In the last few years, there has been a rise in the number of film festivals that seemed suspicious and were opening their Call for Entries on Withoutabox and Film Freeway. We felt it was time to strike back. This is why we launched the Fair Submissions Code of Ethics with our partner submission platforms […]

Queer Lisboa, 20 years of sensational eclecticity
The Queer Lisboa festival is one of the most important festivals in Europe for queer cinema and this year they celebrate their 20 birthday! Lisbon is one of Europe’s most beautiful, and liberal, cities and makes the perfect host for an equally forward-thinking film festival. Your film may be the perfect fit for Queer Lisboa. […]

Edinburgh Short Film Festival is Looking For Rising Stars
The Edinburgh Short Film Festival showcases the best British and international short films, shining a spotlight on high quality and new talent. For its 6th edition the short film festival is partnering up with the famous Shorts Shorts Film Festival, Japan’s biggest short film festival based in Tokyo. We wanted to find out why filmmakers should keep a […]

Cork Film Festival: Bold Ideas Well Told
We met with James Mullighan to find out more about the festival and what you should do to ensure your film gets selected for the big Irish party. What did he have for us? A stunning new screening location for 2016, tons of submission tips and a couple of nifty anecdotes, one including a rather epic […]

Encounters Widens The Lens For Its 22nd Edition
New stories. New perspectives. New viewpoints. Encounters is widening the lens in 2016. Located in the attractive Watershed complex in one of Britain’s cooles city Bristol, the festival begun as the one-off Short Encounters in 1995. Except it wasn’t quite the one-off – Short Encounters became Encounters and has kept growing and growing ever since. Still a showcase for […]

7 Essential Tips to Make the Most of Your Film Festival Submissions
In order to help you untangle the tricky business of film festival submissions, we’ve collected the best tips we’ve gathered over the years from talking to the people who really know best – the festival directors and programmers. You’ve finished your film. So, what now? Move on to the next one? No. Your job isn’t finished here – […]

Daniel Sol from Hollyshorts, ‘The film festival environment cannot be matched online’
Hollyshorts is 12 years old and continues to offer a great experience to short filmmakers from all around the globe. We spoke with the festival back in 2014, when they were talking about entering into VOD. Since then, it’s been full steam ahead and the short film festival has gone from strength to strength. Here’s what […]

Sydney Film Festival On The Berlinale, The Netflix Impact and How To Get Selected
We met Jenny Neighbour at the European Film Market in Berlin to find more about what kind of films the festival is looking for and what filmmakers can do to increase their chances of selection before submitting. There’s more. Hold tight for her thoughts on the 66th Berlinale and the impact of Netflix on the Australian film festival scene too… […]

NYC Independent Film Festival: 100% Indie
New York City is undeniably one of the world’s most iconic cities. And we all know that it’s cinematic repertoire backs that up. The NYC Independent Film Festival is in the middle of this scene. Now approaching its 7th edition, the FFL partner festival has always kept its focus squarely on the freshest filmmaking talent, […]

Meet David Jansen, director of DÄWIT
An interview with David Jansen telling us the journey of DÄWIT, from the Berlinale to the FFL Agency. It’s been almost one year since DÄWIT premiered in the Berlinale Shorts. What a way to start! Since then it’s been onwards and upwards for the animated short, directed by David Jansen, which has screened in festivals as diverse as […]

Deadlines FilmFestivalLife – Jan 2016
The hunt is on. If you haven’t noticed, we have our very own Open Call. The FFL Agency represents boutique short films and manages their entire festival career – from strategy to cross-platform submissions, waivers and print logistics. Submit here before January 31st. Otherwise, as always, there’s plenty of great festivals with deadlines in the first month of […]

Meet Benjamin Cleary, director of STUTTERER
We talked to Benjamin about his intention to make a film about stuttering, why he joined the FFL Agency and how he feels about potentially becoming an Academy Award winner… ‘It’s been a damn good month,’ Benjamin Cleary smiles. The Irish filmmaker is absolutely right. The great news for STUTTERER keeps on rolling in. Most notably, STUTTERER, his […]

ARTEMIS WOMEN IN ACTION FILM FESTIVAL, 2nd Edition
Let’s be honest here. The representation of women in film is still far far below acceptable levels, that’s why we’re already excited to see the return of the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival after their successful first edition. There’s an understanding among film buffs that sequels don’t always go so well. With film festivals, […]

Deadlines on FilmFestivalLife – Dec 2015
Have you heard about the FFL Plan and Pro Accounts? We’ve made some big changes to the way you submit your film over at FFL. Everything you need to know is >>here>>. ——— We are into the last month of the year and whether you’re at the beginning or the end of your films festival run, […]

How to Make Your Submission to ALL SPORTS FILM FEST a Slam Dunk
All Sports Film Fest’s director Pat Battistini talks about why there was a need for such a niche event and why shorts and competition films are indispensable in the wider film landscape. ‘This is Los Angeles, there are over 80 film festivals here a year!‘ And one of them is the All Sports Los Angeles Film […]