Saturday, May 31st, 2025
Five Film Festival Mistakes Even Experienced Filmmakers Make
Submitting to film festivals isn’t just about finishing your film and hitting “upload.” Even seasoned filmmakers slip up when it comes to navigating the festival world – and we’ve seen some of the same mistakes crop up time and time again.
At Norwich Film Festival, we screen hundreds of films each year, and while the quality keeps rising, so do the little pitfalls. A polished film is only one part of the journey. Strategy matters. So does your understanding of how the festival landscape actually works.
In this expanded guide, we’re breaking down five of the most common missteps we see — and offering practical, actionable ways to avoid them. Whether you’re submitting for the first time or heading into your tenth festival run, these are the patterns to watch out for.
1. Treating All Festivals the Same
Not every festival is trying to be Sundance or Berlinale — and that’s a good thing. Each festival has its own identity, its own goals, and its own audience.
Some are industry hubs designed for distribution and press exposure. Others are grassroots, community-driven, or genre-specific. Some focus on first-time filmmakers; others are designed to champion niche work or regional stories.
Norwich Film Festival falls proudly into the filmmaker-first category: we champion emerging talent, short films, and thoughtful, curated programming. We’re here to celebrate craft, not just clout.
If you’re sending the same strategy to every festival, you’re doing your film a disservice. As the strategy experts at Festival Formula note, effective festival runs come from aligning your goals with the right festivals — not just the biggest ones.
Tip: Research each festival’s past line-ups, mission statements, and audience. If your film is about climate activism, don’t waste your budget on a horror-only showcase. If your short is experimental, target festivals that celebrate risk-taking. Strategic submissions save time, money, and heartbreak.
2. Forgetting the Power of the Logline
You’d be shocked how many excellent films are undermined by vague, confusing, or jargon-filled loglines. Some filmmakers try to sound mysterious. Others bury the plot under a pile of abstract themes. And some forget to include a logline altogether.
But here’s the truth: your logline is your film’s first impression. And it’s doing a lot more than you think.
Programmers skim hundreds of entries. A clear, compelling logline can make the difference between a programmer clicking through to your screener — or moving on to the next title.
What makes a good logline? Clarity. Character. Conflict. Who is the protagonist? What do they want? What’s standing in their way?
Examples:
✔ “A teenage graffiti artist discovers his latest mural has come to life — and it’s angry.”
✔ “Two rival funeral directors are forced to work together after a mix-up leaves one body unclaimed.”
Tip: Keep your logline under 30 words. Avoid vague terms like “a journey,” “explores,” or “navigates.” Test it on friends who haven’t seen the film. If they can’t describe what it’s about after one read, rewrite it.
For more examples and guidance, IndieWire has a useful breakdown of how to sharpen your pitch.
3. Overlooking the Audience Experience
You may have watched your film 100 times — but how will it play to a room full of strangers who’ve just sat through eight other shorts?
Festival screenings are public events. They’re often emotional, unpredictable, and communal. Your film isn’t being watched in isolation — it’s part of a programme. Pacing, tone, and clarity all matter more than you think.
Some filmmakers fall into the “arthouse trap”: assuming ambiguity equals depth. But if the audience can’t follow your story or engage emotionally, the impact is lost.
Tip: Screen your film in front of people who don’t know you. Listen to when they laugh, shift in their seats, or go quiet. Pay attention to your runtime — does it earn every minute? A strong start and a resonant ending can carry a short far.
Also, if possible, attend a festival screening of someone else’s film. Observe how audience reactions differ from your expectations. Learn what plays well on a big screen — and what doesn’t.
Remember, you’re not making a film for a laptop with headphones. You’re making a film for a crowd. Don’t forget the crowd.
An audience at an NFF screening
4. Ignoring the Q&A
Love them or loathe them, Q&As are part of the festival experience. And they can leave a lasting impression.
We’ve seen filmmakers breeze through Q&As with humility and insight — and we’ve also seen people ramble for ten minutes, freeze on stage, or treat genuine audience questions with awkward defensiveness.
The best Q&As humanise the film. They connect the work to the maker. And they often generate as much buzz as the screening itself.
Tip: Prepare 2–3 short stories or points you’d be happy to share. Think about what motivated the project. What challenge you overcame. What surprised you in post-production. Audiences respond to honesty and vulnerability, not polish.
Also: repeat the question before answering (helpful for recorded sessions), and keep your answers tight. If a moderator is present, treat them like a teammate — they’re there to help guide the energy.
For a helpful guide, this article by Melissa Dowler offers concrete advice on prepping for Q&As.
Tip: If you’re really nervous, bring a collaborator on stage with you. You don’t have to go it alone.
A panel Q&A during NFF2024
5. Focusing Too Much on Prestige, Not Enough on Purpose
Yes, awards and laurels are great for the ego (and the marketing kit). But they aren’t everything.
Too many filmmakers pour energy into landing a premiere at a “top-tier” festival, only to have their film lost in a sea of features. Meanwhile, a smaller festival might’ve given them a packed screening, direct audience feedback, and two new collaborators.
What’s your goal?
- Do you want to get into distribution?
- Are you looking for a sales agent or producer?
- Are you testing out a proof of concept for a feature?
Your answers should shape your festival run.
Festival Formula and other strategy consultancies often work with filmmakers to define realistic goals. A thoughtful 10–15 festival run can be far more effective than a scattergun 80+ submission spree.
Tip: Map out your strategy. Apply to a mix of top-tier, mid-tier, and regional fests. Consider where you’ll actually attend. Where you’ll connect. Where your film will be championed, not just screened.
Filmmakers attending an NFF2024 networking event
Final Thought
Even experienced filmmakers can fall into autopilot. The festival landscape is constantly shifting. But the filmmakers who thrive are the ones who keep learning, adapting, and engaging with their audiences.
So here’s what we suggest:
- Take a moment to audit your current strategy.
- Rethink your goals — is this about exposure? Momentum? Career development?
- Polish your materials: logline, synopsis, screening format, stills, press kit.
- Watch short film Q&As. Ask peers for honest feedback.
- Reach out if you’re unsure.
Yes, really — reach out.
At Norwich Film Festival, we want to be accessible. If you have a question about your submission, your logline, or your strategy, email us. We may not have all the answers, but we’ll always try to help.
Submissions Are Open
If you found this helpful, share it with another filmmaker. The better informed we all are, the stronger the work gets.
See you on the circuit.
You can submit now via FilmFreeway. Full details on categories, eligibility, and deadlines are also available on our submissions page.
