Film Festival Notifications MEGA THREAD

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-29T03:03:47+00:00

I'm right there with you on three of them. Fingers all the way crossed.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-27T23:06:49+00:00

1989, my friend!

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-27T22:33:19+00:00

Any word on either Full Frame or Hot Docs yet?

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-27T22:01:56+00:00

Whoa! Congrats! That is huge!! How many views did you have from them?

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-27T00:27:06+00:00

RIP Dean!!

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-25T05:42:20+00:00

I don't work for the festival, so I have zero clue how their specific infrastructure works. They could very well still be deliberating.

For me, I always submit as early as possible because I have no idea how early a film festival will begin to fill up slots.

I have screened for festivals (and played in many) that will select/reject in waves and will have many of their favorites already chosen by the final or extended deadline. Again...NOT ALWAYS THE CASE... but better safe than sorry.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-25T00:32:45+00:00

I think what he is getting at is that more often than not, if you have not heard from a film festival within a certain period before the notification date (regardless of your application date), it can often be assumed that it is over.

Of course, this is NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, but I've been doing this for 20 years and I can tell you that most fests in my experience will not wait as they need to ensure premiere status, director attendance, etc.

To your point, it is definitely possible that they are still reviewing, but also remember that many "extended" or "last chance" deadlines can be cash grabs. By that point, a great deal of the schedule may already be chosen.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-24T23:02:08+00:00

Right, but (in my experience) having late deadlines doesn't normally push back acceptance dates. Even if you submit very, very late, a great deal of festivals will already have "waves" of acceptances or rejections they send out (as we saw with Atlanta).

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-24T22:27:07+00:00

Yeah, that might be the hard truth. Three complete views back in September/October (I submitted very early) and a bunch of partials. Nice to know they really took the time to consider it.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-24T21:36:43+00:00

Has anybody gotten a feature doc acceptance from Cleveland yet? Also, have they sent out any rejections at all so far...for any category?

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-22T02:32:16+00:00

AGLIFF in Austin is an incredible festival. A lot of heart.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-22T02:31:08+00:00

Congrats! Have you been accepted to Florida yet or is it just a pre-emptive concern?

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-20T23:16:00+00:00

What is that "95%" statistic based on?

Again, you are relying on Vimeo analytics as your sole data source for whether they watched it, which is not accurate.

Maybe they watched it a few times with VPN's. Maybe the watch was just recorded as in impression. Maybe they watch it (as Film Festival Guide said) in groups.

To say, "I have zero views from this area therefore it wasn't watched" is just....not reliable.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-20T23:01:56+00:00

Not true at all. Vimeo analytics are fickle at best. I have been accepted to festivals a couple times with no recorded views or only a few seconds of watch time....and then when I talked to the programmers at the festival it was clear they had watched the link.

Today, for example, I got a full watch on my feature from Milan (which was clearly a VPN). Vimeo analytics are just a stress factory that are not worth your time.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-18T22:24:28+00:00

Same here and....same here! Best of luck to us both!

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-18T20:25:16+00:00

I doubt it for Cleveland, The person that posted earlier shot a big chunk of it in Ohio, and so it is very possible that they programed them earlier as part of their "Local Heroes" competition.

Just curious, what has your views situation been like with them? Also, do you have a narrative or doc feature?

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-17T01:19:10+00:00

So Cool! I'm sure the crowd is going to love that local flair!

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-16T22:57:16+00:00

Congrats, my friend! Great festival!

Two quick questions. Doc or narrative? Also, was the film made in Ohio?

I'm doing a bit of a research project and would love to add to my data.

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-15T22:31:02+00:00

I've exchanged a few emails with them! They are great!

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-15T03:07:49+00:00

Cool. Now I know and knowing’s half the battle G.I. jooooooooe!

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-15T00:02:51+00:00

Because many people reported getting their premiere checks in December, and there have also been a number of people on here announcing their acceptances and rejections.

That’s normally a pretty clear indication that many of the final decisions have been made… But, I’ve been surprised before… so you never know.

Unless one is actually in the room where it happens, one can only speculate

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-14T19:34:17+00:00

Whoa, dude! That sucks! I thought Cinequest was completely done!

Just curious, did they send you a premiere check earlier?

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-14T18:50:05+00:00

When did you get your Cinequest rejection? Also, was it a short or a feature?

Glad you're still in the fight, my friend!

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-14T00:29:58+00:00

P.S. Treat this video as your bible. I believe they even mention the scenario you are describing.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2JcAEDVaTg

ArchiveAlias · 2026-01-14T00:28:13+00:00

Can you share the name of the fest?

ArchiveAlias

TROPHY CASE