Submissions for the 2021 SFFILM Festival (scheduled for April 9–18, 2021) are now being accepted.
Deadlines
Early Deadline (all) – received by Monday, October 19, 2020
Regular Deadline (mid-length & features) / Final Deadline (shorts) – received by Monday, November 16, 2020
Final Deadline (mid-length & features) – received by Monday, December 7, 2020
Final Deadline (Youth Works only) – received by Monday, January 11, 2021
General Information for Entries
- All entries must have been completed on or after January 1, 2020.
- Features previously exhibited in the Bay Area, either theatrically, at another local festival, or via television or Internet broadcast are not eligible to apply.
- Bay Area filmmakers are eligible for additional Bay Area awards given in recognition of the rich variety of work that has established Northern California as a center of independent production. Bay Area awards are presented to a documentary feature film and two short films. To qualify for a Bay Area award, entries must have been made by a filmmaker who is a current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area (the area from Monterey to Mendocino: postal zip codes 93901 to 95457). Producers, crew, and cast members are not eligible for entry fee discounts or Bay Area Golden Gate Awards.
- The Festival is unable to waive entry fees or provide discounts beyond those indicated. Entry fees are not refundable. We encourage all filmmakers to submit by the early deadline of October 19 before fees increase.
- Narrative, documentary, and animated short films may also be considered for inclusion in our popular Family Films program. Family films should be suitable for ages seven and up. Selections in this category engage and entertain the entire family. All genres welcome. Programs traditionally mix emerging talent with established filmmakers such as Glen Keane, Bill Plympton, Aardman Animations, and Tonko House.
- Rough cuts or works-in-progress are accepted and reviewed. However, filmmakers are urged to submit as close to the final cut as possible. The Festival will not accept new versions of an entry unless requested by the programming staff.
- All entrants will be notified of the Festival’s decision by March 8, 2021.
Entry Fees & Awards
Golden Gate Awards Competition
The SFFILM Festival is deeply rooted in the finest traditions of film appreciation both as an art form and as a meaningful agent for social change and is an important showcase for the most searching and innovative films from around the globe.
The Festival’s Golden Gate Awards recognize the best of international and Bay Area talent by honoring innovation in narrative and documentary features, shorts, animation, experimental, family films, and youth-produced works.
Entry Fees by Deadline: Features (50+ mintues)
| Oct 19 | Nov 16 | Dec 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Entries | $60 | $75 | $90 |
| Bay Area Residents and College Students* | $50 | $65 | $80 |
| SFFILM members with the Filmmaker Add-On** | $40 | $55 | $70 |
*Must include proof of enrollment status at time of production.
**Verification of SFFILM Membership with Filmmaker Add-On is required.
Debut Narrative Feature (New Directors Prize): $10,000
McBaine Documentary Feature Prize: $10,000
McBaine Bay Area Documentary Feature Prize: $5,000
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: no cash award
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: no cash award
The SFFILM Festival is also a qualifying festival for the 14th annual Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction filmmaking, which was founded in 2007 to honor exemplary craft in documentaries.
Mid-Length and Short Films
SFFILM has created a new Mid-Length category and Golden Gate Award in recognition and support of innovative work by filmmakers working outside of the traditional short film format. Mid-Length films are 31–50 minutes. Some notable award-winning mid-length films which have screened at past SFFILM Festivals and year-round programs include Life Overtakes Me, End Game, and Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl).
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes SFFILM Festival as a qualifying festival for all short format competitions (live action, documentary, and animated) for the 93rd annual Academy Awards. Note: Previous television or Internet broadcast disqualifies a work from Oscar consideration.
The New Visions category is only for experimental film and video in which personal expression and aesthetic exploration are the primary concerns. If the entry is inappropriate for New Visions, the Festival will reassign it to the proper category.
Entry Fees by Deadline: Mid-Length Films
| Oct 19 | Nov 16 | Dec 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Entries | |||
| 31–50 min | $50 | $65 | $80 |
| Bay Area Residents and College Students* | |||
| 31–50 min | $40 | $55 | $70 |
| SFFILM members with the Filmmaker Add-On** | |||
| 31–50 min | $30 | $45 | $60 |
*Must include proof of enrollment status at time of production.
**Verification of SFFILM Membership with Filmmaker Add-On is required.
Entry Fees by Deadline: Short Films
| Oct 19 | Nov 16 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| General Entries | |||
| Under 30 min | $35 | $50 | |
| Bay Area Residents and College Students* | |||
| Under 30 min | $30 | $45 | |
| SFFILM members with the Filmmaker Add-On** | |||
| Under 30 min | $25 | $40 | |
*Must include proof of enrollment status at time of production.
**Verification of SFFILM Membership with Filmmaker Add-On is required.
Mid-Length and Short Film Awards
Mid-Length Film – $3,000
Documentary Short — $2,000
Narrative Short — $2,000
Animated Short — $2,000
New Visions Short — $2,000
All short film categories and New Visions works by Bay Area residents are also eligible for the Bay Area Short First Prize of $2,000 and Second Prize of $1,500.
Family Films (under 30 minutes)
Suitable for ages 7 and up. Selections in this category engage and entertain the entire family-from first-time moviegoers to grandparents. Past filmmakers include Glen Keane, Cartoon Saloon, Bill Plympton, Pixar, Aardman Animations, Weston Woods Studios, and Tonko House. All genres are welcome.
Entry Fees by Deadline: Family Films
| Oct 19 | Nov 16 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| General Entries | |||
| Under 30 min | $35 | $50 | |
| Bay Area Residents and College Students* | |||
| Under 30 min | $30 | $45 | |
| SFFILM members with the Filmmaker Add-On** | |||
| Under 30 min | $25 | $40 | |
*Must include proof of enrollment status at time of production.
