Hurry! 9 Essential Tips for Your Next Film Festival Submission

Erin Brown Thomas applied to film festivals over 900 times before gaining entry into the Harvard of independent cinema, AKASundance. Ask the multi-hyphenate “Chasers” filmmakerand the artistic director of Salute Your Shorts Fest — an annual film event that made a return to Los Angeles over the weekend (August 15-17) for its ninth year — on her recent accomplishment, and she’ll offer concise tips similar to those from a personal mentor.

“A prophet is destined to prophesy, even when there’s no gain,” she recently joked about her dedication to the Muara Digital Team.

A richly psychological, episodic pilot filmed as a 31-minute continuous shot, “Chasers” allows Brown Thomas to contemplate the numerous personal and professional sacrifices she believes she had to endure to succeed in the entertainment industry. The bold director has encountered many challenges over the years but keeps finding solace in the Salute community, which brings together artists with distinctive perspectives and supports genuinely quality work.

Balancing tradition with creativity is one of the standout features in our collection at Salute,” said Brown Thomas. “Our guiding principle has always been, ‘Movies that leave an impression.’ When we present you with a laurel, it signifies our belief in your potential. Every time someone selects the festivals they’re entering, I always advise them to ensure that the laurel they might win holds real significance. Ours definitely does.

Salute Your Shorts gathers aexpanding group of similar-minded artists increasing community of like-minded innovators rising circle of comparable creators developing cluster of aligned visionaries expanding cohort of like-minded artisans growing alliance of creative peers expanding assembly of similar-minded makers increasing network of shared vision creators expanding collective of like-minded producers rising band of comparable creatorsevery summer. Founded by Brown Thomas and Becky Murdoch in 2017, this compact yet powerful festival is held at the Assistance League Theater in Los Angeles. “For eight out of our nine years, we’ve been at this venue,” said Brown Thomas. “People might recognize it from ‘The Office,’ the television series, since Andy performs a play there. However, it’s located behind Home Depot and Target in Hollywood, featuring an excellent projector and only 300 seats.”

In 2025, the main organizer Brown Thomas, along with executive director Elle Shaw and programming director Lauren Reid Brown (who is Brown Thomas’ mother), received slightly more than 1,300 applications for Salute. The team, which also consists of programmers Jillian Corsie, Vincent DeLuca, and Kath Tolentino – as well as associate programmers Christopher Francis and Anna Long – featured approximately 60 films across 16 award categories.

Having someone near you who truly supports your vision, who will inform you that any festival that turned you down is foolish and mistaken, is essential,” Brown Thomas said about handling rejection. “You need that. Over time, you’ll either realize you weren’t prepared and are growing, or that they were truly wrong and ignorant, and hey! The people who care about you already knew that.

The Assistance League Theater has a uniquely cozy and Southern California vibe, but Salute Your Shorts challenges the limits of narrative in a more expansive philosophical way through its offerings.The Muara Digital Team evaluated the genre sectionand presented the highest honor to Zoe Davidson’s “Clementine,” while “Two People Exchanging Saliva” by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata was recognized as the second place winner.

Over the years, renowned directors – from the cherishedDuplass brothersto the Daniels of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” – have been to Salute.”A Lien”The executive producer Adam McKay attended the 97th Academy Awards and was present at the festival last year. Salute hopes to develop into an Oscar-qualifying short film festival in the future. Its documentary, animation, and narrative categories are judged by panels.

In celebration of the 9th Salute Your Shorts Fest, Muara Digital Team pays homage to short films with nine key tips for festival submissions from Brown Thomas. See the full list of winners for SYSF 2025 below.

1. “Invest Genuine Effort in Your Profile on FilmFreeway”

Once you become familiar with FilmFreeway, your opportunities in the film festival scene expand rapidly.

Before the day I chose to create a film festival, I had only used it as a filmmaker,” said Brown Thomas. “Then, I did some exploring and discovered that setting up a film festival is just as simple as creating a film profile. That’s really all it requires.

