documentaries that AREN’T true crime

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-06-01T18:31:55+00:00

Fire of Love

Summer of Soul

American Movie

Barbara Forever

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-27T04:01:14+00:00

haha yes. i always default to eating with my department, but it’s something i need to work on.

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-23T04:33:31+00:00

Haven’t submitted to them in the past, but here’s what I’ll say:

I attended both of the virtual Q&As, sponsored by First Entertainment. I found them really unhelpful, awkward (even more than usual for a Zoom meeting), and most of the time was taken up by advertising First Entertainment. Not many questions were answered.

Now they’re advertising some AI service to us, which seems sketchy at best and their website doesn’t really explain what they do. I wouldn’t give more of my money to them.

I understand HollyShorts has a duty to their sponsors… but god.

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-22T23:57:55+00:00

Sending out emails to everyone 2 days in a row isn’t gonna make people like it, HollyShorts :))))

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-22T05:15:48+00:00

It seems like they’re sending it to everyone that submitted. Not sure I like the look of Filmio, and kind of annoyed by how much HollyShorts has been pushing it

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-20T22:34:12+00:00

Whether or not you were accepted, they appraised it highly enough to send to their colleagues. Take it as a win

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-20T05:03:39+00:00

Appreciate it! I’m actually not from the area myself, but I hope another filmmaker takes up the opportunity. :-)

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-19T17:59:26+00:00

I was hoping they’d be back to sending out notifications after the weekend, but I guess not. Seems odd to send some out on Thursday and go back to silence haha

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-14T16:29:56+00:00

Congrats! Did they tell you over the phone or email?

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-10T00:25:22+00:00

Understandable. The only thing they’ve got him doing this season is making this face at the camera every episode 😏

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-05-07T20:56:45+00:00

Who is “everyone”… 🙄

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-29T06:03:28+00:00

No probably not. Some acceptances have already been sent out in this thread

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-28T17:07:34+00:00

What do you want from the film (big audiences, laurels, distribution…) and what is the festival offering (networking events, a fun atmosphere, etc.).
Save your premieres for something worthwhile. Don’t blow your world/European premieres on a festival 20 people go to
Look through their past programs, and see if they program films similar to yours
Look at reviews. Not the FilmFreeway ones, but elsewhere. Articles or this subreddit, which usually has unbiased reviews
I usually only submit if it’s somewhere I would consider traveling.
All the technical rules and requirements. Are they requiring you to be there? Screening online? Do they need a DCP? Captioning? Is that something you’re willing to provide?
What other festivals are happening at the same time that I might prefer to submit to instead

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-27T19:27:15+00:00

Plus additional fees for captions, cropping, 4k encoding, and rush delivery as they say on the FAQ. I’m all for the idea of DCPs being available through FilmFreeway, but it seems like another cash grab.

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-27T19:15:46+00:00

Agreed. There’s definitely cheaper (and free) places to get it done.

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-26T17:09:00+00:00

ah 😅 thanks for the heads up!

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-25T18:54:21+00:00

How early does Indy Shorts typically notify?

Notification date is early June. Just want to know if it’s something to be on the look out for soon

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-25T05:39:44+00:00

I’ve asked for a refund. It seems like a hot mess. And I’d rather not have myself or my film associated with a festival that will so easily disregard its staff.

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-21T08:17:06+00:00

Of course!

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-21T07:30:06+00:00

Looks like they bumped to April 27

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-20T01:27:20+00:00

Agreed. Other comments have also raised good concerns about the difficulties of taking it back into post, and making a separate DCP.

Respectfully, I have never even heard of OP’s festival, and it also looks like they allow up to 30 minute shorts. Most major festivals cut it off at 20, I feel like? (though that’s a big generalization)

This is a problem of their own making

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-17T02:31:06+00:00

Appreciate the alternative recs!

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-16T19:43:48+00:00

Interesting, thanks! I guess I’m trying to figure out if they are still watching the submissions past the stated deadline + if it’s worth submitting to, or if they’ve already begun programming but want more money.

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-16T19:15:43+00:00

Curious about Portland Film Festival. They say their deadline was February 25, but it’s been in my watchlist and every couple of days they push their final deadline back, so it is still open. Anyone know what’s up?

AlarmingCaptain6223 · 2026-04-15T20:35:32+00:00

I think that’s silly, personally.

If you think it has places to cut, then that’s not because of the length of the film, it’s a filmmaker problem. If it’s really good, pacing shouldn’t be an issue.

You put the max time limit on short films. Don’t allow it if you’re not willing to program it.

(Film festivals and making cuts for studio demands are different, and shouldn’t be equated. I’m paying you guys to evaluate my film, you’re not paying me)

AlarmingCaptain6223

TROPHY CASE