**Verification of SFFILM Membership with Filmmaker Add-On is required.
Family Film Award — $1,500
Youth-Produced Short Films
Youth Works category submissions must include with the application a copy of a photo ID indicating proof of age (18 and younger) at the time of production. Adult participation in Youth Works is limited to an advisory role.
Entry Fees by Deadline: Youth Works
| Oct 19 | Nov 16 | Jan 11, 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 min | No entry fee | ||
Youth Works Award — $1,000
Preview Format
For review purposes, entries can either be uploaded via our SFFILM Festival Entry Form, or on FilmFreeway.com. Contact gga@sffilm.org for information on sending a DVD.
Subtitled Entries
All non-English language entries must have English subtitles for preview and for Festival presentation.
Payment
The Festival is unable to waive entry fees or provide discounts beyond those indicated. Entry fees are not refundable. You may submit any number of titles; however, a separate entry form, preview copy, and entry fee are required for each title. If the Festival determines a work is entered in the wrong category and needs to reassign it, any discrepancy in entry fees between the categories must be paid by the filmmaker.
Payment is accepted only in US dollars, by check (payable to SFFILM), money order, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Checks must have a printed address and telephone number. International entries must pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or money order in US dollars. International entrants who do not wish to pay by credit card must contact SFFILM for instructions on sending a bank wire transfer. (There is an additional $20 fee for wire transfers.) Do not send cash.
Send payment or correspondence to:
2021 SFFILM Festival Entries
SFFILM
39 Mesa Street, Suite 110
The Presidio
San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
FAQs
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How do I enter my film or video in the San Francisco International Film Festival?
Read the call for entries information thoroughly, then submit an application either through Filmfreeway.com or the SFFILM website. If you submit through Film Freeway, we require filmmakers provide production information as listed under project and submitter information (you do not need to submit website or social media accounts, or birthdate) and film specifications (primarily credits, run time, completion date, country of origin, and film language). You can upload the film using their platform. If you submit through the SFFILM website, we accept Vimeo links. Contact gga@sffilm.com for information on sending a DVD.
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What films are eligible for submission?
Entries must have been completed on or after January 1, 2020. See Entry Info above for further details.
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Should I be concerned about premiering my film at another festival and blowing my chances at getting into the San Francisco International Film Festival?
Our Festival does not have any formal premiere policies for short or mid-length films. Feature films (documentary and fiction) cannot have shown anywhere in Northern California (from Sacramento to Santa Cruz) prior to our Festival or via television or internet broadcast (this includes any other Bay Area festival showings). Our feeling is that the SFFILM Festival is a place where new filmmakers can best debut their work to a prestigious body of jurors, industry representatives, and audiences.
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What do I do after I’ve filled out or submitted the form?
Pay the applicable entry fee and upload a preview copy. If you submit through Film Freeway, you can upload the film using their platform. If you submit through the SFFILM website, we accept VIMEO links. The link must be valid up until the beginning of the SFFILM Festival (April 2021).
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Can I submit more than one project?
Yes, but they must be submitted separately. You will also need to send in the appropriate entry fee for each project.
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When is the submission deadline?
There are four deadlines. The early deadline for all films is Monday, October 19; the regular deadline for features and mid-length categories the final deadline for shorts is Monday, November 16; the final deadline for features is Monday, December 7; and the final deadline youth-produced work is Monday, January 11, 2021. As long as the entry fee has been paid and the film has been uploaded by these deadlines, your film will be considered for the Festival.
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Is there a difference if I apply earlier?
Yes. First, it’s much cheaper. Second, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your film is already entered into the Festival and will be watched by programmers that are better rested. Having said that, if you really think you’ll have a significantly improved version of your film ready for the late deadline rather than the early one, then by all means go for the late one.
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Can I send in a rough cut of the film?
Yes, we accept rough cuts or works in progress. However, we will not accept or review new versions unless an SFFILM programmer contacts you.
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What are the submission fees?
See the Entry Info above or the submission forms themselves for fee information.
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Is my film eligible for a cash prize?
Probably. See the Entry Info above for cash prize information.
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When are the selections made?
Filmmakers will be notified by March 8 of the status of their submission.
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Will I be able to get feedback if my film is not selected?
Unfortunately, no. Our selection process takes over four months and involves many dedicated volunteers from the Bay Area film and media community. In order to maintain the integrity of the screening process, we do not provide feedback or notes.
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Once I’ve submitted, should I call you about my film?
If you’ve got any new, relevant information for us during the selection process (new contact info, you just got into another festival, the film got distribution), send the information to gga@sffilm.org with the title of your film as the subject.
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When and where is the San Francisco International Film Festival held?
The 64th SFFILM Festival will take place in April 2021 as a hybrid in-person and online event, in accordance with all active health and safety recommendations from local, state, and federal officials. Exact dates, venue footprint, and in-person event structure are all subject to change based on the realities of producing a safe and accessible film festival at that time.
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Who is on the juries that select the winners during the Festival?
Juries change yearly and usually have a mix of distinguished and discerning filmmakers, film critics, and film industry representatives for each category.
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Will I get reviews if I screen at the SFFILM Festival?
Several print and online film outlets review many of the competition features that premiere at the Festival. Filmmakers have also gotten coverage (if not full reviews) from such sources as Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Filmmaker Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, the East Bay Times and SF Weekly, to name just a few publications. We have in-house publicists who will work with filmmakers to help facilitate reviews, interviews, and other press.
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OK, I still have some unanswered questions. How can I contact you?
Email your questions or comments to gga@sffilm.org or mail us at: 2021 Festival Entries SFFILM 39 Mesa Street, Suite 110 San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
Questions? Contact a dedicated staff member at GGA@sffilm.org with any questions or submission concerns.