Beyond Festivals: Real-World Short Film Distribution
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Course Info
What's included?
This workshop gives participants a realistic understanding of how the short film distribution landscape actually works. We break down festival strategy, digital platforms, and submission pathways so filmmakers know where to send their work, how to target festivals that fit their goals, and what official selections, awards, and premieres genuinely signal within the industry. Just as importantly, we address the role of rejection: how to interpret it constructively, avoid taking it personally, and keep moving forward in a field where “no” is an inevitable part of growth.
Beyond the submission process, the workshop reframes festivals, labs, and markets as relationship‑building environments rather than solely screening opportunities. Participants learn how meaningful professional connections are formed: how to approach programmers, fellow filmmakers, and potential collaborators with confidence; how to speak about their work with clarity; and how to follow up in ways that build long‑term relationships instead of one‑off interactions.
Filmmakers will leave with a practical framework for building sustained momentum in their careers. We explore how each short film can serve a purpose, developing craft, strengthening storytelling voice, expanding audiences, and increasing professional visibility, and how to use one project to elevate the next. Instead of chasing isolated wins, the workshop shows how to shape a body of work that grows in value over time and supports a gradual move toward larger opportunities, including the transition to feature filmmaking.
Who is this for?
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Emerging Filmmakers Finishing Their First or Second Short
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Film School Graduates Transitioning Into the Industry
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Independent Creators Seeking Industry Access
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Producers Supporting Short-Form Projects
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Filmmakers Aiming to Transition to Features
Schedule
Terms & Conditions
By completing this booking, you confirm that you have read and agree to the London Film School Workshops and Short Courses Terms and Conditions (linked below). You have the right to cancel within 14 days of purchase for a full refund unless the course has already begun, in which case your right to cancel may be reduced or lost. After this period, bookings are non-refundable except where the course is cancelled by London Film School. In such cases, liability is limited to a refund of the course fee only. London Film School shall not be liable for any additional costs, including travel or accommodation. All courses are subject to availability and may be amended or cancelled where necessary.
Tutor
Bernhard Pucher
Producer, Film Distribution, Film FestivalBernhard Pucher
Producer, Film Distribution, Film FestivalBernhard is an LFS graduate and a filmmaker with two decades of experience in the UK film industry, and is the CEO of Iron Box Films and CenterFrame, a community for filmmakers. He has directed two feature films, produced two more, and is set to produce his third at the end of 2026. His CenterFrame initiatives include The British Short Film Awards, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, and the CenterFrame Industry Showcase, where major studios such as Searchlight Pictures, StudioCanal, and BBC Studios come to discover the next generation of filmmakers.
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