A regularly updated database of experimental, documentary or short film festivals that pay screening fees for participation in competitive programmes — or have deliberately cancelled competitions in order to evade the usual industrial logic and pay all participants a screening fee. God bless them!
Belgium
Courtisane Festival - LINK
Canada
Media City Film Festival - LINK
Germany
DOK.fest München - LINK
DOK.fest München pays screening fees, both for the presentation in the cinemas and additionally on the digital screen. The screening fee is agreed with the rights holders – taking into account the best possible presentation of the festival films, we focus on invitations to the filmmakers and the corresponding (proportional) reimbursement of travel and hotel costs. There is also the opportunity to win a prize in various cross-series competitions (DOK.fest Award of SOS Kinderdörfer weltweit, German Documentary Film Music Award, VFF Documentary Film Production Award).
European Media Art Festival - LINK
Entering works is free of charge. Artists’ fees will be paid for all entries selected for the festival.
Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival - LINK
The directors and artists of the works featured in the program will be invited to Kassel for presentations. A Q&A session is planned for each screening. A travel allowance will be paid for each work shown. The festival also provides free accreditation and free accommodation for the directors and artists (maximum two nights in a hotel, or more nights for private accommodation). A rental fee will be paid for each work featured in the program.
PrevYou Short Film Festival Berlin - LINK
With us, everyone is a winner! To emphasize exchange over rivalry, our festival is non-competitive. Instead of awards, all selected films receive a screening fee of €75. We aim to honor your work and support your participation in the festival.
DOK.fest München pays screening fees, both for the presentation in the cinemas and additionally on the digital screen. The screening fee is agreed with the rights holders – taking into account the best possible presentation of the festival films, we focus on invitations to the filmmakers and the corresponding (proportional) reimbursement of travel and hotel costs. There is also the opportunity to win a prize in various cross-series competitions (DOK.fest Award of SOS Kinderdörfer weltweit, German Documentary Film Music Award, VFF Documentary Film Production Award).
European Media Art Festival - LINK
Entering works is free of charge. Artists’ fees will be paid for all entries selected for the festival.
Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival - LINK
The directors and artists of the works featured in the program will be invited to Kassel for presentations. A Q&A session is planned for each screening. A travel allowance will be paid for each work shown. The festival also provides free accreditation and free accommodation for the directors and artists (maximum two nights in a hotel, or more nights for private accommodation). A rental fee will be paid for each work featured in the program.
PrevYou Short Film Festival Berlin - LINK
With us, everyone is a winner! To emphasize exchange over rivalry, our festival is non-competitive. Instead of awards, all selected films receive a screening fee of €75. We aim to honor your work and support your participation in the festival.
Portugal
Sonica Ekrano Documentary Film Festival - LINK
All selected films (whether in or outside the competitive section) will be paid a screening fee. Feature films in the competitive section: 125€ / 2 sessions. Feature films outside the competitive section: 100€ / 1 session. Short films: 50€ / 1 session.
All selected films (whether in or outside the competitive section) will be paid a screening fee. Feature films in the competitive section: 125€ / 2 sessions. Feature films outside the competitive section: 100€ / 1 session. Short films: 50€ / 1 session.
Spain
Festival Márgenes - LINK
A screening fee will be paid to those films participating in the Official Selection and in the Escaner section. The amount will be of €100 + VAT (if applicable) for films over 40 minutes and €50 + VAT (if applicable) for films under 40 minutes.
A screening fee will be paid to those films participating in the Official Selection and in the Escaner section. The amount will be of €100 + VAT (if applicable) for films over 40 minutes and €50 + VAT (if applicable) for films under 40 minutes.
United Kingdom
Alchemy Film & Arts - LINK
Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival - LINK
Rather than offering a single prize, chosen by a jury, since 2020 the awards have been jointly shared by all selected filmmakers.
Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival - LINK
Rather than offering a single prize, chosen by a jury, since 2020 the awards have been jointly shared by all selected filmmakers.
Open City Documentary Festival - LINK
There are no competitive programmes at the festival, but again, I cannot help but include it on this list to recommend it. All selected filmmakers receive screening fees. Open City’s standard screening fees for films and audio are £275 (inc VAT) for works over 60 minutes, £140 (inc. VAT) for works over 40 minutes and £70 (Inc.VAT) for works under 40 minutes. Open City Documentary Festival offers a standard screening fee of £100 (in. VAT) for cross-platform projects.
There are no competitive programmes at the festival, but again, I cannot help but include it on this list to recommend it. All selected filmmakers receive screening fees. Open City’s standard screening fees for films and audio are £275 (inc VAT) for works over 60 minutes, £140 (inc. VAT) for works over 40 minutes and £70 (Inc.VAT) for works under 40 minutes. Open City Documentary Festival offers a standard screening fee of £100 (in. VAT) for cross-platform projects.
United States
Ann Arbor Film Festival - LINK
The Ann Arbor Film Festival has paid artists to show their films in competition since the 59th AAFF in 2021, and the Ann Arbor Film Festival offers a $20 submission fee discount for BIPOC filmmakers, the same discount we offer to alumni filmmakers
Experiments in Cinema - LINK
The Ann Arbor Film Festival has paid artists to show their films in competition since the 59th AAFF in 2021, and the Ann Arbor Film Festival offers a $20 submission fee discount for BIPOC filmmakers, the same discount we offer to alumni filmmakers
Experiments in Cinema - LINK
