amanda Seyfreid and Paul Rudd (among many other major Hollywood stars featured in Sundance), it's also true that Sundance gets so many submissions that they literally can't watch them all (too many films, not enough people/time to watch them, basic math). With a lawsuit pending against them, they admitted that they can't watch everything, and don't make any guarantee of how much of your film they'll actually watch (it's even stated in their submission policy). In other words, you may very well pay for them to NOT watch your film.
They also don't treat all submissions equally. They are open to submissions given to them by agents and major Hollywood producers. Slamdance, on the other hand, only accepts blind submissions. Everyone has to submit their film in the exact same way. Slamdance won't allow a well-known talent agency or Hollywood producer to bypass the regular submission process (as Sundance is known to do).
I can't fault anyone if they really just want to gamble on Sundance. Every now and then, I play the lottery, even though I know that the odds of me winning are basically non-existent. So, yeah, go ahead and basically waste your money on Sundance. Hey, somebody has got to win the lottery!
I feel like it's kinda normal for artists to swing back and forth between having complete confidence in their work, and having absolutely none. Maybe one day I feel like a total genius, and the next day I'm a fraud. I try to spend most of my time in the middle, but the swings of artistic self-confidence do happen. That's not just me is it?
I completely relate to this! I can't tell you how manic I've felt during the entire 2 years of making my 1st feature film. Constant highs and lows.
But I disagree about not submitting to Sundance, and I basically have 3 reasons why:
1. You can't win the hands you don't play. There are only a few film festivals that can potentially fast track your career. Of course it's not guaranteed once you get in, and there are certainly other ways to become a successful filmmaker, but why not cover all your bases?
2. If you don't get in (even if they never even watch your film) I don't think it's a waste of money. At the very least, you just donated money to an organization that celebrates cinema. Some of that money even goes into their workshops and grants to fund other films. Be proud.
3. Indie filmmakers with no budgets and no name actors have a better chance than most people think. In case nobody has noticed, for the last 4 years Sundance has added the "NEXT" category to their program. It's specifically reserved for new filmmakers that show a lot of promise, and feature films with small budgets. Winners of this category include "This is Martin Bonner", "Sleepwalk with me", "to.get.her", and "Homewrecker" (later retitled The Locksmith)
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