You begin by submitting your film to A-List film festivals. This is the strongest starting position for any film, because these festivals define the highest level of recognition and set the framework for everything that follows. At this stage, nothing is decided yet. You are simply submitting and waiting to see where genuine interest appears.
Festivals clearly state whether they require a world premiere, an international premiere, or another level of premiere. By viewing these festivals together, rather than one by one, you can see which type of premiere you are effectively aiming for at each stage.
As results come in, that position can shift. If a festival that requires a world premiere does not select your film, your focus naturally moves to the next level, such as an international premiere, and then onward if needed.
It is a clear progression based on the requirements each festival sets. You must always understand which premiere level your film is moving toward and what the next logical step should be.
World Premiere
The world premiere is the first time a film is screened publicly anywhere in the world. Once a film has had a public screening, it can no longer be considered for a world premiere. Many top-tier festivals require that a film has not been screened publicly before in order to qualify.
International Premiere
The international premiere is the first public screening of a film outside its country of origin. If a film has already screened in its home country, it may still qualify for international premiere status in another country.
National Premiere
The national premiere is the first public screening of a film within a specific country. This usually refers to the filmmaker’s home country, but it can also apply to any country where the film has not yet been screened publicly.
Local or City Premiere
The local or city premiere is the first public screening of a film in a specific city or locality. This typically applies to regional festivals and local events and is often the final stage in the premiere sequence.
When results come in, we help you understand what each selection represents, what kind of premiere it requires or allows, and how accepting one festival affects the others.
With that clarity, you can decide where your world, international, regional, and local premieres should live, in the right order on your scheduled timeline.
Most filmmakers look at festivals one by one. They find a festival, read about it, and decide whether to submit. That is understandable, but it often leads to confusion and second-guessing later on.
In practice, films are usually submitted to several festivals at the same time. This keeps your options open and gives you room to choose once you start hearing back. The aim is not to chase a single outcome. It is to give your film a fair field to move in.
Premiere status is not something you need to solve at the submission stage. It becomes relevant when a festival selects your film. Until then, you are allowed to explore possibilities.
Once an invitation arrives, you can step back and decide whether that festival should be your world, international, or regional premiere. That choice is yours, and it should be made with context, not pressure.
You can, and many people do. The difficulty is that it often leaves filmmakers feeling isolated with each decision.
When you can see how festivals sit alongside one another, those choices feel less heavy. You stop reacting and start moving with intention.