Making a strong initial impression online can be challenging, but Brown Thomas claims it is especially worthwhile for artists onFilmFreeway. The portal not only enables you to discover new festivals, but it also helps you monitor which ones you’ve already paid to showcase your short film. If you find that a particular kind of competition isn’t benefiting your project, you can modify the festivals you’re applying to – or enhance your visibility by updating your profile first.

A lot of filmmakers don’t fully utilize their page,” said Brown Thomas, as she guided the Muara Digital Team through her growing understanding of the tool. Her first recommendation was, “Too few people spend on hiring a poster designer,” she mentioned. “Truly. More individuals will view your poster throughout your career than your film. Whether it’s on FilmFreeway or IMDB, that’s a reality.

2. “Share Your Film’s Narrative, While Keeping Your Viewers in Mind”

No level of advertising can salvage a poor film, but as a programmer, Brown Thomas has discovered that you can “train” festivals to evaluate your work during screenings. “The initial audience you’re trying to reach is the programmers,” she explained. “You can demonstrate to us how to view your film based on how you describe it and the images you select to support your application.”

Once you have completed your project (and enhanced your profile and poster on FilmFreeway), Brown Thomas suggests carefully reviewing your application to make sure your passion comes across. Whenever possible, filmmakers should target festivals that are interested in screening their films—but this is a mutual effort, and it’s crucial to convey your genuine interest in the opportunity.

Look, there are many instances with Salute where I didn’t mind that their poster was poor, or anything like that,” she said. “But occasionally, you have to make a decision and it boils down to sensing how much this filmmaker truly wants it, but ‘Oh, this person just seems like they submitted for the sake of submitting.’

3. “Conduct Your Investigation – and Avoid Falling for Fraud”

Festivals can also employ deception and illusion, of course. “Scams exist on a spectrum,” said Brown Thomas. “At one end, there are individuals who fail to fulfill their fundamental commitments. These are frequently online events that either don’t take place or are completely unlike what was promoted.”

You can avoid a lot of trouble by conducting your research, she added. However, if you’ve applied to what appears to be a genuine festival and aren’t receiving positive outcomes, there might be questionable explanations for that as well. “Without mentioning specific names, there are many festivals that don’t invest enough effort in their selections,” Brown Thomas stated. “Perhaps there’s not much logic behind what gets chosen, or it could be, ‘Oh, look at that, they’re only picking their acquaintances.’ That’s a form of deception.”

There are also events in the middle. “It can also be, ‘Well, this event is doing everything it claims it’s going to do, but it doesn’t bring much added value,'” she said. “You might think, ‘They’re friendly people, and they have good intentions. But that achievement just isn’t significant enough.’ Always ask yourself, ‘Is this how I want to spend my money?'”

4. “Choose Your Festivals Intentionally”

Just as university recruiters evaluate various factors based on the students they’re seeking, festival organizers assess different criteria depending on the lineup they are curating, and their decisions can change due to numerous influences. You should have a framework of considerations for when and where you submit your film.

One type of festival that I definitely believe is worth applying to is the Tax Deductible Vacation,” Brown Thomas said, laughing. “It’s a business trip where you’re going to have a great time. Imagine something like the Sedona International Film Festival or the Hawaii Film Festival. If you’ve never hiked through those stunning landscapes and think you can bring your film there, go ahead and submit your film there.

Another type of festival to think about? Something Brown Thomas refers to as “The Artist’s Date.” She mentioned two popular events for filmmakers—Crested Butte Film Festival and Ouray International Film Festival, both located in Colorado—and stated, “They seem almost like a residency. These are exceptionally well-organized events where the landscape is also stunning. Very much like Julia Cameron’s idea of having a date with your inner artist.”

