The APA Film Festival is a celebration of psychology through the lens of film. Almost every aspect of human existence is impacted by psychology, and nearly every societal issue can be informed by it. Film and other types of media impact and inform the human condition as well. Bringing the two together can be powerful and inspiring.

For 27 years the American Psychological Association has featured a film and other media program during its annual convention, with screenings across all four days of the event. Our mission is to open minds and build bridges in the areas of psychology, film, social media, and contemporary social issues. Focusing on compelling topics that are aesthetically and intellectually stimulating, we select films for our unique audience of psychologists, graduate students and other mental health professionals that provide fresh perspectives on traditional psychological issues.
APA welcomes submissions from professional, psychologist, and first-time filmmakers from around the globe. We embrace films that are topical springboards for intellectual dialogue. Special consideration will be given to films that address deep poverty, the opioid crisis, artificial intelligence, gun violence, suicide, sexual assault, racism, LGBTQ issues and cyber-bullying.

This year's APA Annual Convention and Film Festival will be held August 8-11, 2019, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

AUDIENCE:
Doctoral-level psychologists, graduate students of psychology and other mental health professionals

Commemorative crystal plaques will be awarded for the films chosen as Best Feature and Best Short.

* Films must be relevant to psychology, and an explanation of its relevance must be included in the film description.

* Entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway. The festival does not accept email or hard copy submissions.

* Films must have been completed after January 1, 2016.

* Works in progress will not be considered.

* Films submitted to an APA Film Festival in a previous year will not be considered.

* If possible, films should be closed-captioned for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

* Films in languages other than English will only be accepted with English subtitles.

* All genres are welcome for films in either category--Feature or Short.

* In addition to a longer synopsis of the film, we require a brief description of no more than 250 characters including spaces.

ONLINE SCREENERS:
We accept online screeners through FilmFreeway and private Vimeo screeners with passwords. The festival does NOT accept DVDs for preview purposes.

EXHIBITION FORMAT:
Films chosen for screening at the festival can provide private Vimeo links with passwords or DVDs in NTSC format (Region 0 and Region 2).

SELECTION:
Film preview and selection is conducted by the APA Committee on Films and Other Media. All filmmakers will be notified of decisions by email.