The festivals and platforms we're targeting for Send Me, from major documentary events to faith-based outlets.
One of the world's premier faith-based film festivals, bringing together filmmakers, musicians, and industry professionals for five days of screenings, red carpet events, workshops, and pitch sessions. Entering its 15th year, ICFF is the natural home for a purpose-driven documentary like Send Me — with 3,500 attendees and 65 awards across categories including documentary feature.
North America's largest documentary festival and the premier market for documentary film. Selected films gain major exposure to distributors, broadcasters, and streaming platforms. Hot Docs is an Oscar-qualifying festival and a gateway to North American distribution for international documentaries.
The world's most influential festival for independent film. Sundance's documentary competition is among the most competitive in the world — selection here can lead to major distribution deals, awards attention, and widespread critical coverage. A Sundance premiere often defines a documentary's entire theatrical run.
The world's largest documentary film festival, drawing over 300,000 attendees annually. IDFA is a major European platform for international documentaries with strong industry programming, a co-production market, and access to European broadcasters and distributors. An ideal festival for a story with global dimensions.
Europe's leading documentary festival, combining a public film program with a major industry market. Sheffield DocFest attracts broadcasters from the BBC, Channel 4, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, making it a key platform for securing distribution and co-production partners. Strong focus on socially engaged and internationally produced documentary work.
One of America's most beloved documentary-only festivals, hosted each April at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Full Frame is known for its intimate, filmmaker-centered atmosphere and its commitment to the art of nonfiction cinema. An Oscar-qualifying festival with over $50,000 in cash prizes annually.
Founded in the aftermath of 9/11 to revitalize lower Manhattan, Tribeca has grown into one of the world's most visible and culturally influential film events. Its documentary competition attracts critical attention and broad media coverage, and many Tribeca selections go on to theatrical distribution and streaming deals.
North America's largest winter documentary film festival, held each February in Missoula, Montana. Big Sky is known for its genuine enthusiasm for documentary storytelling and its welcoming community of filmmakers. With a strong focus on independent voices and underrepresented stories, it's an excellent fit for a film centered on Indigenous leaders and faith.
Fees listed are for documentary feature submissions and are based on publicly available information as of July 2026. Fees and deadlines change each cycle — always confirm current rates on each festival's official submission page or via FilmFreeway.com. Approximate fees (~) indicate typical historical ranges where confirmed 2027 data is not yet published. Foreign currency fees (CAD, €, £) do not include applicable taxes.