» Film Festival Office

Film festivals offer new and emerging filmmakers the chance to showcase their work to different audiences and connect with industry professionals. 

Chapman’s Film Festival Office is a dedicated resource for Dodge students, alumni, and faculty, helping you navigate the dynamic world of film festivals and distribution.

From choosing the right festival to preparing a winning submission and managing screening logistics, our office can support you through the process.

Benefits of submitting your films to festivals

• Film festivals are highly selective, so having your film accepted by a festival is a notable achievement and a strong addition to your portfolio.
• Winning in any category and at any level can be an important step forward in your film career.
• Film festivals allow you to actively market yourself to gain press coverage and industry connections. 

Choosing the right festival for your project

There are many film contests and festivals worldwide — some large, some small. Entry fees and requirements vary. It is important to evaluate your project honestly to determine the appropriate festival or contest. This will save you money, materials, and time. It will also help you focus your energy on the festivals with the largest return on your investment, such as awards, press, or distribution offers.

How the Film Festival Office helps you

Through personalized consultation meetings with Mickey Duzdevich, Dodge’s Film Festival Specialist, you can learn about:

• Key festivals and your film’s potential at them.
• The preparation of your submission and potential deals with festivals to offer entry fee discounts or fee waivers. 
• Responding to outside festival requests to screen films.
• Tracking the success of your project in festivals and competitions.
• Answers to you any questions you may have about the process.

Request a consultation meeting

• Submit the online Project Info Sheet Form.
• Email festivalsubmissions@chapman.edu  to request an appointment and include a password-protected Vimeo link to your film.

Film Festival Specialist Mickey Duzdevich

Mickey Duzdevich brings more than 15 years of film festival experience to Dodge College. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received his BA in Film and Media Studies, Mickey previously served as the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s senior programmer and festival director for over a decade.

In his current role, he plays a key part in connecting students with industry opportunities, fostering collaborations, and enhancing support for aspiring filmmakers at Chapman.