I am an first time independent film maker without any hefty budget, going out of norms in my family and in process of making a feature film!
This is my best bet to take the story to the world. How should I approach as every festival submissions comes with an expensive tag?
What are the chances or authenticity going via Freeway or direct?
Please advise.
Have you guys have experience in creating your own festival ready subtitles? If yes, can you please share ideas without me hiring anyone and paying hefty fees?
TIA
I have just started film making without any backup of producer or strong budget. My new Bengali feature is slow burn psychological drama and I have a strong vision of how a right sound designer can change the dynamics of the film. The film is edited and looking for a budget friendly sound designer.
Also, for festivals is it mandatory to be 5.1 surround or stereo mix will do?
Please help🙏🏻
Does anyone have insights on these platforms or used if?
I am almost done with my feature, and like many of us would love people to watch it!
After I try for festivals, would like to try for OTTs.
Any help would be appreciated!
Hi everyone,
I’m a first-time independent filmmaker based in Chicago and I’m currently in post-production on my debut narrative film. Before I begin submitting to festivals, I’d love to hear from people who have gone through the process.
The film is a psychological drama with crime-thriller elements, centered around the idea that invisible emotional wounds don’t affect everyone the same way.
The film is intentionally slow-burn, atmospheric, and character-driven, relying more on visual storytelling, sound design, symbolism, and emotional payoff than jump scares or conventional thriller pacing.
I’d really appreciate advice from filmmakers and festival veterans on a few questions:
Does this type of psychological, theme-driven film generally resonate more with niche festivals than mainstream ones?
Are there festivals that particularly appreciate slow-burn psychological dramas or socially relevant independent cinema?
As a debut filmmaker, would you prioritize regional festivals first or aim for larger international festivals?
What are the biggest mistakes first-time filmmakers make during festival submissions?
Is there anything you wish you had known before submitting your first film?
I’m not looking to promote the film or reveal major plot points. I’m simply hoping to learn from people who’ve already been through the festival circuit so I can make thoughtful decisions before submitting.
Thank you in advance—I truly appreciate any advice or experiences you’re willing to share.
Hi everyone,
I’m a first-time independent filmmaker based in USA and I’m currently in post-production on my debut narrative film in Bengali language . Before I begin submitting to festivals, I’d love to hear from people who have gone through the process.
The film is a psychological drama with crime-thriller elements, centered around the idea that invisible emotional wounds don’t affect everyone the same way.
The film is intentionally slow-burn, atmospheric, and character-driven, relying more on visual storytelling, sound design, symbolism, and emotional payoff than jump scares or conventional thriller pacing.
I’d really appreciate advice from filmmakers and festival veterans on a few questions:
Does this type of psychological, theme-driven film generally resonate more with niche festivals than mainstream ones?
Are there festivals that particularly appreciate slow-burn psychological dramas or socially relevant independent cinema?
As a debut filmmaker, would you prioritize regional festivals first or aim for larger international festivals?
What are the biggest mistakes first-time filmmakers make during festival submissions?
Is there anything you wish you had known before submitting your first film?
I’m not looking to promote the film or reveal major plot points. I’m simply hoping to learn from people who’ve already been through the festival circuit so I can make thoughtful decisions before submitting.
Thank you in advance—I truly appreciate any advice or experiences you’re willing to share.
What are some good festivals to try to submit a Psychological Drama. I am an independent filmmaker, storyteller and almost completed my second film with a runtime of approximately 50-70mins.
Language: Bengali
Any help would be highly appreciated. Please share your experience on the festival runs.
Hi everyone,
I’m an independent filmmaker based in Chicago, originally from Mumbai, and I’ve recently wrapped principal photography on my debut independent feature film. We’re now entering post-production and are looking for a creative, story-driven sound designer who would love to collaborate on a passion project.
About the film:
This is a Bengali psychological crime thriller set between Chicago and Kolkata. Rather than relying on graphic violence or jump scares, the film explores trauma, loneliness, emotional isolation, and the hidden darkness that can exist behind seemingly ordinary lives. It’s an atmospheric, character-driven story where sound is just as important as visuals.
Our goal is to complete the film to a high artistic standard and submit it to international film festivals, followed by exploring OTT distribution.
Who we’re looking for:
Someone passionate about psychological thrillers and immersive storytelling.
A sound designer who believes silence, ambience, and subtle details can be more powerful than loud effects.
Experience (or a strong interest) in dialogue cleanup, Foley, ambience creation, environmental soundscapes, and cinematic sound design.
Someone collaborative, open to experimenting, and excited to contribute creatively.
Students, recent graduates, or emerging professionals looking to build an impressive portfolio are absolutely welcome.
Budget:
We’re an independent production with a limited budget, so we may not be able to offer commercial industry rates. However, we deeply respect creative talent, will be transparent about compensation, and are looking to build a meaningful collaboration with someone who wants to create something special.
If this sounds like a project you’d enjoy, please send me:
A short introduction about yourself
Links to your previous work, showreel, or portfolio
Your location (remote collaboration is completely fine)
A few words about your approach to sound design and storytelling
I’ll be happy to share the screenplay, mood board, and selected scenes to see if we’re a good creative fit.
If you’re someone who believes that great sound can quietly transform a film, I’d love to connect. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing from fellow storytellers.
Hello guys!!
We just finished shooting of our second film and would start post production. I need help in so many things as there’s no serious products and any reasonable help would be appreciated.
Please suggest a platform where I can store all the footages (Google cloud is driving me nuts, have storage but it would take forever to upload).
I have almost more than 300GB footages!!