With thousands of film festivals out there, why should you choose FirstGlance™?

FirstGlance™ has been producing film festivals since 1996 and since FirstGlance™ Films is run by indie filmmakers, we know what filmmakers are looking for…resources for getting their projects completed and visibility for their projects!

FirstGlance works relentlessly with sponsors, partners and other professionals in the industry to get each filmmaker the attention they deserve. Our goal is to get everyone seen, whether it be at the festivals, on cable, on a DVD in your own home, downloaded full screen right to your computer, in a national theater chain, on an iPod, broadcast on airlines, or to watch on your cell phone. We are working hard to get you visibility!

What makes FirstGlance™ different from other festivals?

FirstGlance Facts at a Glance

FirstGlance is the only festival that has two separate annual events, one on each coast, each with its own program. Calling for entries twice a year allows FirstGlance the chance to bring more films to the theater and it provides an opportunity to build their website (www.firstglancefilms.com) as a community where filmmakers share ideas, and learn about filmmaking and distribution, alumni can announce screenings, and indie trailers can be promoted.

FirstGlance accepts all genres and screens feature length, feature documentaries, short narratives, shorts too (under 10 minutes), mini-docs, student shorts, graduate student shorts, music videos, animation and webisode pilots.  FirstGlance programs multiple projects per screening, so you get a wide array of entertainment at a reasonable price.
FirstGlance holds an online shorts contest, a secure online theater where viewers can register, watch and vote on their favorite short films 24/7, allowing another 50 short films to be featured. The winning film gets shown as part of the live closing night screening.  

FirstGlance has a feature length and short screenplay competition each year. The top three scripts are judged by Hollywood production companies and top producers in the industry including Greenestreet Films, Boxing Cat Films (Tim Allen’s production company), Humble Journey Films (Eric LaSalle’s Production Company), Madhouse Entertainment, Avalanche! Entertainment, CMM Productions, Alma Libra Films, and Converge Entertainment.

FirstGlance offers a number of special incentives to entice filmmakers to apply.

FirstGlance invites all Official Selections to take part in a no-cost, non-exclusive profit share DVD set and download to own distribution opportunity through their New York distributor.  This distributor is the only company in existence that offers multi-platform download capabilities for PC and Mac with DVD quality Download Direct to DVD. This program will produce two professionally glass mastered DVD sets each year.

FirstGlance has partnered with TOPICS entertainment to produce Festival in a Box, a 24 short film box set compilation of FirstGlance Film Festival projects, offering short filmmakers the chance for retail distribution.  Filmmakers do not lose any rights and it doesn't cost them any money to be a part of the set.

FirstGlance gives personal attention to Official Selections by keeping them in the loop via email and personal phone calls all the way to the event and offers them complimentary All Access Passes.

The entry fee filmmakers pay online is the only fee they will ever have to pay.  FirstGlance will never ask Official Selections to pay for screening placement or booths and doesn’t charge exorbitant prices to either the filmmakers or the attendees at the festival.

FirstGlance offers Official Selections the opportunity to promote and co-operatively advertise their project with FirstGlance at a fraction of the cost they would pay on their own to advertise in local press.

FirstGlance invites all Official Selections to become a part of their free trailer network which has received over 100,000 views since 2007.

FirstGlance has an in-house printer available to filmmakers that can help defray costs of posters and postcards and FirstGlance has also teamed with a marketing company to help filmmakers promote their specific title if they want to.

FirstGlance after parties allow filmmakers to mix and mingle and hold informal Q & A with fellow filmmakers and audience members.

In 2009, FirstGlance will award over $50,000 in cash and prizes including the first ever sliding scale cash prize to be awarded at FirstGlance Philadelphia 12. For every 1000 entries they receive, $5,000 in USD cash will be awarded to the grand prize best of fest winner.  FirstGlance awards every Official Selection with an awards package valued at over $200.00 as part of the prizes.

FirstGlance cares about the projects we show and we have heard from both filmmakers and attendees that our festival is one of the best run, most organized, and most entertaining selection of projects they’ve seen and some filmmakers have been to hundreds of festivals.