Film Festivals
Talking Pictures Festival
The Talking Pictures Festival is produced by Percolator Films, a new non-profit media arts organization founded by independent filmmakers Ines Sommer and Kathy Berger. Percolator Films grew out of our work presenting the free Reeltime film and discussion series at the Evanston Public Library and Northwestern University’s Block Cinema for the past decade. Percolator Films engages audiences with high caliber independent films that are challenging, intriguing, entertaining and prompt the viewer to think outside the box. We collaborate with community organizations and bring independent filmmakers and audience members together to create a space for public dialogue about the films we screen. $15-35 to enter.
http://www.talkingpicturesfestival.org
Sonoma International Film Festival
The Sonoma International Film Society presents events and programs celebrating gourmet food, fine wine, the best in new independent filmmaking, and the remarkable richness of life in Sonoma Valley.
http://sonomafilmfest.org/
The Really Independent Film Channel
DFD-TV, the world’s first web-based entertainment company, launches The Really Independent Film Channel. the newest venue for current indie films and emerging filmmakers. RIFC seeks strong content in shorts, features, documentaries, animation, experimental, and more, as it builds its archives of diverse and current indie film work. DFD-TV there is no cost to filmmakers or audience; it is nonexclusive and seeks no rights. We build a unique page on the site for each filmmaker, where they can direct audience, prospective partners, distributors or financiers, and the filmmaker is able to have links to their own website, as well as get feedback from the audience in the site’s interactive web ability. The channel’s goal is to support emerging artists and build an audience interested in independent film. There will be a standard non exclusive agreement, which can be canceled when you need. visit our website at http://www.reallyifc.com/home.jsp
http://www.reallyifc.com/home.jsp
Reynolda Film Festival
The mission of the Reynolda Film Festival has always been to entertain, inspire, and challenge people of ages. The festival places an equal emphasis on both its worldwide student film competition and its unique opportunities presented through speakers, panels, and special sessions. Past speakers have included directors, producers, artists, documentary filmmakers, animators, production department managers, studio supervisors, and Academy Award nominees.
http://www.reynoldafilmfestival.com/
Noise Pop Film Festival
The Noise Pop Film Festival began in 2000 to expand the week-long Noise Pop Music Festival which began in 1993 in San Francisco. The Film Festival accepts any kind of film or video narrative feature, documentary, short, animation, experimental or music video, that explores a connection to music, either in its subject matter, the talent behind or in front of the camera, or with an exceptionally prominent soundtrack. $15-25 to enter.
http://www.noisepop.com
Dallas International Film Festival
The Dallas International Film Festival, hosted by the Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society and will run for a ten days in April. A non-profit organization, the DALLAS Film Society celebrates and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop a better understanding of the role of film in today’s world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. $40-65 to enter.
http://dallasfilm.org/
Method Fest Film festival
The Method Fest independent film festival in Calabasas, Calif. The Method Fest is dedicated to showcasing breakout acting performances in story and character-driven independent feature and short films. The Method Fest provides a great opportunity to receive Los Angeles reviews, to have your student films seen by Los Angeles based distribution companies and to honor the actors in their films.
www.methodfest.com
San Francisco Women’s Film Festival
San Francisco Women’s Film Festival accepts films/video of all lengths and genres: experimental, narrative, documentary, and animation. Films/videos must be directed or co–directed by women.
http://www.sfwff.com/
MadCat Women’s International Film Festival
MadCat Women’s International Film Festival exhibit provocative and visionary works that are original in their use of the medium. MadCat is committed to showcasing women directors who challenge the use of sound and image and explore notions of visual story telling. $15-40 to enter.
www.madcatfilmfestival.org
New Port Beach Film Festivals
Blending the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking, an exclusive selection of award-winning independent and studio films representing a truly unique mix of culture and genre.
http://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com/
NewFilmmakers Spring Series
NewFilmmakers screens year-round in New York, 51 weeks a year. Programed quarterly a few months in advance in order to give filmmakers a chance to promote their work. $20 Student, $25 Short, $30 Feature to enter.
www.newfilmmakers.com/submit/submitNY.html
Tribeca Film Festival
The Festival’s mission focuses on assisting filmmakers to reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promoting New York City as a major filmmaking center. $40-65 to enter.
www.tribecafilm.com/festival
San Diego Latino Film Festival
San Diego Latino Film Festival is seeking innovative works that are ‘by’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ the Latino community. $25 to enter.