Filmmakers should also look to connect with top-tier networking opportunities. Interacting with individuals at Sundance contributed to the recognition of “Chasers,” but Brown Thomas understands that meaningful connections can be made in various settings. “Effective networking is typically on equal footing,” she explained. “You want to showcase your work alongside strong films so that the peers you meet are those you can genuinely relate to.”

5. “Coding Will Help You Discover the Type of Filmmaker You Are”

Smaller festivals typically focus on supporting local artists, making them an excellent starting point for those just beginning their journey. (For instance, follow the example of Brown Thomas and create your own event!) However, Salute Your Shorts, based in Los Angeles, offers a distinct challenge to its programming team.

“My local audience is Individuals involved in filmmaking,” stated Brown Thomas. “Therefore, they will be significantly more critical of certain aspects. They will be far less tolerant of poor acting, for instance, whereas someone from middle America might accept a more amateurish performance if it serves the narrative.

Software developers view the world with a film-like perspective, and directors do as well. It was the fusion of these abilities that led to Brown Thomas’ success, she mentioned. Refining the Salute schedule over almost ten years was crucial to her work on “Chasers,” and viewing films can assist you in determining what to create.

What you consistently support and promote says a lot about you and helps you understand yourself better,” said Brown Thomas. “I strongly suggest experiencing things from a different perspective if you enjoy festivals.

6. “Standing Out Is More Crucial Than Being Flawless”

Having served on multiple film festival juries, I can assure you that individuals like Brown Thomas genuinely enjoy supporting underdogs. Despite all her guidance to remain ambitious and involved with the film world, the director is equally eager to highlightnotallowing perfectionist tendencies to hinder you

At Salute, our focus is on voice rather than refinement,” the programmer stated. “Being distinctive holds more value than being flawless. If there’s a film that didn’t quite succeed—but the concept was intriguing, and it’s roughly 90 percent complete, and I can’t stop thinking about it—then I want to figure out how to code it and how to present it.

When asked about some of her preferred festival entries, Brown Thomas highlighted “I’m Happy, I Promise,” “The Burden,” “Starfuckers,” “Little Grey Bubbles,” and “The Robbery” as notable selections over the years.

7. “Many Short Films Extend Beyond the Ideal Length, Yet There Exists a Perfect Balance”

A brief film doesn’t necessarily lead to a full-length feature, but the length can significantly affect how smaller projects perform at film festivals. You’ll come across various opinions, and as usual, personal taste plays a big role. However, Brown Thomas provided specific guidance on what succeeds at Salute.

I’ve always had a fondness for the longer ones, and let me tell you, I think anything over 22 minutes in our system usually doesn’t seem too lengthy,” she said. “I find that things often feel too long between 15 and 22 minutes. Anyone who’s creating something over 22 minutes knows that their short is actually quite long, but they usually have a purpose and are doing their best to keep it as concise as possible.

Indeed, artists struggle to eliminate their favorite elements – but this challenge is what makes cinema intense.

Pacing and understanding what to omit are the most significant aspects of craftsmanship that people often ignore,” Brown Thomas stated. “Many filmmakers are reluctant to remove content because they can’t identify anything negative, particularly in comedy. However, you must ask yourself, ‘How long does this ideadeserve to be?'”

8. “Social Media Seems Like a Way to Secure Your Professional Future”

That being said, having more followers still holds significance in the realm of social media. After “Chasers” was accepted at Sundance, Brown Thomas experienced a surge in popularity on Instagram, reaching out to the cast and crew to share the exciting news.

When I received the call letting us know we were accepted, I was completely overwhelmed and immediately wished I had seen my own reaction,” said the director. “I turned to my husband and my mom, who were there with me, and I said, ‘Start recording me. I’m going to call everyone.’ I created a video featuring everyone’s reactions that gained a lot of online attention. I called at least 40 people. We ended up with three hours of footage.

