Three sample briefs
Switch between a UK short, a feature documentary and a horror feature to see different strategy logic.
Sample festival strategy report
This page shows the shape of a FestForge report: a short film brief, a ranked submission route, budget logic, deadline pressure, confidence notes and a clear next action for each festival.
How to read the sample
The examples are fictional planning briefs. They are here to show how recommendations change when the film type, budget and festival goals change.
Different budget shapes
Each sample handles submission spend differently instead of pretending one fixed budget fits every film.
Real report behaviour
The preview shows the same kind of buckets, reasons, warnings and actions a filmmaker should expect.
Sample strategy preview
Switch between three different film briefs to see how the route changes with budget, format, premiere status and audience fit.
UK drama short, 14 min, world premiere available
A polished short with a moderate submission budget. The route protects enough spend for UK short-film festivals while leaving room for a few international prestige submissions.
Budget logic
- Hold back for 2 prestige UK routes
- Use most spend on realistic UK targets
- Limit US submissions unless travel or awards value is clear
Prestige UK route
Aesthetica Short Film Festival
Short-film focus, strong UK reputation and useful accreditation pathway if current rules fit.
Hold budget
Prestige UK route
Encounters Film Festival
Dedicated short and animation festival with credible industry attention; check premiere and call status.
Submit
Realistic UK target
London Short Film Festival
Clear home-market audience for UK shorts and a stronger fit than a broad general festival.
Submit
Realistic UK target
Glasgow Short Film Festival
Short-focused programme, suitable runtime fit and useful second-wave UK positioning.
Submit
Broader UK festival
Leeds International Film Festival
Good wider festival route with short-film pathways; confirm the specific category and fee window.
Submit
International reach
Palm Springs International ShortFest
High-value short showcase, but more competitive and less essential if travel budget is tight.
Consider
International reach
HollyShorts Film Festival
Major short-film platform; useful if the campaign can absorb a higher-competition US submission.
Consider
| Bucket | Festival | Reason | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestige UK route | Aesthetica Short Film Festival | Short-film focus, strong UK reputation and useful accreditation pathway if current rules fit. | Hold budget |
| Prestige UK route | Encounters Film Festival | Dedicated short and animation festival with credible industry attention; check premiere and call status. | Submit |
| Realistic UK target | London Short Film Festival | Clear home-market audience for UK shorts and a stronger fit than a broad general festival. | Submit |
| Realistic UK target | Glasgow Short Film Festival | Short-focused programme, suitable runtime fit and useful second-wave UK positioning. | Submit |
| Broader UK festival | Leeds International Film Festival | Good wider festival route with short-film pathways; confirm the specific category and fee window. | Submit |
| International reach | Palm Springs International ShortFest | High-value short showcase, but more competitive and less essential if travel budget is tight. | Consider |
| International reach | HollyShorts Film Festival | Major short-film platform; useful if the campaign can absorb a higher-competition US submission. | Consider |
What a full report contains
The preview above is deliberately compact. A full report uses the same structure, but gives more detail on why a festival was included, what could make it risky and how it fits into the overall submission run.
A film summary that records the assumptions behind the strategy.
A ranked festival route with reasons, warnings and recommended actions.
Budget guidance so high-prestige submissions do not consume the whole plan.
Deadline and confidence notes that show what needs human verification.
Film brief
The film details that shaped the route
Runtime, country, genre, premiere status, budget, goals and timing assumptions.
Ranked shortlist
What to submit to first
Recommended festivals grouped by prestige reach, realistic target, specialist fit and caution.
Budget allocation
How the submission spend is protected
Which fees are worth holding budget for and which lower-value submissions should wait.
Deadline timeline
When to act
Current deadline stage, next deadline, late-fee pressure and open-call checks.
Risk and confidence
What to verify before paying
Premiere rules, category fit, stale source data, missing fees and unclear eligibility.
Next actions
The practical instruction
Submit, hold budget, verify rules, consider later or skip.
| Report section | Purpose | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Film brief | The film details that shaped the route | Runtime, country, genre, premiere status, budget, goals and timing assumptions. |
| Ranked shortlist | What to submit to first | Recommended festivals grouped by prestige reach, realistic target, specialist fit and caution. |
| Budget allocation | How the submission spend is protected | Which fees are worth holding budget for and which lower-value submissions should wait. |
| Deadline timeline | When to act | Current deadline stage, next deadline, late-fee pressure and open-call checks. |
| Risk and confidence | What to verify before paying | Premiere rules, category fit, stale source data, missing fees and unclear eligibility. |
| Next actions | The practical instruction | Submit, hold budget, verify rules, consider later or skip. |
Data confidence is part of the report
Festival information changes. A useful report should say when fees, deadlines, premiere rules or category details need review before you submit.