Submit Your Film

Submission Deadlines

SEP

31

EARLY DEADLINE
(ALL)

nov

31

REGULAR DEADLINE
(FEATURES)
FINAL DEADLINE (SHORTS)

dec

31

FINAL DEADLINE
(MID-LENGTH / FEATURES)
(YOUTH WORKS)

About the Festival

The San Francisco International Film Festival will take place from April 17–27, 2025 with both in-person and online events, parties, talks, and more. Screening schedules, venue footprint, and in-person event structure are all subject to some change based on the realities of producing a safe and accessible film festival at that time.
 
The San Francisco International Film Festival presented by SFFILM is an essential stop on the circuit for emerging storytellers and established filmmakers alike. The 2025 edition will take place from April 17–27 in venues in San Francisco and around the Bay Area. The SFFILM Festival is the longest running film festival in the Americas, bringing films from around the world to discerning and warm Bay Area audiences since 1957. SFFILM is rooted in the culture of film appreciation by exploring film as an evolutionary art form, and as a transformative force for social change.
 
For almost seven decades, the San Francisco International Film Festival has hosted countless world premieres including Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense, Sydney Pollack’s Bobby Deerfield, Wayne Wang’s Center of the World, Abbas Kiarostami’s The Wind Will Carry Us, Helen Hunt’s Ride, and Stephan Eliot’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Past guests of the Festival include Bo Burnham, David Byrne, Joan Chen, Greta Gerwig, Mary Harron, Shah Rukh Khan, Vanessa Kirby, Akira Kurosawa, Savanah Leaf, Wesley Morris, Christopher Nolan, Sandra Oh, Boots Riley, Steven Soderbergh, Celine Song, Charlize Theron, Michelle Yeoh, Sean Wang, and many, many more.

World-class screening venues

Screen in the best theaters in the world, from San Francisco’s classic movie palaces to state-of-the-art modern facilities.

Special artist initiatives

Visiting filmmakers have access to in-depth industry talks at the Festival and consultation from SFFILM's Artist Development team.

A vibrant cultural community

Engage with communities outside the theater with school visits, mixers with partner organizations, and more.

Passionate Bay Area audiences

Experience the best Q&As in the world with thoughtful moderation and San Francisco's sophisticated and curious film lovers.

"The annual flagship event for what is quickly becoming one of the most innovative film organizations in the US.”

"Few festivals are more suited to their city than the SFFILM Festival. It’s clearly a festival programmed by those who love film for people who love film.”

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