I've had the privilege of serving as a screener for three different film festivals over the years, spanning both shorts and features, narratives and documentaries. In that time, I've watched hundreds of films, and through it all, I've noticed some recurring mistakes that amateur filmmakers make which I believe are hurting their chances of being accepted into festivals.

Get four points today. I repeated the mantra to myself as I stared at the motivational print-outs posted up on the wall above my computer.