We screen the best documentaries from around the world at the Roxie Cinema, the oldest art house theater west of the Mississippi. Many of our titles end up with calendared runs at the Roxie later in the year. We get great press coverage in San Francisco, the second largest film market in the country, plus industry reviews.
San Francisco is a very receptive town for documentaries and our fest has built a passionate following over the past 24 years.
LAST YEAR'S PRESS COVERAGE: https://sfindie.com/press-coverage
SF DocFest is an annual festival devoted to documentary cinema. Since 2001, this event has brought the most weird and wonderful aspects of real life to the big screen.
"What makes the scrappy San Francisco Documentary Film Festival a treasure to SF Bay Area filmgoers is its willingness to take that extra step to show films a little more out there than bog standard documentaries." - Peter Wong, Broke Ass Stuart
“Docfest offers a zippy blend of politics, music, social issues and youth-oriented subcultures. The good news is that DocFest promotes documentaries as a vibrant, irreverent form of entertainment to a younger demographic, blasting the notion of educational films to smithereens. There’s no room for anything approximating — watch it, I’m about to blaspheme – the obsessively measured and utterly somnambulant musings of Ken Burns.” – Michael Fox, KQED
“Since its inception, DocFest (May 31-June 15 at the Roxie and the Vogue, with opening night at Alamo Drafthouse) has compiled a colorful scrapbook of genuine characters in contrast to the current events survey, educational seminar or social-issue forum that defines many documentary series… There are one or two people in Off the Charts you won’t soon forget, which could be said about nearly every film in DocFest. That’s one of the pleasures of scrapbooks.” – also Michael Fox, KQED
Michael Fox just loves DocFest, here's another:
"Welcome to SF DocFest, the beloved annual compendium of odd, unusual nonfiction films from every nook and corner of our bizarro country and beyond. Waving off the pedigreed, high-profile docs that premiere at Sundance, get theatrical releases (or these days, national virtual releases) and chart a course for the Academy Awards, SF DocFest’s programmers opt for poignant, intimate works that miss the mainstream by dint of their iconoclasm and/or lack of a marketing hook." -KQED
"This week brings the kickoff to the 20th edition of SF Docfest, the rapidly-becoming-venerable nonfiction showcase that nonetheless continues to put the fun in documentary cinema appreciation. While other such showcases tend to be soberly issue-themed, focusing on the environment, activism, or some such, Docfest pursues—though not exclusively—colorful human interest stories, musician profiles, and other subjects on which there will not be a class quiz afterward." - Dennis Harvey, 48Hills
Algeciras Fantástika is a multidisciplinary cultural event specialized in matters of fantastic nature, suspense, terror and science fiction, organized by Algeciras City Council and the University of Cadiz.
Attention Filmmakers and Horror Enthusiasts!
For the highly anticipated premiere of "Los Vampiros del Desierto," we are looking for horror short films to complement this unique night. If you have a work that can chill the blood, we want to see it.
Join us on October 19, 2024, for an adrenaline-filled night where selected short films will be screened before the premiere of "Los Vampiros del Desierto." This is your chance to showcase your work in front of a passionate audience and alongside a stellar production.
The first edition of the EcoCine - Environmental Cinema Festival, will be held in person from October 7 to 11, 2024, exhibiting 12 cinematographic works, distributed in 14 in-person sessions, in the city of Laguna. The festival aims to democratize access to culture, showing films for free and raising updated and quality content on audiovisual productions that address socio-environmental quests in their diverse nuances. In this way we want to promote a broad debate, dialoguing with society on vital and urgent issues for the planet through the exhibition of two films allied to the realization of rounds of talks, lectures and mini-courses, as the intention of forming opinions and raising the general public in depth of questões addressed in the films. The EcoCine - Environmental Cinema Festival has among its objectives to attract interested audiences and form new audiences, raise culture with quality information and generate a reflection on the role of each person in the search for solutions and alternatives for a more sustainable world. By setting these values, EcoCine is configured as a non-competitive event. Além disso, the festival tem from this its first edition or focus on accessibility and no commitment to raise culture and training for the public.
“A festival focused on socio-environmental issues. In 2023, Gamboa Zinemaldia was born. We have also been expanding horizons, reaching more territories, thanks to the push of local agents. Gamboa Zinemaldia is now present in the council of Ullibarri-Gamboa. This second edition signifies a continuous process of change in a world of constant changes. The evolution of the festival in terms of conscious environmental action can be seen above all in a fundamental issue such as mobility.
