WHERE DO WE START?
Have you ever found yourself spending money on a film festival that turned out to be a scam? If yes, you’re not alone. This article aims to shed light on how to identify fake festivals and what actions can be taken to stop them.
If you suspect that you have been scammed by a film festival, don’t just let it go. Take action and report the festival to the submission platform. By reporting them, you will prevent them from continuing their fraudulent activities. As an independent filmmaker, it is also your responsibility to support your peers and take the necessary steps to stop scams.
DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT, REPORT THEM
Instead of feeling proud of a worthless laurel or printable certificate, consider leaving a negative review. You don’t have to pretend it was an honour to win at a fake festival. It wasn’t and it isn’t!
FilmFreeway is the largest submission portal, but, it has only removed 42 festivals from its list of over 7,000 global events. With so many fraudulent festivals, this number is too low. To report a fraudulent festival, navigate to their website and click the Contact Button. You can either fill out the online form or reply to their support email. It’s that simple.
THE CHALLENGES OF POLICING FESTIVALS
According to Katie McCullough of Festival Formula, discussions have been held with the intention of creating a regulatory body to police the film festival sector. However, there are many difficulties in implementing this and the possibility remains uncertain.
Policing film festivals can be challenging due to several reasons. Some fraudulent festivals may look genuine, while small and developing festivals that take a grassroots approach may look unimpressive. It can be difficult to identify dishonest festivals, especially if a legitimate festival lacks the resources or financial backing of larger, more established festivals. Additionally, the international nature of many festivals means they may be subject to different regulations and laws, which complicates the process.
THE FILMMAKERS RESPONSIBILITY
Filmmakers should be cautious about which festivals they submit to. It’s essential to research thoroughly, verify the legitimacy of a festival, and limit the number of submissions you make. By avoiding fraudulent festivals and supporting legitimate ones, filmmakers can protect their reputations and advance their careers in the industry. To find the perfect festival for your films, understand the unique vibe, history, and entry fee of each event. Avoid events that lack transparency or incorporate multiple dubious policies.