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Santa Barbara Indie Film Festival (3)

Deadlines

07 Apr 2025
Call for entries

22 May 2025
Early deadline

16 Jun 2025
Standard deadline

08 Jul 2025
Late deadline

30 Jul 2025
Extended deadline

3
mths

06 Aug 2025
Notification date

19 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025

Address

215a E Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 93101, Santa Barbara, California, USA, California, United States

Festival description

Short film festival >1' 45'<

Feature film festival >45' 120'<

Festival requirements

Film festival

Fiction

Documentary

Animation

Fantastic

Terror

Experimental

Music Video

Other

Any Genre

Any Theme

Has submission fees

International Festival

Physical Location

January 2023

Production countries: Any

Shooting countries: Any

Director nationalities: Any

Debut Films

School projects

Short Films >1' 45'<

Feature Films >45' 120'<

Any language

Subtitles
English

Share on Social Networks

Facebook
Tweet

English

Festival description (Edition: 3)

Festival start: 19 September 2025 Festival end: 21 September 2025

SANTA BARBARA INDIE FILM FESTIVAL

A Festival to celebrate the art of Independent & Youth (18 and under) filmmakers.

Join us for our 3rd edition in sunny Santa Barbara, CA! We’ve expanded our categories to spotlight more short film genres and local area talent, while staying true to our mission: amplifying stories from Indie filmmakers of all ages.

WHY SUBMIT?
IMDb-Listed Festival → Winners can add their official selection/award to IMDb.
Dedicated Youth Category → Filmmakers 18 & under showing their work to the world!
Local Filmmaker Focus → New categories for Santa Barbara area filmmakers.
Great Networking → Connect with others at our filmmaker after-parties.
Scenic Screening Venues → Films showcased in Santa Barbara’s historic Alhecama theater. An intimate and hidden gem.

Prizes and qualifications

Screening Fee Shorts: 15$
Screening Fee Features: 15$

The "Best of" each category gets a trophy. Certificate of Excellence for 2nd place and Certificate of Achievement for 3rd place.

Rules

* The applicants (submitters) must accept the Santa Barbara Indie Film Fest rules, terms & conditions below.

* This film festival is open to all domestic and international filmmakers. Foreign language films must have subtitles to be considered. Submitted films should be completed in the last 2 years.

* Not all submissions are selected to be screened at the festival. The SB Indie Film Fest is a competitive showcase for domestic and international feature films and short films. The SB Indie Film Fest reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project submitted. Our Judges are free to make their own choices and no answers will be given about not selected films. Priority will be given to films that will premiere at the Santa Barbara Indie Film Festival.

* Youth filmmakers must be in Highschool or 18 or under when movie was made or produced. The Director, Cinematographer / DP, Animator / Graphic Artist, Writer and Editor all must be 18 or under as well (no adults in principle positions).

*Local filmmakers should be residents of Santa Barbara County. If the submitter is not a resident of SB County, the film will be re-assigned to the appropriate short film category.

* In order to submit a film, you must own the rights of original art, music or otherwise have permission from the owner.

* All fees are non-refundable.

*The Festival relationship will exclusively be related to the film submitter and the festival.

* A DCP or other digital variation of the film is required if the filmmaker is an official selection to the festival.

* By submitting your movie, you authorize Santa Barbara Indie Film Fest to use, distribute and share the film poster, trailer, synopsis and movie stills in our social media and website.

Feature Film

Short Films >45' 120'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 50$ 46$ 41$ 22 May 25

Standard 55$ 50.6$ 45.1$ 16 Jun 25

Late 60$ 55.2$ 49.2$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 65$ 59.8$ 53.3$ 30 Jul 25

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Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

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9$

Submit

Feature Film Category. This is open to any genre of film.

Documentary Feature Film

Short Films >45' 120'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 50$ 46$ 41$ 22 May 25

Standard 55$ 50.6$ 45.1$ 16 Jun 25

Late 60$ 55.2$ 49.2$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 65$ 59.8$ 53.3$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
9$

Submit

Documentary Feature Film Category. This is open to any genre of documentary film.

Short Dramatic Film

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 50$ 46$ 41$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Dramatic Short Film Category.

Short Horror or Thriller Film

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 50$ 46$ 41$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Horror or Thriller Film Category.

Short Comedy Film

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 50$ 46$ 41$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Comedy Film Category.

Short Action or Adventure Film

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 50$ 46$ 41$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Action or Adventure Film Category.

Short Sci-Fi or Fantasy Film

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 50$ 46$ 41$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Sci-Fi or Fantasy Film Category.

Short Documentary Film

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 50$ 46$ 41$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Documentary Category. This is open to any genre of short documentary film.

Short Animated Film

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 50$ 46$ 41$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Lets see your animated films! They can by 2d, 3d, cell animation, stop motion or whatever style you desire.

Short Narrative Film: Youth Filmmaker

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Narrative Film: Youth Filmmaker Category. This is open to any genre of film. Filmmaker must be 18 or under when film was made.

Short Documentary Film: Youth Filmmaker

Short Films >1' 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Documentary Film: Youth Filmmaker Category. This is open to any genre of documentary film. Filmmaker must be 18 or under when film was made.

Short Animated Film: Youth Filmmaker

Short Films 45'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 18%

Early 35$ 32.2$ 28.7$ 22 May 25

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 32.8$ 16 Jun 25

Late 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 08 Jul 25

Extended 45$ 41.4$ 36.9$ 30 Jul 25

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

Submissions deadline
30 Jul 25

Save up
6.3$

Submit

Short Animated Film: Youth Filmmaker Category. Filmmaker must be 18 or under when film was made.

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