Sebastian Nadilo – owner of Asian Film Festivals – brings you the first “Call for Entries Guide for Short Films”. The guide is aimed at Asian independent filmmakers, producers and distributors with the objective of providing them with quality information on how to plan and send their movies. In this last part he publishes information about General Festivals.

About this guide:
This guide is aims towards independent filmmakers, producers and distributors FROM ASIA & SOUTH ASIA that are having trouble planning their submissions. Please take in mind that this guide is ONLY for short films. For more information please go to the first part of this guide: HERE.

In this last post we are going to look at the General Festivals. I have planned four different routes; one focus on Busan & Singapore Festivals, another focus on the Most Prestigious Festivals, one for festivals with Free Entry and the last one for those who wish to send their films to the largest number of festivals.

Busan – Singapore Route

PROS: The festivals deadline and country premiere status do not interfere with each other. There is no entry fee for the festivals (if you submit to the Singapore festival early). Screen your movie at the top festivals in Asia. Good for filmmakers that are planning to end their productions mid-2020.
CONS: You will need to wait until to premiere your film until October at Busan.
FEES: FREE (The Singapore International Film Festival charges after the early deadline so don’t forget to submit early!)
Very important: To apply to the two festivals your short should be below the 30-minute mark.

Prestigious Route

PROS: The festivals deadlines and country premiere status do not interfere with each other. Submit to top festivals in Asia.
CONS: You will need to pay for entry fee on some festivals. Getting selected for the 1st, 2nd or 3rd festival (or all of them) could restrict your premiere at the Busan International Film Festival.
FEES: $ 60 up to $ 170 USD in entry fees.
Very important: To apply to all the festivals your short film should be below the 20-minute mark. Send your productions EARLY to avoid high entry fees.

Free Entry Route

PROS: You will be able to send your film to film festivals that doesn’t have Entry Fee. The list includes well known festivals such as the Busan International Film Festival. Almost all of the festivals accept fictions, documentaries and animations.
CONS: Country restrictions on Korean festivals restrict the list.
FEES: FREE but two festivals have platform fees (Total fees: 7 Euros = $ 8 USD, approx.)
Very important: To apply to all the festivals your short film should be below the 25-minute mark.

Most Number of Festivals Route

PROS: You can send your film to 11 festivals. Almost all of the festivals accept fictions, documentaries and animations.
CONS: Japan and Korea have country premiere status so you will need to decide which festival to send your film. Some festivals have submission fees.
FEES: From $ 106 up to $ 236 USD (Depending on the deadlines)
Very important: To apply to all the festivals your short film should be below the 25-minute mark.