Didn't Get Into Sundance?
Try These 10 Film Festivals Next

The 32nd Annual Sundance Film Festival kicks off today, and we want to offer a hearty congrats to those lucky and talented enough to get in!

What began as an event to showcase American independent films has since evolved into America’s largest film festival and a major industry event responsible for creating significant critical and commercial buzz for the selected films.

But it ain’t easy to get your film accepted into Sundance (hey, remember that time we sent a bunch of Tongal filmmakers to Sundance?!). On average, only 1.6% of the over 12,000 films submitted each year ultimately premiere in Park City, UT. What’s more, if you look over the lineup, there's some pretty stiff competition and at times can feel like you'd need to feature big-name talent or an established producer to get your shot.

So, what’s a director to do? In addition to the fests that everyone and their uncle has already heard of, we suggest checking out these under-the-radar (but awesome!) film festivals:

1. Slamdance (January) - This festival is focused on emerging talent and has served as a counterpoint to Sundance since 1995. Although celebrities often make an appearance, Slamdance still manages to hold onto its indie bonafides. They also have a pretty great screenplay competition for writers. More info: http://slamdance.com/

2. Guadalajara International Film Festival (March) - The most prestigious film festival in all of Latin America also boasts the second largest distribution market in the world and caters predominantly to Spanish language cinema. The kicker? Select "Best of the Fest" films travel on to Los Angeles for a special showcase, so it's like being programmed twice. More info: http://www.ficg.mx

3. Boston Underground Film Festival (March) - What’s not to love about a film festival that bills itself as “a celebration of the bizarre and insane”? If you’ve got a twisted film that leaves viewers saying “What did I just watch?”, you’ll probably do well here. More info: http://bostonunderground.org/

4. Chattanooga Film Festival (March/April) - This unpretentious festival has made a name for itself amongst filmmakers and audiences in only 4 short years as a home for the Southern film community and a damn fun time. More info: http://chattanoogafilmfest.com/

5. Phoenix Film Festival (April) - No need to schlep all over town, this festival offers all screenings in one central location. It also doesn’t hurt that they roll out the red carpet for their featured filmmakers. From covering transportation and accommodations to a filmmakers-only dinner to raucous parties, you’ll feel like a star even if you never make a cent on your film. More info: http://www.phoenixfilmfestival.com/

6. Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June) - This long-running celebration of animated films is located in an idyllic alpine town in southeast France, and in addition to the usual indoor screenings, features four outdoor screens so you can really soak up the town’s beauty. More info: http://www.annecy.org/  

7. Outfest (July) - For films featuring LGBTQ protagonists, this LA-based festival offers an inclusive and celebratory space to get your work seen and connect with the community. More info: http://www.outfest.org/

8. Fantastic Fest (September) - The largest US fest for genre films is also located in one of the hippest US cities, Austin. Come for the horror, action, and sci-fi fun - stay for the food trucks, wild parties and people watching. More info: http://fantasticfest.com/

9. Tallgrass Film Festival (October) - This “stubbornly independent” festival is known for its heartland hospitality. Many of the directors of the films they program receive flights, a stay at a local Wichita hotel, and access to parties each night of the festivities. More info: http://stubbornlyindependent.com/

10. Citizen Jane Film Festival (October) - A paltry 7% of top-grossing films in the US were directed by women last year, but this festival aims to change all that. Celebrating “independent film by independent women,” ladies get the chance to network and attend panels that support their industry goals. More info: http://citizenjanefilmfestival.org/

11. BONUS: Local Fests (Year round) - Film Festivals located near your hometown may not be the most prestigious of options, but should you get into a local fest, you can’t beat the non-existent travel costs that go into making an appearance. Another upside? You get to network with film lovers who live nearby (and who might help you make your next movie) - More info: https://filmfreeway.com

For all other festivals, we defer to MovieMaker’s annual list of “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” 

Which film festival(s) would you recommend to filmmakers? Share your experience in the comments.