Thinking of submitting your masterpiece to film festivals? Here are our top tips and tricks to increase your chances and make the most of your submission dollars. #filmfestivalseason
FIND NICHE FESTIVALS
Of course, submit to your dream festivals, but save some of your budget to some lesser-known, niche festivals that align with your film. This ups your chances of getting in and getting recognition for your work.
SEEK WAIVER FEES
Submissions can get expensive. Did you know some festivals offer fee waivers for students or underrepresented filmmakers? It’s worth checking out! Don’t be afraid to ask if you qualify.
NETWORK WITH FILM PROGRAMMERS
Attend local film groups, connect on linked in, attend film festivals, - whatever you need to do to rub elbows with film programmers. You never know who you may run into to give you insight on a specific festival.
Happy Submitting!
JUNE'S SPOTLIGHT FILMMAKER: Chiara McCarty
Chiara McCarty is an award-winning actress and producer, and director originally from Ortona, Italy.
Her interest in acting first sparked when she enrolled in a drama class in high school. After graduating high school, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Art (AADA) in Hollywood for one year. After not being invited back to AADA for a second year, Chiara took one year away from acting in an attempt to find a new career path. Not being able to get away from the theatre, she auditioned and was accepted into the Theatre Academy at Los Angeles City College (LACC), a three year theatre conservatory. It was during this time that her love and passion for the craft of acting truly developed. After completing the theatre program at LACC and earning Associate of Arts in Theatre, Chiara attended UCLA where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature. She continues to study and practice the craft of acting under Benjamin Mathes at Crash Studios.
In 2018, her and her husband moved to Austin, where they have been able to reignite their creativity and connect to an amazing community of creatives. She served on the Board of Women In Film & Television (WIFT) Austin for four years, two as Marketing Chair and two as Vice President. It has been through WIFT Austin that she has been able to connect and collaborate with incredible filmmakers, as well as build lasting friendships in the Austin film scene.
She believes there is great power in storytelling, and she hopes to tell stories that inspire, that open people's minds to different perspectives, that give hope, that shine a light in dark places, and that give a voice to the voiceless.
You can catch Chiara on Tubi as Molly in the quirky indie dark comedy WHAT ABOUT MOLLY? and on Amazon Prime as Cleo in the filmed stage performance of KILL ALL POLITICIANS. The most recent short film she acted in, OPEN TO WORK, is featured in Ideas We Love and Film Shortage. Her directorial debut is the award winning short film SHAME FULL.
In February of this year, Chiara wrapped production on the upcoming sci-fi feature film ANGEL, which she produced and starred in as Celeste. In May, she wrapped production on the short film DESERTEUR in which she portrayed Chajka.
UPCOMING EVENTS
WIFT Thirds Thursday of the Month. ATX.
See you next month!
Jenny & Catie
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