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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

"Official" "I've been rejected by Sundance" thread.

Stephen Pruitt

Stephen Pruitt

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9800 film submitted this year. 200 accepted.

"Works in Progress" will not be one of them.

Stephen
 
It doesn't work like that exactly...I got the call two years ago 10 minutes before they announced their lineup. We were very, very close and probably one of the last calls made. But, that doesn't count for much.
 
Been rejected several times over the years, now I just save the entrance fees for lunch money and show stuff on Youtube! :)

Noah
 
Don't sweat it, Stephen. There's plenty of good, high-profile film festivals out there. I'm confident "Works in Progress" will make a big splash once it's out in the public eye.
 
Jaime Vallés said:
Don't sweat it, Stephen. There's plenty of good, high-profile film festivals out there. I'm confident "Works in Progress" will make a big splash once it's out in the public eye.
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True Jamie. While there are still some gems that come out of Sundance, it has long lost it's way as an "independent" film festival. There are all kinds of politics that play a role in what is and isn't selected, and there are a fair amount of films there which already have studio backing via small off-shoot arms of bigger studios. It's also become heavily merchandised/commercialized, catering to the luxury class, which goes against the grain of what an independent film is really about.

While entrance fees have to be taken into consideration... there are LOTS of film festivals around the country. Austin City Limits, Chicago International, Montreal, are a few of the other more notable ones, but most metro areas have some kind of festival (i.e. Santa Fe, Louisville, Baltimore, etc...) and they are staggered through out the year.

If I had a film to get out there, I would take a two pronged approach. Follow Noah's advice about viral release, and submit to a geographically diverse portfolio of festivals, doing some research to see what kind of angle different festivals have of their own, and submitting to the ones that match your subject and target demographic. I would likely pass on Sundance.

Just my .02.
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
9800 film submitted this year. 200 accepted.

"Works in Progress" will not be one of them.

Stephen
Click to expand...

Stephen, I could care less for festivals such as Sundance, even so they are a great form of advertisement and meeting people while partying and possibly make some great connections, they are NOT the only source to get your material out there, so push on and best of luck to you my friend.
 
Brandon Kraemer said:
If I had a film to get out there, I would take a two pronged approach. Follow Noah's advice about viral release, and submit to a geographically diverse portfolio of festivals, doing some research to see what kind of angle different festivals have of their own, and submitting to the ones that match your subject and target demographic. I would likely pass on Sundance.

Just my .02.
Click to expand...

Careful some festivals consider you tube etc as distribution and won't pick it up.
 
Well. . . did you make it?

Did any RED features make it?

The word on the street was that Sundance went for very serious, depressing films this year. Apparently there were a few comedy-oriented features last year, and they dubbed it "the year of hope." This year, with a totally depressing line-up, they are calling it the "year of mope." Since we submitted a poignant romantic comedy, I don't feel so bad.

Actually, I do have the final numbers for 2009, taken from "The Reel Truth": In 2009, 3,661 features films were submitted for 120 slots. Only 12 of those were picked up for theatrical distribution."

But it's worse than that this year. That's right! This year, Sundance accepted only 16 U.S. narrative features out of the 1068 submitted.

Amazing.

Stephen
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
But it's worse than that this year. That's right! This year, Sundance accepted only 16 U.S. narrative features out of the 1068 submitted.

Amazing.

Stephen
Click to expand...

Wow!

Tried Sundance lab this year to no avail... decided to get a RED and shoot without their permission. :hurray:

...still got a lot to learn.

Anyway, waiting until I can see 'White Lightnin' again, 09 after hours program.

Thanks for posting the numbers. Hope RED gets in there.
 
I'd recently finished grading a 28 minutes short. Lo and behold on Friday I was informed by the director, that it got accepted into Sundance. It's a dramedy, shot on Viper... I know, it's not a feature, but still... We're all very pleased.
 
Gavin Greenwalt said:
Careful some festivals consider you tube etc as distribution and won't pick it up.
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count on it.. i did never realize why people bother to be happy w/ such cheap form of distribution.. side by side the ripoffs or silly Charlotte web series :huh:
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
The word on the street was that Sundance went for very serious, depressing films this year. Apparently there were a few comedy-oriented features last year, and they dubbed it "the year of hope." This year, with a totally depressing line-up, they are calling it the "year of mope." Since we submitted a poignant romantic comedy, I don't feel so bad.
Click to expand...
very likely
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
But it's worse than that this year. That's right! This year, Sundance accepted only 16 U.S. narrative features out of the 1068 submitted.

Amazing.

Stephen
Click to expand...
you know the world cinema is growing up thanks to the digital redvolution.. ooops.. revolution
 
Who gives a f... - most of the films that are accepted at sundance never make back a single dime. I know, it`s about the presence and advertisement - but then there are numerous other, way better ways.
 
Super congrats, Jake! It's more competitive for shorts than it is for features!

Stephen
 
SlamDance
SXSW
Austin City Limits
Austin Film Festival
Tribecca
Toronto


If Sundance or Cannes didnt give it to you, those are all also high profile festivals. Give 'em a shot.

I can't wait til next year when Sundance rejects MY feature! :)
 
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