We have all seen movie trailers that bear the Sundance insignia. The words have become so ubiquitous that it means virtually nothing to the common movie goer. However, being a Sundance pick is more than a blue ribbon for film. For some it could be make or for their career.

Sundance is the most popular indie film festival in America. It occurs in Salt Lake City, Utah, and every year, thousands upon thousands of filmmakers and movie-goers flock there to bask in the glory of the year’s best indie movies. Given that it’s the most popular indie film festival the chances of getting your submission accepted are slim to none. Let’s look at the numbers. According to Sundance data centers, last year, Sundance received 12,166 submissions, and of those 12,166, only 184 were accepted. Seventy-nine were narrative feature length films and of the 79, 29 or so were international films and another 20 were celebrity pictures. That leaves about 30 spots for U.S. Narrative Feature Length Films without a celebrity star. However, if by magic you somehow landed one of these spots you have a 4 in 5 chance of acquiring a distribution deal.

Filmmaker Sean Durkin of Borderline Films learned this lesson recently. Durkin’s film “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” was lucky enough to be accepted to Sundance. Durkin won the award for Best Director at the festival and Fox Searchlight offered the filmmaker a distribution deal. Due to the deal, the film grossed $2,981,638 and catapulted its star, Elizabeth Olsen, into immeasurable commercial success. Durkin and other filmmakers at Borderline Films have gone on to find more success at Sundance.

However, the question still remains. Why bother spending all your money, time and energy into a movie that has a less than 1% chance of being? The answer? If, by an act of God, you get accepted, it could make your career.