Happy Monday!
Film festivals are officially back in the spotlight and I’ll be very upset if you don’t click Read Online to see a beautiful thumbnail for this week.
This past week in snowy Park City, Utah, the Sundance Film Festival kicked off. One of the most influential festivals in the world and often the launching pad for films that define the year ahead. Alongside festivals like TIFF and Cannes, Sundance sits in the highest tier of global cinema, the kind of place most filmmakers dream of reaching at least once in their careers.
But what exactly are film festivals, and why do filmmakers care so much about them?
At their core, festivals are platforms. For independent filmmakers especially, they’re often the only realistic way to get a film in front of an audience, industry professionals, and critics without spending thousands on a self-funded premiere. Renting out a theatre for a five-minute short can feel absurd. Submitting to festivals, on the other hand, feels like a door into the larger world of cinema.
Not to mention, NBC recently reported that more influencers, TikTokers, for example, are being invited to festivals like Sundance. Beyond the networking opportunities, this brings your film in front of a wider audience: people who aren’t even attending the festival but are paying attention to what’s trending and which films to watch when they’re released.
Of course, not all festivals are created equal. Sundance, TIFF, Cannes - these are A-tier festivals, the top of the hierarchy. Getting into one is a fantasy. But beyond them exists an entire ecosystem of mid-level, niche, and local festivals. Tens of thousands of them, each offering something just as valuable: visibility, legitimacy, and real audiences.
Today, platforms like FilmFreeway make it easier than ever to discover festivals, but easier doesn’t mean cheaper, or smarter.
When we were submitting 8-Ball, we went all in. From local festivals, international festivals, everything. Adrien ended up attending a festival in Vienna, Austria when the film was selected (and won). While I was at the Markham International Film Festival here in Ontario, watching our work play in a room full of strangers. Different scale but a similar feeling.
The tier list looks something like this:
Tier A: Sundance, Cannes, TIFF, Venice
Tier B: SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride, Fantasia
Tier C: respected regional festivals
Tier D: local festivals, niche festivals, experimental showcases
It’s also worth mentioning genre-based festivals. Horror, sci-fi, animation, documentary, and experimental films often thrive in their own circuits. Festivals like Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, Sitges, and Hot Docs attract audiences and programmers who are actively looking for specific voices and styles.
And then there’s the less talked-about side of festivals, the competition. At the upper tiers, you’re not just submitting a film, you’re competing with thousands of others. We’ve experimented with ways to stand out: reaching out to programmers, sending small themed gifts, doing anything subtle but memorable. Anything to stand out could work in your favour.
For independent filmmakers, it may feel like a gamble to submit to a festival. But at the same time, with the right approach, preparation, and a handful of luck, you’ll be surprised to see where that gamble can take you.
That’s all from me this week, I’ll be weeping that I couldn’t be in Park City, but maybe next year.
Take care!
Pat and the Marquet Films Team