Smarter Submissions

Stop Wasting Time and Money Submitting Your Film To the Wrong Festivals

I provide expert feedback and tailored submission strategies to help get your short film on the right screens

The Festival Circuit is a Minefield

Submitting blind to film festivals is an expensive gamble. With thousands of festivals out there, a bad strategy wastes your budget, your time, and your hard work.Your film sits on the shelf, gathering dustSmarter Submissions was started to help filmmakers navigate the world of film festival submissions.I review your short film with an objective eye, identify its strengths, and build a personal, targeted roadmap to maximise your chances of selection.Take the guesswork out of your circuit run with a strategy of smart submissions

Meet Your Strategist

Hi, I’m JamesI’ve worked for over a decade in digital marketing, making content and getting it in front of the right people through social media, PR, events, and more.I’m also an emerging film programmer, watching hundreds of submissions every year and working with numerous festivals across the UK, as part of pre-selector juries and assisting programming teams.Now I’m helping filmmakers make smarter decisions when submitting their films to festivals.Here’s a list of festivals I’ve worked with:

You’ve already produced, written, directed, shot, and edited your filmIsn’t it time you had someone on your side to help with distribution?

Submit Your Film

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you guarantee my film will be selected by festivals?The straightforward answer is: no.Film festival programming is highly subjective and depends on variables like a festival’s specific theme, runtime limits, and year-by-year jury tastes. Many festivals receive hundreds of submissions every year, meaning even high-quality films do not end up making the cut.Although there are no guarantees, Smart Submissions was set up to help give you your highest possible chances of being programmed. By approaching the festival landscape strategically, rather than sending out bulk submissions to as many festivals as possible, I’ll help you try to build momentum and use your distribution budget wisely over several months.

Why should I pay for strategy instead of just using a platform like FilmFreeway myself?With thousands of active festivals, platforms like FilmFreeway are fantastic for getting your film in front of people making programming decisions. But many users find it difficult to know where to start with their submissions, getting lost among a sea of deadlines and tiered pricing.Among this confusion, it’s easy (especially for new filmmakers) to submit to festivals that don’t align with your film's genre, length, or production background.Some festivals are easy to spot as prime targets due to a genre focus (FrightFest being a good example!) but many others have programming categories applicable for your film buried among the festival’s general information or midway through their submission process.Rather than one burst of activity, you should plan your submissions strategically over several months. I look at your film through the lens of an active selector and give you a roadmap for how to spend your money wisely, outlining key deadlines to hit for each festival and highlighting why it’s a prime target for your film.

What types of film can I submit for review?Your film can be of any genre and any medium, and can have a run-time of up to 30 minutes. This is because many short film festivals either have hard limit of 30 minutes in their eligibility criteria, or simply will not programme a large number of short films of this duration (as they are trying to build varied programmes in 60-90 minute blocks).Your film should be as close to a locked, final cut as possible so that I can review it fairly. However, if you are open to editing your film down to hit run-time entry criteria, we can discuss this in our feedback call.

I have a limited budget - is your service worth it?The limited budgets of filmmakers was one reason why I started Smarter Submissions. Entering just two or three medium-sized festivals on FilmFreeway easily costs more than the cost of my review and submission strategy.By filtering out the wrong destinations, my targeted roadmap ensures that your remaining budget goes toward a festival where you stand a genuine, fighting chance. You’re spending money now to save money over the course of your festival run.

Can you help me secure entry fee waivers?While I will identify festivals that offer natural discounts (such as regional, student, or early-bird categories), I do not possess a list of free codes.Festivals rely on entry fees to survive. My strategies focuses on spending your money efficiently, rather than hunting for free passes.