What the score measures
Each festival receives a legitimacy and industry-clout score from 0–100 and a tier (A, B, C, or Warning). The score sums positive and negative structural signals from public data — accreditations, venues, history, naming patterns, and reputation flags. It is not a guarantee of acceptance, distribution, or honesty.
Tier A festivals concentrate strong positive signals (often accreditation and long history). Warning festivals concentrate structural red flags. See Understanding Festival Tiers for how tiers map to scores, and live directory statistics for how many festivals sit in each band.
Positive signals
| Signal | Points | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIAPF accreditation | +25 | FIAPF accredited list |
| Oscar-qualifying festival | +25 | Academy qualifying festival lists |
| BAFTA recognized | +15 | BAFTA qualifying / recognized lists |
| Film Festival Alliance member | +10 | Film Festival Alliance directory |
| 5+ years of history | +10 | Founded year (public records / festival site) |
| 3–4 years of history | +5 | Founded year |
| Physical screenings at a named venue | +10 | Festival site, programmes, maps |
| Physical screenings (venue unknown) | +5 | Festival claims / research notes |
| Named jury | +5 | Festival site / press |
| Press or industry coverage | +5 | Trade press, Wikipedia citations |
| Wikipedia verificationScaled by reference count and language editions | +3 to +10 | Wikipedia / Wikidata |
Negative signals
| Signal | Points | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Award-mill name pattern (ends in Awards)Softened when physical venue is verified | −3 to −10 | Name heuristics |
| Chain festival naming pattern | −15 | Name heuristics |
| Multi-city chain network language | −12 | Description heuristics |
| Listed as competition, not festival | −10 | Name heuristics |
| Prestigious city name without local tie | −10 | Name vs city |
| Excessive award categories (20 / 30 / 50+) | −5 to −20 | Category count |
| Monthly festival / competition pattern | −20 (−30 with mill profile) | Frequency fields + description |
| Guaranteed selection | −25 | Festival claims / reports |
| Post-submission upsells | −15 | Festival claims / reports |
| Online-only (no hybrid credit) | −10 | Screening model |
| No physical screenings | −15 | Venue / screening flags |
| Very high acceptance rate (80%+) | −10 | Published acceptance data when available |
| Extended submission window (9+ months) | −5 | Open / close dates |
| High fees ($100+) | −5 | Fee fields |
| Limited or unverifiable history | −5 | Founded year missing or under 2 years |
Update cadence
Tier A and Warning dossiers are prioritized for scheduled research refresh. Other festivals refresh on a biweekly cadence when research jobs run. Scores recalculate when structured fields change.
Each dossier shows a "Last reviewed" date. If something looks wrong, request a correction or report the festival.
FAQ
- Is a Warning tier a confirmed scam?
- No. Warning means structural red flags in our data (for example monthly submission patterns or no physical venue). It is not a legal finding of fraud.
- Can a festival pay for a higher score?
- No. There is no paid placement. Scores come from structural signals only.
- Why can a festival have a red flag and still score mid-range?
- Signals are additive. Strong accreditation or a verified venue can outweigh a single naming or fee penalty. The dossier should state the net result in the legitimacy analysis.