Sundance Film Festival FAQ The first step is to complete the online submission form, then send a copy of your film to the address provided. The festival receives over 12,500 submissions for around 275 berths, so the chances of selection are quite slim.

What are the odds of getting into Sundance?

Even people with only a passing interest in cinema are familiar with the phrase “Sundance bidding war” or “Sundance darling”. When you consider the odds on such a lottery ticket, bear in mind that 98% of the feature films submitted to Sundance for the 2024 festival were rejected.

How much is it to submit a film to Sundance?

For instance, if our budget for promotion at qualified festivals is $800, we can submit to 20% of those festivals (41 qualified festivals on Filmfreeway) with a submission fee of $20. But in that case we won't be able to try our luck at Sundance, where it costs between $45 and $85 to submit a short film.

Does Sundance only accept premieres?

Open submissions to our U.S. Feature Film categories must be world premieres, while open submissions to our International Feature Films categories must be international premieres. However, we reserve the right to select projects for some out-of-competition programs that do not meet these requirements.

How prestigious is Sundance Film Festival?

It is one of the most respected and celebrated film festivals in the United States.

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Can normal people go to Sundance Film Festival?

Most screenings and panels at Sundance are open to the general public, in addition to many industry professionals who regularly attend. However, the level of access to everything at the festival varies. Sundance Film Festival tickets, packages and passes can be purchased on the Sundance Film Festival website.

Do famous people go to Sundance Film Festival?

There is no doubt that the mind-bending features, hard-hitting documentaries, shorts, rom-drams, rom-coms, and animated works at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival are the focal point of the 10-day mega-event, for which thousands of A-list celebrities and industry folk descend upon the snowy mountaintops of Park City, ...

How do I get my film into Sundance?

Sundance Film Festival FAQ

The first step is to complete the online submission form, then send a copy of your film to the address provided. The festival receives over 12,500 submissions for around 275 berths, so the chances of selection are quite slim.

How does Sundance select films?

Films are included by invitation only and are normally selected on the basis of their compelling stories or innovative approaches. The selection usually includes around 15 films of each type, both from US and international directors.

What is the acceptance rate for film festivals?

Average festival acceptance rate is 13% (one in seven submissions). Every 65th submission (1,54%) was accepted at the most prestigious film festivals like FIAPF, Academy Award-Qualifying. In the first chart, we see that a big budget of a short film is a gate to a more intense festival circuit run.

What kind of short films get into Sundance?

Every type of filmmaking style is welcome: animation, documentary, narrative, and experimental stories are chosen to reflect the diversity and range of each year's pool of submissions. The Sundance Film Festival accepts content that is 49 minutes or under for the Short Film category from any country.

How many films does Sundance accept?

SPECS. For Sundance, features must run 50 minutes or longer and be World Premieres for U.S. films or International Premieres—except for those films in the curated, invitation-only “Spotlight” category. The festival accepts 120 features from a pool of around 5,000 submissions.

What is special about Sundance?

"Our annual program includes dramatic and documentary features, short films, and episodic content. We also host daily filmmaker conversations, panel discussions, and other events. Since 1985, hundreds of films launched at the Festival have gone on to gain critical acclaim and reach new audiences worldwide."

How to get your short film noticed?

What celebs go to Sundance?

Attendees included Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, and Normani celebrating the premiere of their film Freaky Tales; Lucy Liu and Julia Fox fêting the Steven Soderbergh-directed Presence; friendly trio Dylan O'Brien, River Gallo, and Victoria Pedretti for Ponyboi; Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg (sans furry costumes) for ...

Is there a dress code for Sundance Film Festival?

In the evening, parties tend to require slightly more dressing up, but there are very few events at Sundance which get anywhere near black tie (and most venues will have a coat-check where you can leave your heavy outer layers).

Does Sundance take short films?

Throughout its almost 40 years of history, the Festival has always supported short films, providing a platform for both established and new filmmakers to connect with audiences.

Who is the target audience for Sundance Film Festival?

The Sundance Institute launched a 2024 film festival marketing plan to grow its 18-to-34 year old fan base.

How to join waitlist Sundance?

Important: The Waitlist Badge does NOT put you on a waitlist. To join the waitlist for a specific screening, visit the film detail page for that film and click the "Join Waitlist" button for the screening you would like to attend. Voting: Your Waitlist Badge must be scanned to vote.

Does Sundance accept rough cuts?

Sometimes we get rough cuts early in our process from filmmakers looking for an early read or hoping we'll be interested enough to watch subsequent versions. Other times, we'll get cuts that have been rushed to meet the fall deadline. We've even received films that have yet to shoot a good portion of the scenes.

Does Sundance require a world premiere?

However, here's a roadmap to guide you in submitting your film to the Sundance Film Festival for the 2025 edition or future years: Eligibility: World Premiere Status: Your film must be a world premiere, meaning it cannot have been publicly exhibited (theatrical, television, online) before the film festival.

Do film festivals make money?

Festivals have several ways of making money. For one thing, they sell tickets. For another, they solicit corporate sponsorship. Sponsoring a film festival provides major brand enhancement.

How much money does Sundance Film Festival make?

The data is compiled into a final report released each year. According to that report, the 2023 Sundance Film Festival brought in $63 million in wages and $12.8 million in tax revenue. Out-of-state visitors spent $96 million during the festival, which contributed $118.3 million to Utah's gross domestic product.

What do people do at Sundance Film Festival?

Our annual program includes dramatic and documentary features, short films, and episodic content. We also host daily filmmaker conversations, panel discussions, and other events.

How many films are at Sundance 2024?

Last month, the Sundance Institute announced the 82 feature films and 52 shorts selected for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. And there's a common thread that ties together six of this year's lineup—they all found funding on Kickstarter.