http://www.sdlatinofilm.com/
Ann Arbor Film Festival
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is internationally recognized as a premiere showcase for creative, inspiring, and influential films of all types: avant-garde and experimental, story-based narratives, documentaries, and animation. As the original North American independent film festival, the AAFF is steeped in a rich tradition of ground-breaking cinema. Thousands of influential filmmakers have showcased early work at the AAFF, including luminaries such as Kenneth Anger, Agnes Varda, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Gus Van Sant, Barbara Hammer, Lawrence Kasdan, and George Lucas. $18,00 in case prizes to over 30 films in a number of different categories. $35 to enter.
http://www.aafilmfest.org/
San Francisco International Film Festival
Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000. $40 – $180 varies for deadline and length to enter.
http://www.sffs.org
Women’s Film Festival in Brattleboro, Vermont
The festival’s aims are to promote choices by showcasing films that depict women’s multi-faceted lives and to give a more human and humane context to world events….to show how those events impact on women’s lives, and how women’s lives impact on the world. $15 to enter.
http://www.womensfilmfestival.org/
Slamdance Film Festival
The Slamdance Film Festival is dedicated to new filmmakers. SFF accept films in every genre, on any topic from every country around the world.
slamdance.com/festival/submissions.html
Atlanta Film Festival
AFF has been a showcase for some of the most interesting, challenging and engaging work in film. $45 Features, $40 Shorts to enter
atlantafilmfestival.com
A.K.A Shriekfest, The Los Angeles Horror/Science Fiction Film Festival
AKA Shriek Fest is dedicated to discovering new and overlooked artists in the horror and science fiction genre. $25-55 to enter.
www.shriekfest.com
Anchorage International Film Festival
Anchorage International Film Festival establishes a diverse, provocative, compelling, and entertaining showcase of excellent international feature length, documentary, short, supershort, and animation films that will engage our imaginations and enhance our lives culturally and artistically through the art of independent film. $15-40 to enter.
www.anchoragefilmfestival.org
Imperial Beach International Film Festival
Imperial Beach International Film Festival’s mission of advocating for a greater artistic and cultural presence at Imperial Beach will help to establish our city as a great place to visit and invest. $15 to enter.
http://www.ibfilmfestival.com
Lone Star International Film Festival
The Lone Star International Film Festival (LSIFF), Fort Worth in Sundance Square is a presentation of the Lone Star Film Society. In addition to showcasing the best in American independent cinema, LSIFF is committed to being truly international as well as establishing itself as an authority on emerging talent. Categories include narrative feature length, documentary feature length, short form, and animation.
Hill Country Film Festival
The Hill Country Film Festival takes place in Fredericksburg in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. A town unlike any other in Texas, Fredericksburg is filled with unique shopping and an artistic warmth. HCFF is dedicated to bringing Independent Filmmakers and their films to this charming city, as a celebration of the city’s artistic spirit and it’s people. The wonderful people of Fredericksburg, TX have built a city dependent on attracting and welcoming tourists. Their commitment to showcasing themselves and the city is evident everywhere. $15-55 to enter depending on length and submission deadline.
Mountainfilm in Telluride Film Festival
Mountainfilm is America’s premier festival celebrating achievement in mountain, adventure, culture and environment. We accept and screen films – doc and narrative, feature and short – on a broad range of subjects. We like quirky causes and indomitable spirit. $25-60 to enter depending on length and deadline.
http://www.mountainfilm.org/festival/
Ashland Independent Film Festival
The ashland independent film festival is five days of the highest quality independent film in this historic town the Washington Post called “a dream you’ll never want to leave.” Every Spring, Southern Oregon is buzzing with the excitement of the AIFF. Over 6000 film lovers gather at the historic art-deco Varsity Theatre in downtown to watch over 80 films in five days. Filmmakers of the documentaries, features and shorts come from around the world come to engage with the audience after each screening and at the festival’s Opening Night Bash and Award Celebration parties with local wine, beer and gourmet food. Special guests have included Helen Hunt, Albert Maysles, Bruce Campbell and more. The film festival is one of the reasons Ashland is included in the popular travel guide A Thousand Places to See Before You Die. $30-75 to enter.
http://www.ashlandfilm.org/
Austin Asian American Film Festival
he AAAFF’s mission is to provide a channel for International Asian/Asian-American artists to promote their work, and to support and bring awareness to the community. AAAFF is an Asian/Asian-American film festival committed to celebrating the best in independent Asian cinema from across the globe. For years, our festival has highlighted the complexity and vitality of Asian/Asian-American communities through cutting-edge narrative, documentary and experimental films. We aim at bringing awareness to important global issues like saving the environment and supporting other causes through the strong impact of media.
