What happens after you submit your film

A person watches your film and makes a decision. Submitting is free. A standard review can take up to 3 months, because of the number of films we receive. Until then you can see exactly where it is: open My Films in your filmmaker dashboard at any time. Haven’t submitted yet? Submit your film.

What we do

1. We check the upload. All the files are there: the film, poster, hero banner, synopsis and your agreement. If something is missing, we email you before the film goes any further.

2. We check the film. Does it play properly, is the audio clean, do the subtitles line up. If there’s a corrupted file, a silent audio channel or missing end credits, we contact you first.

3. A person watches it, all the way through. Nothing is approved by automation. We look at the quality of the picture, sound and story, whether the film brings something new, where it belongs on the platform, and whether the artwork and details are ready for the public. Budget doesn’t decide anything. Voice and intent do.

4. We check the content flags. They need to be right, especially for the 24/7 channel.

We’re a small team on purpose. Every film gets the same attention, and that is why a standard review can take up to 3 months. Fast-track (£19) gets you a decision within 7 days of your payment. How review and Fast-track work

What each status means

These are the labels you see on My Films. Where a label has a date on it, your dashboard fills the date in for you.

Draft: Not sent yet. Choose Continue Submission to finish it. We email you a reminder if a draft sits untouched, and a draft left untouched for 30 days is deleted, after a warning email that names the date.
In review: A standard review can take up to 3 months. We’ll email you our decision either way.
Fast-track · decision by (a date): Shown under In review when you chose Fast-track. We decide by that date and send three lines of notes from the reviewer with the decision. If we miss the date, the full £19 is refunded automatically.
Changes needed: The reviewer’s note is shown on the film. Send the corrected film as a new submission under the same title. It is reviewed as a free standard review and counts towards your free submissions for the month (up to three at the moment); your dashboard tells you how many you have left. Nothing is charged.
Not selected: Our final decision on this film. It isn’t a judgement on you, and we’d welcome a different film.
Approved: We’ve chosen your film and it is waiting to be published. We’ll email you its release date.
Goes live (a date): Your film is scheduled and will go live on that date. We’ll email you on the day.
Live: Your film is on the platform. Use Share on My Films to copy its link, and add it to your own website or IMDb page.
Hidden: Your film was live and is not showing to viewers at the moment. If you are not sure why, email support@theshortfilmshow.com with your film’s title.

If you see an Action needed box on My Films, we have asked for a new file for one of your films, for example a poster or a new copy of the film. Choose Upload now and send it, and we check it before the film goes any further.

After approval

Your film gets its own page, a place in the genres and collections, and the chance to play on the 24/7 channel. You can update details like your synopsis and links from your dashboard, and see how the film is doing.

Sometimes we write after approval to ask for a final detail, such as a poster that doesn’t meet the size guide. That is so your film looks its best on the day.

Your work stays yours. We’re here to help it find its audience. Choosing your licence

Questions? Email support@theshortfilmshow.com with your film’s title.