If Sundance Is Your Only Plan, You Don’t Have a Plan

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off: if your entire distribution plan revolves around getting into Sundance, you don’t have a strategy. You have a fantasy.

Look, we get it. The idea of your film premiering in Park City (ahem…Boulder…), packed into a sold-out theater full of buyers, agents, and Variety journalists is intoxicating. A standing ovation. A late-night acquisition bidding war. A flood of interview requests. The dream.

But that dream is shared by over 15,000 filmmakers each year. And fewer than 150 features are accepted.

That’s less than 1%.

Even if your film is great, even if you did everything “right.” You could make a masterpiece and still not get the email.

Sundance is a moment. But visibility is a mission. If you want your film to succeed, you need more than a golden ticket plan. You need a roadmap that doesn’t vanish when the festival list hits your inbox.

The Cold Math of Top-Tier Festivals

Let’s look at the numbers.

In 2023, Sundance received over 16,000 submissions. That includes more than 4,000 feature films. Fewer than 150 were selected across all categories.

That’s a 3.5% acceptance rate overall—and lower for features. TIFF, SXSW, Berlinale, and Tribeca aren’t much better. And for many of them, industry connections matter as much as (if not more than) creative merit. You could make the film of the decade and still get lost in the pile. Or never make it to the first screener. So if you’re betting everything on a single festival slot, you’re walking into the casino with your career on red.

Festivals Are a Tactic, Not a Destination

Sundance is not the endgame. It’s not the goal. It’s one potential launchpad. That’s it.

Festivals are designed for visibility, credibility, and community. They’re not guaranteed sources of distribution, money, or audience. You know how many films get into Sundance, get great reviews, and still disappear?

Too many.

Because the festival is only step one. What you do next—and what you have ready before it happens—is what makes the difference between buzz and burnout.

“Plan A” Shouldn’t Leave You Plan-less

It’s not wrong to submit to top-tier festivals. You should. But the mistake is putting all your time, energy, and hope into only that lane. Your strategy needs to include:

Plan B	What regional, niche, or mid-tier festivals align with your genre and audience?
Plan C	How will you self-distribute if the festival path doesn’t pan out?
Plan D-Z	Who can you pitch your film to directly—streamers, AVOD platforms, international buyers, cultural institutions, community cinemas, or sponsors?

You can’t control who programs a festival. But you can control your reach. Your messaging. Your visibility. And your access to tools like Garvescope that help make that possible.

Make a Great Film, Then Make It Discoverable

Too many filmmakers obsess over whether their film is “festival-worthy” and forget to ask whether it’s audience-ready.

• What platform is your genre thriving on?
• What keywords are people searching for in your niche?
• Can your trailer hook someone in 15 seconds?
• Do you have a press kit? A clear poster? A strong logline?
• Have you collected testimonials or reviews from early viewers?

Buyers and platforms don’t care where your film premiered. They care whether people will watch it.

A film that premieres on no festival stage but racks up 3 million AVOD views is more valuable than a film that plays one big festival and disappears a month later.

Visibility is About Access

Top-tier festivals can open doors—but so can smart marketing. A viral trailer, a powerful campaign, a strategic AVOD rollout, or a grassroots tour can create just as much momentum as a fancy premiere.

In fact, many streamers and sponsors care more about your audience metrics than your laurels. They want films with real demand. Not just films with temporary buzz.

If you can build an audience without a gatekeeper, you’re ten times more valuable than someone waiting for a programmer to give them permission.

Garvescope Was Built for Filmmakers Who Don’t Want to Wait

This is exactly why we created Garvescope. Because the industry is changing, and your success shouldn’t be determined by whether you get one email from one programmer on one day of the year.

We help you build visibility, track demand, pitch smart, and turn your film into an opportunity magnet—whether you premiere at Sundance, or never touch a festival at all.

We believe in great films. But more importantly, we believe in great film strategies. And those don’t stop at “submit and pray.”

Your Film Deserves More Than a Moment

Aim for the mountain, sure. But build the ladder too. Because if you only plan for the win, you’ll be lost in the silence when it doesn’t come.

Make the film. Build the audience. Prep the pitch. Study the platforms. Sundance is a dream. But strategy is how you wake up and win anyway.