RCinemas · Festival filmmakers

Beyond selection:
give your independent film an audience.

You made the film. Now give people a reason—and an opportunity—to watch it. Discover how a festival invitation can lead to a scheduled virtual screening.

Understand your invitation

A film deserves more than a selection badge

Making an independent film takes commitment. Finding an audience can be just as difficult. A festival selection is meaningful, but it does not always lead to wider distribution or an ongoing public audience. Some programmes offer limited screenings; some submissions are seen only by the judging team.

RCinemas is building a further opportunity: scheduled, ticketed virtual screenings that audiences can attend online, subject to approved territories and exhibition rights. Our aim is to help filmmakers turn interest in their work into an opportunity for people to watch it.

Why did I receive an invitation?

If you submitted through FilmFreeway, the festival team may invite you to provide screening media for the next stage of consideration. Your invitation email and recorded film status identify the stage you have reached.

A provisional invitation is not an award or a confirmed public screening. Uploading alone does not publish your film.

The upload provides media for technical checks and preparation for a possible screening. Exhibition also requires the applicable agreement, rights checks and scheduling approval.

From invitation to audience

  1. Connect your account. Use the secure instructions in your personal invitation email to set your password if needed, sign in and confirm the invitation in your account.
  2. Provide your media. Enter your private invitation code, review the terms, upload the requested media and wait for processing. Then complete submission. If already uploaded, resume rather than uploading again.
  3. Complete the checks. Respond to any rights or technical questions. The team will confirm whether a screening is approved and scheduled.
  4. Promote the public booking page. Once it is live, share the approved screening date, time, timezone and ticket link with your audience.

A screening is a starting point—not a marketing campaign

Getting into the programme does not automatically bring viewers. Your story, voice and community can help give the screening momentum. Start promoting before the show, not after it.

Tell people why they should watch

Share a trailer, a director introduction, behind-the-scenes clips or the story behind your film. Invite interested film groups, friends, relatives and supporters.

Make booking easy

Use Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube and your other channels. Include the public ticket-booking link, screening time and timezone, and send helpful reminders.

A genuine audience and meaningful discussion can help build your film's profile. Sales, exposure, reviews and future opportunities are not guaranteed. Respect group rules: do not spam, make misleading claims or buy artificial engagement.

Share only the public booking link—never your invitation code, password-setup link, account confirmation link or a customer's private viewing link.

Audience response and awards

Audience response and genuine popularity may be considered alongside other judging criteria only where the applicable published festival rules provide for it. Ticket sales alone do not guarantee an award.

This page does not introduce a new award formula or change existing entry terms. The festival's published rules must explain which awards use audience response and how it is assessed. Do not describe your film as an award winner before an official announcement.

Revenue and your rights

New invitations normally propose a ticket-revenue split of 50% filmmaker, 20% festival and 30% platform. Your actual invitation and accepted agreement govern your film; existing or individually agreed terms may differ. The eligible revenue basis, applicable taxes, refunds and payment conditions follow that agreement.

Screenings are virtual only at present. Exhibition is subject to the agreed territories, dates and rights. Uploading does not transfer ownership of your film. No screening, minimum income, award or automatic payout is promised.

Ready to take the next step?

Open your personal invitation email for secure account and upload instructions. If you are unsure why you received it or what the offer means, contact the festival team before proceeding.

My festival invitations

Sign in with the email address that received your invitation. Account access alone does not approve a screening.