If you’re a young or first-time filmmaker, there’s probably no better way to get exposure for your project (and for yourself!) than having your film screened at a big film festival.

But getting accepted to screen at these prestigious gatherings are becoming more competitive every year. So what can you do to increase your chances?

It might seem obvious, but much of your film’s success will depend on its quality. It’s imperative that you start by making sure you’re submitting the best version of your film; the version you screened to family and friends beforehand and incorporated their brutally honest feedback. Beyond that, here are some of the fine print to look out for to increase your chances when the next round of submissions opens up.

Ask yourself: Is my film a fit for this particular festival?

Worldwide there are almost 10,000 unique film festivals. From the best-known like Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Berlin and Sundance, to hundreds of thousands of smaller festivals scattered across the globe. Before submitting your film to a particular festival, make sure you do some thorough research as to what type of films they usually screen. Do the programmers primarily focus on documentary features? Or is the festival specifically aimed at showcasing new indie horrors? Closely examine any film festival you’re considering submitting to and ensure your film will fit into their likely line-up. If you have any doubts, rather not submit your film to that festival at all.

Read, understand and follow the festival’s rules and regulations

Most film festivals exist for a reason, often to differentiate it slightly from other, similar festivals. That’s why many go through the painstaking process of setting up their own specific rules and regulations. Unfortunately, many filmmakers seem to completely ignore this important document before submitting their film. “You won’t believe how many phone calls and emails we get from filmmakers who obviously haven’t read our rules and regulations,” writes Elliot Grove, independent film producer and founder of the London Raindance Film Festival. “To have a legitimate query is another thing altogether, and we, like all festivals, welcome those calls. However, some filmmakers never spend any time researching the profile of the festival they are submitting to, and then complain bitterly of why they weren't selected.” Always make sure you study the festival’s rules and regulations and incorporate it into your submission to avoid annoying the programmers.

Submit your film as early as possible

Even though you can submit your film at any point during the submission period, it would be beneficial to do it as early as possible. (It’s normally cheaper, too.) The longer you wait, the harder it can be to land one of the coveted slots on the program. Understandably, the people responsible for compiling the final list of films to be displayed at the festival will need to watch many, many movies and short films before making their final decisions. They will likely begin to view and assess films long before the end of the submission period. Slots will be filled quickly and the competition for the remaining ones will become more intense. Just make sure you’re happy with the final version of your film before submitting. Never rush a production to completion just to meet a festival’s deadline. There will always be next year.

Tell the festival programmers why they should consider your film

It’s not enough to merely submit your hard work and hope for the best. Similar to applying for a job and attaching a cover letter with your resume, filmmakers need to make sure festival programmers take note of and understand their submission. If you can, send materials about why you think your film will be an ideal fit for their program; tell the organizers why the attendees to the festival will be an ideal audience for your movie. Try to qualify the kind of attention your film could bring to the specific festival you submitted to. Remember to be enthusiastic but not pushy. And don’t make it about you or your life story; the focus should be on the project and why it should be considered above all the rest.