Because of COVID-19, we are currently focusing on our online screenings and planning on having physical screenings when it is possible.
Essex DocFest is an ethical and modern documentary festival that works to change the festival industry. The festival industry has not changed much in decades, even though the world has. We want to give a platform to important stories in a sustainable way that benefits filmmakers, audiences, and, most importantly, the people whose stories are being told. Essex DocFest is a new type of festival that blends online and offline events and works to support low-budget and indie documentary filmmaking.
We start to change festivals at the beginning of the submission process. Filmmakers often pay large submission fees to be considered for festivals, but rarely hear anything back about their films. We work to change this, by ensuring that everyone who submits to Essex DocFest will receive feedback on their submission and we will be transparent about the reasons why it was or it was not selected.
We also want to give back to the filmmakers, so profits will be reinvested in new films and new voices. We are all about building a supportive community of filmmakers and giving them a platform to make their stories heard. We are not just a festival, we run events throughout the year bringing audiences and filmmakers together, both online and offline.
WHY YOU SHOULD SUBMIT:
Access to an online community: all submitting filmmakers will have access to a private group of other submitting filmmakers, creating a year-round community
You don't have to worry about fitting into our festival: we are a new festival and we want to do things right. If you submit a film that doesn't fit the categories very well or the theme of the festival, we will still find a place for it. We will have online screenings and q&as and when it is possible we will also have physical screenings. If you have a documentary, you should submit, don't worry about fitting in.
You will get feedback for your film: we will always contact you and let you know what our decision is and why. You will not have to wonder if your film was not selected because of some obscure reason. We are transparent about our selection process and we will do everything we can do find a way to screen (online or offline) your film.
Expert reviewers: Festivals often get volunteers to watch films and decide whether they should make it to the next step, being reviewed by a panel or a jury of experts. We skip the first step and all the films submitted will be reviewed by experts in film studies or filmmakers and they will give you feedback on their decision.
Year-round events: We are building our community and we will be screening films online and offline throughout the year. This way we can show your film more often and to a larger audience than a normal festival would.
Profits will go back to filmmakers and films: we will not spend our money on huge parties and huge names attending. We want to invest back into you. Keep an eye on the festival website to see what the profits will be funding.
There will be an award-winner in each category.