Filmmakers

Submissions, eligibility, categories, assets and screenings.

Jump to a section below to get what you need quickly.

We want the best for you: this support is designed to help you with our festival, but also to encourage and strengthen your submissions journey with festivals worldwide. If you feel something is missing and others may find it beneficial please reach out us.

Checklist

Before you submit: please make sure everything in the checklist below is done. Most support requests are resolved by fixing the screener access and completing the project page.

Screener plays straight away

Make it easy to start playback.

  • Test on desktop and mobile phone.
  • No geo-blocking (or set to Worldwide).
  • No login / “request access” required.
Common mistake: link expires or needs approval.

Password stays the same

Once submitted, treat it as locked.

  • Password is correct (copy/paste, no spaces).
  • Don’t change it after submitting.
  • If you update your link, re-check each submission entry.
Common mistake: password updated later.

Project page is complete

Give judges the context they need.

  • Short synopsis + full synopsis.
  • Director statement (2–6 sentences is fine).
  • Credits (Director, Producer, DoP, Editor, Sound + cast).
Common mistake: missing crew roles or no statement.

Artwork is uploaded

Used in listings and programme planning.

  • Poster uploaded (clean title, readable).
  • 2–3 stills uploaded (sharp, not watermarked).
  • Title/credit spelling matches your submission.
Common mistake: no stills or blurry images.

Closed captions/subtitles (if needed)

If not in English, add English closed captions/subtitles.

  • English CC/subtitles included (burned-in or .SRT file).
  • Timing starts at 00:00:00.
  • Check readability on mobile phone.
Common mistake: no CC/subtitles for non-English dialogue.

Final details check

Catch the things that break reviews.

  • Runtime/year/language accurate.
  • Link + password match the entry.
  • Title + credits spelt consistently.
Common mistake: mismatch between page and entry details.

Deadlines

No waiver policy: we don’t offer waivers to keep things fair for those who have already entered and to avoid giving others an unfair advantage. Our Earlybird fees are kept very low, and FilmFreeway Gold members can also take advantage of a discount.

Earlybird deadline

6 September 2024

£7.50 Standard / £5.00 Student and Gold

Regular deadline

11 October 2024

£10.00 Standard / £7.50 Student and Gold

Late deadline

15 November 2024

£12.50 Standard / £10.00 Student and Gold

Extended deadline

13 December 2024

£15.00 Standard / £12.50 Student and Gold

Submit early as possible. The earlier you submit, the more time you keep available to plan and submit to other festivals too.

Advice

Core idea: Your project page is what judges see with your screener—treat it like a mini press kit: synopsis, credits, artwork, and context. If you’re unsure: complete the checklist first, then return here.

Must-have fields

  • Short synopsis (1–2 lines) + full synopsis (paragraph).
  • Director statement (intent, why this story, what you want audiences to feel).
  • Key credits (Director, Producer, DoP, Editor, Sound + cast).
  • Metadata: runtime, year, country, language, genre/tags.
  • Artwork: poster + 2–3 stills with consistent title/credits.

Extra details that help selection

  • Spell names/roles consistently across all fields.
  • Keep runtime/year/language accurate.
  • Make sure your synopsis isn’t just a logline.
  • Double-check your category and eligibility before paying.
  • Ensure the poster/stills reflect your final title treatment.
Please avoid withdrawing your film if you haven’t heard back yet. submissions remain under review until notifications are sent. Only withdraw if a prior festival premiere affects your eligibility. If you’re unsure, contact us.
Screener + closed captions/subtitles (mistakes that cost you views)

Screener link

Best: Vimeo/YouTube or uploaded file.

Rule: don’t let it expire mid-judging.

Test: mobile phone + desktop playback.

Password

Keep it unchanged after submitting.

Festivals copy it quickly while reviewing.

Wrong password means film can’t be viewed.

Closed captions/subtitles

Add English CC/subtitles if not in English.

.SRT file: check timing starts at 00:00:00.

Check readability on mobile phone.

Common mistakes (quick scan)
  • Screener link expires or becomes inaccessible
  • Password changed after submission
  • Geo-blocking prevents viewing
  • Synopsis missing (or only a logline)
  • No director statement / no context
  • Key crew missing (DoP, Editor, Sound, Producer)
  • Poster missing / no stills
  • Inconsistent credits (names/roles/spellings)
  • Runtime/year/language incorrect
  • Closed captions/subtitles missing for non-English films
Short on time? Use copy/paste blocks, then personalise with your film. Logline + Short synopsis + Full synopsis + Director statement.
Tip: keep names/roles consistent across your whole project page.
Short synopsis (1–2 lines)
Keep it punchy. Avoid spoilers. Aim for clarity.
Full synopsis (paragraph)
Give judges context: who, what changes, what’s at stake.
Logline (one sentence hook)
Often 20–35 words. Make it specific, not vague.
Director statement (intent)
Helps judges understand intent and context quickly.

Troubleshooting

Before contacting support: re-check your screener link + password using the checklist. Most problems come from expired links, geo-blocking, or a wrong password.

No confirmation email

  • Check junk mail.
  • Search your inbox for the festival/platform name.
  • Wait 30–60 minutes.
  • If still missing, contact us with your film title + submission ID.

Screener won’t play

  • Test on mobile phone and desktop.
  • Disable geo-blocking.
  • Ensure the link won’t expire.
  • Keep the password stable and correct.

Profile incomplete

  • Add synopsis and director statement.
  • Fill cast/crew properly.
  • Upload poster and stills.
  • Fix spelling and keep credits consistent.
If you contact us: include film title, submission ID (if you have one), and the exact issue. Screenshots help.

Resources

Guides

Festival resources

Policies

Glossary

Screener
A private online viewing link used for selection/judging.
Film profile
The full submission information page (synopsis, credits, stills, poster, specs, links).
Synopsis
A short summary of the story (usually 50–200 words).
Logline
A one-sentence “hook” describing the film (often 20–35 words).
Director statement
A short note explaining intent, themes, process, or context.
Cast and crew credits
The key people who made the film (director, producer, DoP, editor, cast, etc.).
Key art / poster
The main promotional image used in listings and marketing.
Stills
High-quality images from the film used for promotion and press.
Deliverables
Files required if your film is selected for screening (video, closed captions/subtitles, artwork, etc.).
SRT
A subtitle/closed-caption file format used to provide timed captions on supported players.
DCP
Digital Cinema Package — a cinema-ready delivery format used for theatrical projection.
Resolution
The pixel size of a video (e.g., 1920×1080 for 1080p, 3840×2160 for 4K).
Frame rate
Frames per second (e.g., 24fps, 25fps, 30fps). Must match your master deliverable.
Aspect ratio
The shape of the image (e.g., 16:9, 2.39:1).
Closed captions/subtitles
On-screen text for dialogue and sound cues (useful for accessibility and non-English films).
Geo-blocking
Restricting a screener so it cannot be watched in certain countries/regions.
Waiver
A discounted or free entry code/permission (if offered) for submissions.
Selection
The festival’s decision to include a film in the programme.
Premiere status
Whether your film has screened elsewhere before (some festivals require a premiere).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers organised by topic on our FAQ page.

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Send us a detailed message through our contact form.

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