http://www.aaaff.org/
San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
The Center for Asian America Media presents the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) every March. The SFIAAFF is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, annually presenting approximately 120 works in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose. Since 1982, the SFIAAFF has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers as well as a vital source for new Asian cinema.$20-35 to enter.
www.asianamericanmedia.org
A.K.A Shriekfest, The Los Angeles Horror/Science Fiction Screenplay Competition
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Thrillers narrative shorts and features scripts! $25-55 to submit.
www.shriekfest.com
Annapolis Film Festival
Annapolis Film Festival is an international festival catering to all genres, bringing independent films to the scenic backyard of DC. $20-50 to enter.
www.annapolisfilmfestival.com
Woodstock Film Festival
Each year film and music lovers from around the world gather at the Woodstock Film Festival for an innovative variety of films, first-class concerts, workshops, celebrity-led panels, an awards ceremony, and fantastic parties. At the Woodstock Film Festival, participants and visitors find themselves in a friendly, casual environment, one that is conducive to creativity, networking and a good time, surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. $10-50 depending on entry deadline.
www.woodstockfilmfestival.com
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival is a film festival to support and celebrate women filmmakers and women subject matters. $25 to enter.
http://www.rmwfilmfest.org/
STARZ Denver Film Festival
The Starz Denver Film Festival, an invitational exposition of film, presents approximately 175 films over ten days and plays host to more than 125 film artists. New international feature releases, independently produced fiction films and documentaries, animation, experimental works, children’s programs and short subjects are included in the festival. $20-40 to enter.
www.denverfilm.org
Big Break Screenwriting Contest
With cash, rewards, mentorship, and industry exposure, Big Break lives up to its name. $50 to enter.
http://www.finaldraft.com/events-and-services/big-break/
Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival
The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) is the oldest and largest gay and lesbian film festival in the Southwest.
www.agliff.org
San Antonio Film Festival
Once named the Golden Showers Film Festival with the spirit of “pissing” on Hollywood and formerly The San Antonio Underground Film Festival — is held annually in June at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico en San Antonio & is looking for 100% DIY narrative, animation, doc, or experimental shorts or features. Supporting independent filmmaking, SAFF is a three-day event held every summer in San Antonio, TX. Prizes! $40-60 to enter.
www.safilm.com
American Black Film Festival
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is a four-day retreat and international film market created to spearhead distribution opportunities for independent Black filmmakers.
http://www.abff.com/
Telluride Film Festival
What are the prizes? There are none. The real prize is to be accepted from hundreds of entries as one of approximately 15 shorts and 20 features that will be showcased at the Telluride Film Festival. That’s right — once your film is invited to join the festival, by the time the event rolls around, you can stop biting your nails and enjoy the company of some of the best directors in the world.
“This is really the only filmmaker’s festival.”
– Kathleen Kennedy
http://telluridefilmfestival.org/
BERLIN & BEYOND Film Festival
BERLIN & BEYOND is looking for new dramatic and documentary features and shorts from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in German with English subtitles Awards: Best First Feature ($5000); Audience Award; Lifetime Achievement Award Special screenings: Kinofest Lünen’s audience favorite & Restored Silent Film The screening format is 35mm or in special cases digital formats. The films main language should be German, English subtitles are required. Preview material should be on DVD in NTSC or PAL. No application form or entry fee is required.
http://www.berlinandbeyond.com/
Austin Film Festival Film Competition
AFF keeps its focus on the craft of screenwriting, making it unique among festivals where the director is always king. The festival attracts the top screenwriters in the industry. AFF likes films with unique stories. $40 to enter.
http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/
Hamptons International Film Festival
The festival is committed to exhibiting films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives, with the hope that these programs will enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment for all. $40-55 to enter.
www.hamptonsfilmfest.org
Toronto Film Festival
TFF vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. $75 to enter!
https://apps.tiffg.ca/Tiff_Submissions/
Expresión en Corto
Expresión en Corto is Latin America’s largest, most competitive and prestigious film festival. Acting as a platform for launching new careers, our national and international competition pits newcomers alongside the industry’s most seasoned veterans. $25 per enter.
http://www.expresionencorto.com/eindex.html
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