Make Your First Impression Count!

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression”… Does anyone else remember those Head & Shoulders commercials from the 80’s? (Maybe I’m dating myself.)

Regardless, this same principle is true with film submissions. You need to grab the programmer’s attention in the first 2 minutes. Compel them to watch the next 10 minutes, and then the next 20…. There should be no technical flaws (ideally not in the entire film), definitely not in the first 2 minutes. Don’t have errors in sound or bad cinematography. Don’t turn the viewer off (or give them a reason to stop watching); bad sound and sloppy cinematography can be like nails on a chalkboard for programmers. Be thoughtful with your opening shots and dialogue. Be interesting. Jump right into the story (especially with a short film).

While we like to believe that programmers watch our entire film, the truth is that often they may only watch the first few minutes before they decide that a film isn’t a good fit for their festival. If you can get them to want to watch beyond that, you’re doing something right, and increasing your chances of being programmed.

(For those of you born after 1985, this is the commercial I’m referencing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsy9-qCm6ig) 😉