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.
The 82 films comprising the 2024 Sundance slate were chosen from a total submissions pool of 4410 feature-length films. Of those 4410 films, 1679 titles were U.S. hopefuls and the remaining 2741 films were international submissions.
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.
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.
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.
How to get accepted at film festivals (full guide)
What is the acceptance rate for Sundance?
While there were a record number of feature submissions this year (17,435) and short film submissions (12,098) only 91:features and episodics and 53 short films from around the world were accepted this year. The acceptance rate for this year for features was barely . 05%.
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.
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.
Any narrative or non-scripted work of fiction originating from within the United States with a running time of 50 minutes or more. In order to qualify as a U.S. Narrative Feature Film, the submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction, or a fictionalization of actual events, and at least half of ...
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.
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.
The Sundance Film Festival is the ultimate gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. Our annual program includes dramatic and documentary features, short films, and episodic content.
How many short film submissions does Sundance get?
“The 40th Edition Celebration Screenings will showcase films from Sundance's rich history, each having made an indelible impact on culture. Our outstanding Short Film program selection, chosen from more than 12,000 submissions, simultaneously welcomes the next generation of voices and storytellers to watch.
Does Robert Redford have anything to do with Sundance TV?
After negotiations during 1994 broke down to turn Robert Redford into a partner in AMC Networks predecessor Rainbow Media's Independent Film Channel, Redford launched Sundance Channel in February 1996 as a joint venture between Showtime Networks (then a division of Viacom, later owned by CBS Corporation and ...
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.
One of the most accessible ways to monetize your short film is by sharing it on online platforms like WFCN, YouTube, Vimeo, or even through your own website. By enabling advertisements on your videos, you can earn revenue based on views and ad interactions.
The Script must be written in the English language. The Script must be new, that is, not previously submitted to any Sundance Institute labs, competitions, grants, or programs; not already produced; not already sold to a third party; and not distributed online or otherwise.
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.
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.
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.
How much should I budget for film festival submissions?
Prestigious Film Festivals: Generally have higher film submission fees, ranging from $50 to $150 or even more. Smaller Film Festivals: May have lower fees, sometimes even free film submissions, especially for non-profit film festivals.
How Filmmakers Make Money. The short answer to the question of how filmmakers make money from film festivals is that they often don't. In fact, in some cases they lose money because they have to pay to submit their films. Not every filmmaker receives a screening fee if his or her film is selected.