At Gamboa Zinemaldia, we are committed to the use of more sustainable public transport. Education is one of the key skills on the path to an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable future, and therefore, it is one of the stars of the festival. This is especially noticeable in the Youth Section “Filmed in Ullibarri-Gamboa.” In the coming years, we hope for the maximum number of spectators to enjoy the screenings, and we seek to address issues of vital importance, creating a space for reflection and educational criticism, with audiovisual as a fundamental element in all its genres and formats.”
The Gamboa Zinemaldia festival is an invitation to feel, reflect, and act: cinema as an art for dialogue and social transformation. Since 2023, we have had the opportunity to enjoy this festival in Araba with two of its sections. The “Filmed in Ullibarri-Gamboa” section is aimed at the education of young people, covering an age range between 14 and 30 years old, etc. Participation is done with prior registration and includes, in addition to the screening of the short films that compete each year, looking for additional activities such as workshops and other educational material in subsequent editions. The official section is directed at the entire citizenry, with special emphasis on the involvement of the inhabitants of the council, and showcases the award-winning short films selected at the festival.
Dona i Cinema aims to generate a live space of artistic and social creation and investigation. A space led by women, which divulgates their works and productions, promoting equal opportunities in Performing Arts and fostering the end of discriminative practices towards women.
For this reason since 2011 we run the International Biennal Dona i Cinema – Mujer y Cine – Woman & Film, a week dedicated to cinema made by and for women, with the exhibition of a selection of features, shorts, documentaries, animation and video art. All made by women.
HELLÍN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,
with this IV edition, it becomes a cultural consolidation in the Spanish cinematographic universe. A festival that brings together not only cinema, during November 16 and 22, Hellín will host personalities from the world of cinema, training courses, conferences, location routes, concerts, wine tastings, galas, and etc.
Welcome to FECHE.
Lago Cinema es un festival universitario de cortometrajes organizado por la Escuela de Humanidades y Educación del Tecnológico de Monterrey, campus Toluca. Nace como un espacio de exhibición interna, pero pronto abre sus puertas a la inscripción de trabajos externos para convertirse en un festival con jurados y una ceremonia de premiación. En 2023 tuvo una fuerte orientación hacia la sostenibilidad.
Este año, se llevará a cabo 13 y 14 de noviembre de 2024 en Toluca, Estado de México.
La muestra forma parte de las propuestas de difusión y fomento que apuntan a la difusión de la cultura audiovisual en la región norte de la República Argentina de Wayruro Comunicación Popular y de la Red Kalipa TV, y él cuenta con el apoyo del INCAA, de la Secretaría de Cultura de la Provincia de Jujuy, entre otros, y cuenta con el acompañamiento de la Red Focos, el Espacio Norte Audiovisual y CONTAR.
Emerging Talent Film Festival - Winter 2024/25
Are you an ambitious filmmaker or screenwriter who wants to move forward in your career? Do you have a new short film or screenplay that deserves recognition? Could you be a rising star of tomorrow?
The Emerging Talent Film Festival has live screenings four times a year, numerous awards in many categories combined with a unique networking event. It is organised by the programmers from the New Renaissance Film Festival - one of Film Freeway's top 20 best-reviewed festivals, known for artistically-driven programming. From our inception in 2016, we have been introducing promising filmmakers and screenwriters to producers and industry professionals to help them with their careers. Since 2021, NRFF London has awarded more than £5,000 in cash prizes to emerging talent thanks to the generosity of our patron. These artists are individuals with a genuine commitment to working in TV and film and who are producing exciting, new work.
Why should you submit?
• Your film will be watched and judged by A JURY of established producers, directors and filmmakers from the TV and film industry.
• You have the chance to WIN LAURELS for your film or screenplay i.e. Finalist, Official Selection and Winner. These seals of approval can open doors to other festivals and marketing opportunities.
• If you are a filmmaker, GET YOUR FILM SCREENED. A selection of the nominated films will have a live screening at the cinema during the festival
• Selected filmmakers will be invited to ATTEND OUR NETWORKING EVENT in London with members of the jury, NRFF's patron Katie Partridge (the Saphira Group), representation from production companies and fellow filmmakers. Filmmakers will have a chance to articulate what their needs are to the various parties
• Selected screenwriters will be invited to PITCH YOUR SHORT FILM SCRIPT to the audience present at the awards presentation and the networking event.
