Tier 1 vs. Mid-Tier Festivals: When does holding out become counterproductive?

Hey everyone, I'm hoping to get some real-world advice on festival strategy. I'm currently supervising a short drama and we're starting to think about our premiere. The director and producers are really hoping for a big splash at a Tier 1 festival, and we've poured a lot into making this project shine. We've certainly done our research on what those top festivals are looking for.

My concern is, if we don't get into a Tier 1, have we lost valuable time and momentum? Is there a point where chasing that top-tier premiere becomes detrimental compared to getting into several supportive, mid-tier festivals that might champion the film and lead to other opportunities? What’s the tipping point where you say 'enough is enough' on the Tier 1 submissions and pivot to a wider strategy?