Find the festivals that best suit your style of filmmaking. Look at their previous screenings and examine the kinds of films festivals have accepted in the past.

Well, Part 1 and Part 2 of this series have certainly generated interesting discussion. In this, Part 3, I offer a basic guide to applying to festivals including rules, recommendations and resources.

Begin by focusing your energies on the festivals that best suit your style of filmmaking. Check out the festivals that interest you (all festivals have archives that you can access on the Web). Look at their previous screenings and examine the kinds of films they have accepted in the past. Ask yourself if you honestly think your film would interest them. If not, pass on them this time round. Most festivals accept films up to two years old; so hit the most likely targets the first year, the less likely targets the second year (if you’re still submitting by then).

Then make yourself a festival list by entry deadline dates — miss a deadline and you’re out automatically!

For those of you just starting out, read the regulations carefully. What format do they want for the entry submission? What format do they want for the screening? Make sure that your film meets these criteria. Film festival entry forms commit you to supplying the film if you are accepted.

Keep in mind that a festival entry form is a legal document. If your film is accepted, you must deliver a screening copy on time. And you cannot withdraw from a festival once you’re accepted.

Take note of fests that are looking for world premieres and, especially at the beginning of a fest run, don’t allow anyone to publicly screen your film without your knowledge. Try to manage where the various premieres (European, North American, South American, etc.) will be. Premieres are added value to a film, so try to use them to your advantage.

Read the fest regulations carefully before submitting. If your film gets accepted to Cannes and you just screened it outside your own country, you’re in big trouble. Cannes informs you clearly in their regulations that the film must be a world premiere (outside your own country). So if you have your heart set on Cannes, don’t submit it to other festivals until Cannes has had a go at it.

Read the regulations carefully before submitting and keep in mind that a festival entry form is a legal document. Take note of fests that are looking for world premieres, especially at the beginning of a fest run.

It’s a good idea to map your festivals carefully. If you get accepted to several festivals over a short period, you will need several prints — festivals do not return prints quickly and, while they are often willing to send your print on to another festival, it all takes time.

Don’t broadcast an indie short film on television before the festival window is over. No festival that I know of will readily accept a short film that has already been screened on TV, or on the Internet for that matter (unless it qualifies for the Internet category).

There are many specialty festivals out there and if your film fits one of them, be sure to submit. There will likely be fewer submissions than what a mega fest receives, and you may have a much better chance of getting in.

If your film is very short, be sure to submit to the following: Fantoche Minimotion (10 seconds and under); Brief Encounters Mini Film Fest (one and a half minutes); and the One Minute Film and Video Festival.

My favorite fests that specialize in childrens films include the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and Sprockets, the Toronto International Children’s Film Festival.

Fests that focus on works by and for the disabled include the Disability Film Festival, Tahdenlentoja, Reel Life, Picture This, The Other Film Festival, Superfest and Kynnyskino.

And there are so many other categories. Britfilms’ site has the best search engine that I know for finding festivals by locale, and Withoutabox has an excellent genre and category search engine.