How does submission process work?
• Although we advise you to submit into one of the MAIN CATEGORIES as well as one of the SUB CATEGORIES, feel free to pick and choose.
• After we've received all submissions we will decide who will be a Finalist. Each Finalist will receive a laurel and will compete with all other Finalists to be Officially Selected.
• Those who are Officially Selected will receive a laurel for this and will be Nominees in the various categories.
• All Nominated Films will be invited to attend the Awards Presentation and the Networking Event in London. A selection of the nominated films will have a live screening at the cinema during the festival.
• The Winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation. The winners will receive a Winners Laurel.
• A selection of the winners will be invited to the workshops and the screenings at the NRFF London festival in London in September
Reviews:
"Jan and Massi's festival is fiercely dedicated to promoting the highest caliber of independent cinema around today. Their commitment to championing filmmakers who they believe in is unparalleled in my experience. I've made friends and potentially collaborators for life. I am so privileged to have been a part of this inspiring and life-changing festival.” (Zoë Greenbaum, Emerging Talent Winner)
“I honestly can’t praise this festival high enough! Jan and Massimo are two of the best, most passionate festival directors I’ve ever met. Brilliant audiences that genuinely want to be there, an amazing cinema and brilliant networking throughout. I’m not alone in saying this festival has probably changed my career! Thank you!” (Nicholas Connor, Emerging Talent Winner)
“It's a brilliant festival. One I will continue to submit to throughout my filmmaking career.” (Chris Overton, Oscar Winner)
“This festival is incredible - its focus is on the filmmaker and spotlighting original talent, whether new or emerging, and the art form of filmmaking.” (Reneque Samuels, Emerging Talent Finalist)
“NRFF is a great festival with a lovely film community. I am honoured to have won Emerging Talent and make connections with talented filmmakers at my screening and the award night.” (Michelle Jones, Emerging Talent Winner)
“This was my first in-person film festival and they did an amazing job! Thank you so much for awarding my short script the best young talent screenplay. It means so much! This is definitely a film festival to submit to.!” (Niamh Dann)
“Jan and Massimo present an event that makes me as a filmmaker proud to have been selected. Their "eye" is exactly the one you want on your film. They "see" what you mean and they value a story well told. They inspire me.” (Stephen Mills, Winner)
“What a unique and powerful force of film this is! Always a great venue and always empowering the independent film maker! Thank you for our Award for ‘Swivel’ and for everything you do to push artists, community and film to be all of who we are!” (Lois Norman, Winner)
The International Short Film Festival Psarokokalo is an annual festival held in Greece since 2007. The festival aims to provide a showcase for the work of new filmmakers from around the world and to promote the diversity and richness of the short film. The festival is part of a project aiming to research, promote and develop the art of filmmaking. The festival program includes screenings of short films from Greece and abroad as well as audiovisual events, lectures, masterclasses, exhibitions, and live concerts. The quality of its screenings, lectures, exhibitions have managed to make it a reference point for cinephiles, filmmakers, professionals, and new artists. Each year the activities of the festival expanded, receiving more participation from different countries and getting bigger support from filmmakers and professionals. The festival aims to travel across borders to develop a spirit of friendship and cooperation with international festivals and filmmakers from all over the world. Psarokokalo International Short Film Festival is run by Kyklos a nonprofit organization based in Athens whose purpose is to promote actions relating to cinema and public awareness of environmental issues. ‘Kyklos’ in Greek means cycle and the vision of the cycle is the respect for fundamental rights including freedom equal opportunities and cultural diversity
We are organizing the 11th Lan Party in Castellbisbal on September 7 and 8, 2024.
Our Lan Party will bring together video game, arcade and technology enthusiasts from all over the region to enjoy a unique online experience and compete in exciting tournaments. In addition to conferences and talks on topics related to the event.
Within the event we have a short film showcase section with a single “Freak Film” category in which we show the most relevant short films of blood, sweat, guts, geekiness, comedy and tackiness to entertain our attendees.
In A Minute Film Festival focuses on showcasing one minute films. We are located in a suburb of New York City (NYC), for easy access by all. All Genres are accepted, but the time limit is set. 1-minute. At the festival we nurture networking and audience encouragement of the hard work everyone has put in.
The In A Minute Film Festival was created to offer filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their ability to tell concise short stories in a 1-minute film, with the audience and support of fellow filmmakers.
