As far as I know all festivals accecpt digital contect with the exception
of Cannes. So you are limited by one. Not bad....

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Not bad at all!

I think it might be changing with Cannes too:

http://www.dcinematoday.com/dc/PR.aspx?newsID=1107

Also their website indicates they accept digital betacam and DVD submissions for feature films.

http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festivalServices/officialSelectionPreselection.html

Am I missing something?

http://www.youtube.com/nairnet

Very nice. It seems you have no limits at all when submitting your movie to festivals.

What fests are you planning to enter?

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I honestly haven't thought about it much, I'm only thinking of it now because it's something that needs to be explained to investors.

In my prospectus I'm planning to put a target date for completion of the film before September 22nd, the final day to submit a film to Sundance. And I'm based in Colorado so the local festivals, Denver International and Telluride, would make sense. Beyond that, if I can get the film made, as many as it takes I suppose.

EDIT: Actually Telluride has a submission deadline of July 15th. That's probably not a realistic time frame. And they wouldn't give any special consideration to a local production like the Denver Festival might.

http://www.youtube.com/nairnet

The good news is if you miss the 2009 Telluride deadline you will make the 2010 deadline with
plenty of time to spare.

My advice is to do a lot of research before entering festivals and be VERY careful when using
festivals as an investment point. Telling investors that you will enter the Sundance competition
can sometimes be misunderstood as telling them your movie will play at Sundance. Sundance
is almost impossible to get into unless you have name talent attached. Even Slamdance has
become very elitist. Often starting with the smaller fests is the better plan.

Are you putting entry fees and transportation/lodging/food into your prospectus?

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Yep, all that will be in the prospectus, including press kits and marketing. I've got a guy whose made a couple of features helping me so I'll get every base covered. I'm actually using the prospectus he used for those films as a model. I'm also leaning a lot on Dov Simens book "From Reel to Deal".

Thanks for the tip on the festivals... I'll be careful how I word it. I've already been advised to be extra careful not to guarantee anything.

http://www.youtube.com/nairnet

You probably do not even need to put the cost of video to film transfer in your prospectus, especially for the festival circuit. Most festivals would prefer to screen digital. If you shot on HD, you might consider targeting festivals that have the ability to screen HDCAM - this will help to get a high quality screening and is much less expensive than a film transfer. If you pickup a wide-release distribution deal along the way, you worry about going to film then, if it is even necessary. Even the major theater chains are making the change to digital.

SoCal Film Market
www.SoCalFilmMarket.com