Each film is watched three times. After months of screenings we sit down with the scores and create the schedule in about two hours. Until then, no one film is in or out. Lobbying phone calls from distributors and important people can actually hurt a film's chances. If we perceive the film already has high-level support, we won't take it, because our mission is to support the filmmakers who need it.
Every screener has to make written comments, including positive ones.
We mail letters to all filmmakers with constructive feedback. Filmmakers have to understand that the selections process is complicated and time consuming. They're selling themselves short if they think they can just take a shotgun approach to festival submissions. Lobbying certainly can't hurt. Some towns have more than one.