QSFF SUBMISSIONS GENRES

A FEW WORDS ABOUT SUBMISSION FEES

Filmmakers who have “been around the block” a few times know that most film festivals in the USA charge a submission fee. Fees can range from nominal to outrageous.

But why do most film festivals charge a submission fee? Good question. Unlike their European counterparts (where many festivals are subsidized by the government) most USA festivals are on their own to cover the full expenses of the event. And it ain’t cheap. Film festivals use submission fees to help pay for part of the cost of running the festival: theater rental, equipment rental, insurance costs, printing costs, promotion costs, etc. Festivals also consider “manpower” and workforce. It takes time to organize submissions, to watch every film submitted and to review (including written comments) each film for consideration. And that time/energy/work has (some monetary) value.

But why should filmmakers pay to “fund film festivals”, especially if their films are not selected? Great question. Let’s start by saying, “Film festivals are not the only organizations that require a submission fee and do not guarantee acceptance.” Other institutions/organizations/businesses that require an application fee include: colleges and universities, landlords and rental agencies, manuscript and journal publications, bank loans, etc. Almost ALL of these fees are non-refundable and do NOT guarantee acceptance and/or admission. Most of these fees cover the aforementioned “manpower”/workforce aspect of the process. Requiring a fee also filters out submissions that don’t meet a festival’s criteria. Some filmmakers will submit to ANY free festival, even if the film and the festival are not a match (i.e. Submitting an R-rated zombie film to a children’s animation festival simply because it’s free – it’s happened).

But why submit to the QSFF? Excellent question. One reason is support. By submitting to the QSFF you are not only supporting the festival but also supporting the other LGBTQ+ filmmakers, helping their films reach a wider audience. And thus, helping to create community. Another reason is the vow that EVERY FILM will be watched in its entirety (all the way through the end credits) and fairly reviewed. Some of the submission fees will go towards providing that service (“manpower”/workforce). For films submitted via Vimeo, Vimeo can provide detailed analytics regarding views and finishes. The QSFF promises to communicate the status of every submission on (or prior to) the notification date. 

One final thought… There is an old saying, “People don’t value the things they get for free. They value what they pay for.” When something costs us nothing, we tend to invest the same amount in it.