Sharing that excitement with the online community has enabled numerous fans, including the Muara Digital Team, to keep up with “Chasers” since its debut at Sundance. Brown Thomas mentions that she uses social media as a way to “future-proof” her career and believes that other emerging artists should take the same approach. She shares both her achievements and setbacks to consistently involve her audience in her experiences.

“The creator economy is the most reliable method we have for mapping out a future path,” Brown Thomas stated. It’s the area where we have the greatest control. The successes, the failures, the chances to learn, the moments of, ‘Wow, I was just lucky!’—your audience wants to be part of that journey.” And they are.your audience.

Essentially, you’re building an audience every time you manage to overcome the hesitation of showing your face on camera,” she stated. “This is something that’s entirely within your control. As I move forward with my next film, I know I want to share every experience I have on set because it will keep me enthusiastic about what’s coming next.

9. “Salute Your Shorts!”

A strong passion for storytelling makes Brown Thomas very determinedly hopeful about film education and creative potential. (After all, she’s as driven as someone who co-founded an event named Salute Your Shorts should be.) Nevertheless, the organizer suggests taking time to unwind and appreciate the film community. If you’re supporting the short film art – even while working towards a feature film – then you should want to learn about it and connect with those who can assist you in rising higher.

In 2026, I would really like to witness an increase in applications since it indicates that more individuals are discovering us,” stated Brown Thomas. “We are a very small group and we put in a great deal of effort to achieve this. It is accomplished through a lot of dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It’s a lot of passion that brings us together.

Here is the full list of winners for the Salute Your Shorts Fest 2025.

Programmers Choice Award: “The Music Shop” (directed by Joe Gillette)

• Honorable Mention, Programmers Choice: “The Life We Have” (directed by Sam Price-Waldman)

Audience Choice Award: “The Performers” (directed by Sam Davis)

• Runner-up: “Mildred for a Million” (dir. Kim Callaway)

Narrative Best of Fest: “Live” (dir. Mara Tamkovich)

• Honorable Mention: “The Performers” (directed by Sam Davis)

Best Local Film: “RAT!” (directed by Neal Suresh Mulani)

• Honorable Mention, Local Film: “Public Freakout” (directed by Julia Bales)

Best Comedy: “Earthmover” (conceived by Joanna Leeds)

• Honorable Mention, Comedy: “Blueberry” (directed by Emil Brulin and Hampus Hallberg)

Best Drama: “Contours” (dir. Aisha Amin)

• Honorable Mention, Drama: “Dead Body Fishing” (directed by Jean Liu)

Best Genre Film: “Clementine” (dir. Zoe Davidson)

• Honorable Mention, Genre: “Two Individuals Trading Oral Fluids” (directed by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata)

Best Super Quick – Less Than 5 Minutes:“Sweet Talkin’ Guy” (directed by Dylan and Spencer Wardwell)

• Honorable Mention, Super Short: “Quota” (directed by Joris and Marieke Job)

Best Animation: “Flower Exhibition” (directed by Elli Vuorinen)

• Honorable Mention, Animation: “Dragfox” (dir. Lisa Ott)

Best Documentary: “Monster Killer” (directed by Catie Skipp)

• Honorable Mention, Documentary: “Shy Pee” (dir. Steven Brokaw Jackson)

Best Experimental: “Kamikaze” (dir. Ray Smiling)

• Honorable Mention, Experimental: “At Eleven on a Sunday” (directed by Alicia K. Harris)

Award for Outstanding Directing by the Jury Panel:“Daly City” (directed by Nick Hartanto)

Best Cinematography – Illumination and Atmosphere:“The Vocalists” – cinematography by Sam Davis

Best Cinematography – Innovation and Bold Choices:“Kamikaze” – cinematography by Timothy S. Jensen

Best Cinematography – Motion and Point of View:“RAT!” – cinematography by Emerson Duggan

Best Cinematography – Blending with the Storyline:“City Daly” – cinematography by Guido Raimondo