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San Diego Sci-Fi Film Festival (1)

Deadlines

01 Mar 2026
Call for entries

15 Mar 2026
Early deadline

01 Aug 2026
Standard deadline

01 Sep 2026
Late deadline

01 Oct 2026
Extended deadline

2
mths

01 Nov 2026
Notification date

01 Feb 2026
16 Nov 2026

Address

8898 Navajo Rd Suite C #343, 92119, San Diego, California, United States

Festival description

Short film festival

Feature film festival

Text projects

Festival requirements

Film festival

Fiction

Documentary

Animation

Fantastic

Terror

Experimental

Music Video

Other

Any Genre

Any Theme

Has submission fees

International Festival

Physical Location

Production date: Any

Production countries: Any

Shooting countries: Any

Director nationalities: Any

Debut Films

School projects

Short Films

Feature Films

AI Tools

Any language

Share on Social Networks

Facebook
Tweet

English

Festival description (Edition: 1)

Festival start: 01 February 2026 Festival end: 16 November 2026

From the home of Comic-Con, the first annual San Diego Sci-Fi Film Festival is here - and we want to show your short sci-fi film. All sub-genres of Science Fiction are welcome. This is a LIVE EVENT festival, with 2 days of live online screenings culminating in a live screening, Q&A with Filmmakers, and live awards presentation from The Media Arts Center's Digital Gym in downtown San Diego.

Submissions through Film Freeway only.

The future is now. The future is fun. In San Diego, November 2026.

Prizes and qualifications

Awards include Best Film, Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Special Effects, Sound Design, Original Music, Best Experimental Film, Best Super-Short (under 5 minutes), Best A.I. Short - and more. Your film will be judged by a group of industry professionals who know and love indie film - especially sci-fi - as much as you do.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards may be awarded in each category.

Rules

By Submitting films, entrants tacitly agree that they hold the rights to the film, and will hold the Festival harmless for any disagreements. Short films runtime is 5 to 40 minutes. Super-Short films runtime is under 5 minutes. Script entries must be less than 40 pages.

Non-English films must be subtitled. AI generated content is allowed but must be noted in your submission. By submitting your film and receiving a nomination, you agree to allow us to use clips of your film in marketing, advertising and promotion. SDSFFF reserves the right to disqualify any films at any time in the awards process for violations or misconduct, plagiarism, etc. All submission fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. No films containing gratuitous sex or violence will be selected.

Best A.I. Short

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

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Made mostly or totally using A.I.

Best Animation

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best Art Direction

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Sound Design

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Original Music

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Special Effects

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Cinematography

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Lighting Design

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Editor

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Supporting Actress

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Supporting Actor

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Must enter film in main category.

Best Actress

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best Actor

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best Script

Script / Pitch 40p<

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best Director

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best No Budget Kid's Film

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

For sci-fi made by and/or for kids.

Best Student Film

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Films made by students.

Best Sci-Fi Comedy

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best Experimental Film

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best Super-Short Film

Short Films 5'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

Best Short Film

Short Films >5' 40'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Early 25$ 23$ 19.25$ 15 Mar 26

Standard 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 01 Aug 26

Late 35$ 32.2$ 26.95$ 01 Sep 26

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 34.65$ 01 Oct 26

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
01 Oct 26

Save up
6.9$

Submit

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