Filmmaker FAQ
What is the Parity Pipeline?
Parity Pipeline is a programming initiative from Film Fatales that provides a direct pipeline for film festival programmers, production companies and other film industry executives to find projects directed by filmmakers from underrepresented communities in an effort towards more inclusive programming and hiring practices. Filmmakers submit their project details and demographic information for inclusion in a robust database searchable by a variety of categories, including genre, format, development phase, and filmmaker demographics. Participating festival programmers and industry representatives can search this database for diverse content and to offer submission waivers, discounts and invitations to filmmakers. The Film Fatales programming team also uses this database to compile lists of recommendations and individual letters of support for specific funding, development and screening opportunities. During this beta phase, the Parity Pipeline is exclusively for projects directed by members of Film Fatales. Each project requires a separate form and and annual fee. Members of Film Fatales are invited to submit as many projects as they would like.
How do I add my project?
Plan to submit a separate application form and annual fee for each project that you would like to include in the Parity Pipeline.
How does the Parity Pipeline work for projects in Development through Post?
Projects in any stage of development through post can be added to the Parity Pipeline to be recommended for pitching opportunities, development labs, incubators, production grants, finishing funds, and post-production support. Often, production companies and development executives will contact us with requests for projects that meet certain criteria and we will use the database to generate a curated list of projects they might be interested in supporting. Other times, development labs or funders will offer submission discounts or waivers to projects in the parity pipeline.
How does the Parity Pipeline work for projects on the Festival circuit?
Completed features, documentaries and short films directed by Film Fatales members on the film festival circuit can be submitted to the Parity Pipeline. We use this database to generate lists of available projects to be shared with over 200 film festival programmers, who then request screeners and offer submission waivers or discounts to filmmakers with projects in the Parity Pipeline.
How does the Parity Pipeline work for projects seeking Distribution?
Completed features, documentaries and shorts directed by members of Film Fatales can be submitted to the Parity Pipeline program to be recommended for distribution opportunities and screening series outside of the film festival circuit. Our team uses this database to recommend projects to sales agents and distributors, as well as independent theaters and programmers looking to curate screening series amplifying marginalized voices.
How does the Parity Pipeline work for Director based opportunities?
To be recommended for labs, incubators, shadowing programs, representation, and director-for-hire jobs, please add a directing reel or comparable work sample to the Parity Pipeline and choose “Directing Reel” for the Project Type.
What are the benefits?
Upon acceptance, you will receive a welcome letter with more information and access to a private website for participants in the Parity Pipeline. You will also receive a monthly Pipeline Newsletter with details about upcoming opportunities, deadlines, discount codes, and submission links. Previous participants have reported saving hundreds of dollars on application fees and have been connected to funders, agents, managers, and industry decision makers through their participation in this initiative. We look forward to supporting you and your work!
What materials should I upload?
As a general rule, only upload materials that you are comfortable sharing with industry representatives. For example, you might include a pitch deck rather than a screenplay draft, or a trailer rather than a rough cut. When a film festival programmer or industry representative expresses interest in your project, we will connect you with them directly to follow up with additional information as needed.
Who can see my project information?
Project information about films in development are shared with a select list of funders, labs, incubators, and industry executives. Project information for films on the festival circuit are shared with hundreds of film festival programmers. Full length screeners are only shared with individual festival programmers with explicit consent by the filmmaker. Filmmakers will also have the opportunity to share additional information as requested.
How can I update my information?
You can either fill out this Updates Form (without paying an additional fee) with your updated information or contact us and we will update your project profile manually. At this time, filmmakers are unable to access their individual project profiles, but you can find a typical view of what is shared here.
Will you submit my project for me?
Unless we reach out with a specific request, you should plan to always submit to individual opportunities on your own. Think of us as an added help. We make a concerted effort to reach out to programmers early in their submission process to negotiate waivers and discounts which are shared in our pipeline newsletter.
Do I need to pay for each project?
Yes. We ask for an annual fee of $40 per feature length project and $20 per short to help us build and maintain this database.
When is is a project removed?
Projects are removed from the Pipeline upon request or after participating for over a year without renewal. To renew a project, simply fill out this Renewal Form and submit a new annual fee.
What are the eligibility requirements?
The Parity Pipeline is exclusively for projects that are directed or co-directed by members of Film Fatales based anywhere in the world. We understand that director attachments might change, but please only submit projects that you intend to direct.