I had a really bad experience with the San Diego Asian Film Festival. I submitted my film to them last year, spoke to them on the phone, paid the festival submission fee and they were communicative up to that point including answering my emails. And that was it. I had no news from them from that point on. I had to log on to their site to see that my film was not selected. They did not even bother to send me an email to let me know my film was not selected. I emailed them about the matter and they did not reply. Of course I wasn't going to spend money making an overseas call to them again.

I understand that festivals need to go through hundreds maybe thousands of submissions. I understand that films do get rejected, but what I don't understand is that they didn't bother to even send a rejection email that would cost them nothing. Or perhaps even a letter as some festivals do.

I understand that festivals tend to want to put up 'successful' films, commercial films, or films that have already been circulated around festivals or fit into what they define as art or commerce, but what I don't understand is the total lack of civility. How they can take a submission that was painstakingly put together and not even bother to get back to the person.

So for those of you out there thinking of submitting to the SDAFF, think again.