The live screenings of the top films are concluded with a Q&A, so filmmakers can take pride in their work and meet like-minded filmmakers. We also will have an online edition with films, to be able to reach an international audience.
Muestra de Cine de Lanzarote is a project organized by Asociación Tenique Cultural, a non-profit organization whose main goals are to promote, diffuse and debate independent films, analyze the local context and connect it to global level. The 14th edition of the project is scheduled to be held between November 21 and December 1, 2024.
The call for films will be opened between July 25 and September 24, 2023, and films may be submitted to the two competitive sections: the Official Section of Feature-length Films, endowed with a prize of 6.500 euros, and the Cruce de caminos: Filmmakers from the Canaries Section, endowed with a prize of 1.200 euros.
All details about the call can be found in the rules of participation.
Lived Perspectives is a film festival for short films made or co-produced by filmmakers who identify as disabled, neurodivergent, or mad. All submissions must include a short description of how your film meets the requirements.
The 3rd edition of Lived Perspectives will be open for submissions on Wednesday 24th April 2024.
Please note that the screening event will be taking place in October 2025. The submission period is longer than usual to allow our small but dedicated team to make very exciting plans for the future.
Thank you so much to everyone who submitted their work to our 2024 competitions. Every film we received left us with something unforgettable, whether it was an image, an emotional moment, the honesty, the sense of ambition, or the love of filmmaking. We would love to hear from you in the future, telling your stories on your own terms.
At Filmyway film festival , it is our ongoing mission to champion the work of writers and filmmakers, and this goal has never felt as urgent as it does today.
Filmyway film festival is an annual festival with award ceremony and a live show.
Mumbai is a hotspot for filmmakers who want to promote their independent project.
With so many awards, you have more chances to win! No budget? No problem.
We know how painstakingly difficult it is to make a movie, we even know how hard it is just to write a good script.
We know what it takes, and we're here to reward you so you can get real recognition for your work.
We want to help indie filmmakers find success by celebrating their achievements with a plethora of different awards.
People Versus TV (PVTV) invites filmmakers, video artists, and creators of all stripes to submit their films for Season 3 of our Fringe Flicks series!
We’re on the lookout for unconventional work that defies norms and embraces the subversive, absurd, and surreal. Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, we want to see your bold and boundary-pushing creations.
What We’re Looking For
We’re passionate about work that’s:
- Weird, anarchic, and fun
- Absurdist, surreal, or experimental
- Satirical and subversive, especially satire that punches up
We encourage submissions from artists at any stage of their career, and we’re particularly interested in amplifying voices from underrepresented communities.
Why Submit to Fringe Flicks?
Fringe Flicks is not just a screening series—it’s a celebration of avant-garde, experimental, and boundary-pushing work in the moving image. By participating, your film will:
- Be showcased alongside like-minded creators in Liverpool, at the heart of the city’s creative and cultural Fabric District.
- Reach an audience eager for unique, challenging, and unconventional content.
- Have the chance to spark meaningful conversations with a vibrant and engaged community of cinephiles and creatives.
Event Details
Selected films will be shown at our Fringe Flicks Season 3 events, starting with 5th June 2025 at DoES Liverpool, with further events planned for August and October (dates to be confirmed).
Submissions are open now and close on 2nd April 2025. Notifications will be sent by 23rd April 2025.
All screenings are held at DoES Liverpool, 1st Floor, The Tapestry, 68-76 Kempston St, Liverpool, L3 8HL.
Event Structure
Each Fringe Flicks night is a curated mix of independent and experimental short films, divided into two halves with an intermission:
- First Half: A selection of shorter films showcasing creativity, experimentation, and storytelling.
- Second Half: A featured short film and longer works. If we select a feature film from this callout, it will be showcased in the second half.
The bar will remain open after the screenings, providing an excellent opportunity for filmmakers and audience members to connect, network, and share their thoughts.
What We Value
We’re focused on imagination and creativity over technical perfection, especially for shorter works. While longer works should exhibit high-quality storytelling, we’re less concerned with technical polish and more with the strength of your script, dialogue, and narrative.
Future Opportunities
If your work isn’t selected for one of our upcoming events, we may still consider it for future screenings. In that case, we’ll contact you first to confirm your interest.
How to Submit
Submissions are open exclusively on Festhome.
Submissions are open now and close on 2nd April 2025.
Contact Information:
For questions, please email us at peopleversustv@gmail.com.
We can’t wait to see your work and celebrate the unconventional, the surreal, and the absurd with you!
