Film Festival Scams

Typical film festival entry fees range from $20 to $50. Many entry fees are somewhere in the middle or lower. Independent filmmakers should be cautious of submitting to film festivals that charge huge entry fees. This is especially true for film festivals that are fairly new. Unfortunately, there are film festivals that are operated by scam artists and individuals whose sole purpose is to make a quick buck.

The most expensive entry fees are usually charged by well-known prestigious film festivals. Unless an independent filmmaker is submitting to a festival such as Cannes, there is no reason to pay and expensive entry fee. High entry fees are one sign that a particular film festival is a scam. These scams are also evident in the procedure for submitting independent films. Most film festivals have an office location and entry fee checks are made out to the festival itself or a sponsoring organization.

If a film festival submission form requires filmmakers to make checks payable to an individual, chances are that it may be a faulty operation. This is not to say that filmmakers should not submit to a film festival because of that one particular factor.

There are many other facts to consider when determining if one should bypass a particular film festival. It may not be easy to tell if certain film festivals are legit. However, it will be easy to make a decision based on certain aspects of the event.

Many times, film festivals that have only been in operation for less than 5 years should be examined carefully before submitting a film. The proliferation of Withoutabox has made it easier to locate and access film festivals from around the world. This gives filmmakers a chance to also locate film festivals that are quite unknown. Film Festivals that lack a long history will not be taken very seriously. This is where it gets tricky. Finding new festivals can be a double edged sword.