Festivals Stopped Sending Rejections, Here’s Why.

Video Description

Some film festivals have stopped sending rejection letters altogether, leaving filmmakers to discover their fate only after a lineup is announced publicly. In this video, I break down why festival notification dates keep getting delayed, why some festivals now reveal selections before notifying filmmakers, and how financial strain, prestige, and media partnerships are driving this disturbing trend. I’ll also explain how the rise of online submission platforms like Withoutabox and FilmFreeway reshaped festival deadlines and submission fees, creating an industry built on endless “early bird” and “late” deadlines. If you’ve ever wondered why your FilmFreeway status stays “In Consideration” long past the notification date—or why some festivals seem to ghost their submitters—this episode of The Film Festival Guide exposes what’s really happening behind the scenes and why filmmakers deserve better communication. Your Real Odds of Getting Into Film Festivals (With Data) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oGHzPlis9g&list=PLmeN_svXZbHc05nGEAzqDcC-I2Es7Vsju #independentfilm #filmmaking #indiefilm #filmfestival #filmmakerlife #filmfestivals