***ONLY THE 10 BEST FILM of the FESTIVAL FINALISTS ARE SCREENED FOR EACH EDITION! Please read full rules and terms below before deciding to submit***

SUMMER 2025 EDITION IMPORTANT DATES:

APRIL 7 - Open for submissions
JUNE 15 - FINAL DEADLINE
JUNE 17 - Notification email sent to all submitters
JUNE 19 - Awards released online for Poster and Ultra Short Categories on Altff.org, IG, FB
JUNE 20 - Awards released online for Super Short Category on Altff.org, IG, FB
JUNE 21 - Awards released online for Short Category on Altff.org, IG, FB
JUNE 22 - Awards released online for Long Short Category and Feature Category on Altff.org, IG, FB
JUNE 24 - Screening of the 10 Best Film of the Festival Finalists and awards released for Best of the Festival on Altff.org, IG, FB

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See website https://www.altff.org for up-to-date info.

All genres accepted for the following categories:
Feature Films (45 minutes and over)
Long Short Films (20 to 45 minutes)
Short Films (5 to 20 minutes)
Super Short Films (1 to 5 minutes)
Ultra Short Films (15 to 60 seconds) - *This category is NOT eligible for the Best Film of the Festival Award. However, submissions remain eligible for IMDb Awards*

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All previous nominees and winners are posted at http://www.altff.org

al·ter·na·tive
ôlˈtərnədiv/
adjective

1. (of one or more things) available as another possibility.

The Alternative Film Festival is a quarterly event that is committed to bringing filmmakers of all levels - even beginners - a chance at taking home a festival award. We are an IMDb eligible festival meaning filmmakers will be able to post their nominations and wins on their IMDb profiles.

WE SCREEN THE 10 BEST FILM FINALISTS FOR EACH QUARTER AT OUR QUARTERLY EVENT. All other Semi-Finalists (*these will be known as Nominees beginning with our Spring 2022 Edition) are in the running to win our IMDb-eligible awards.

******OUR PARTNER FESTIVALS******

Couch Film Festival (IMDb-eligible awards)
FilmFreeway.com/CouchFF

Minute Madness Toronto (60-seconds films only! - IMDb-eligible)
FilmFreeway.com/MinuteMadnessTO

6ix Screams International Horror Film Festival (IMDb-eligible + horror films only!)
FilmFreeway.com/6ixScreams

300 Seconds Short Film Festival (IMDb-eligible and 5 minutes and under only!)
FilmFreeway.com/300SecSFF

Awards & Prizes

For our 2025 Editions:
10 Best Film of the Festival Finalists will be chosen per edition. EACH OF THE 10 IS GUARANTEED TO WIN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IMDb-eligible AWARDS and ALTFF WAIVERS:

-Best Film of the Festival + 2 free entry waivers to future AltFF Editions
-1st Runner Up for Best Film + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-2nd Runner Up for Best Film + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-Best Director of the Festival + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-Best Writer of the Festival + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-Best Actress of the Festival + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-Best Actor of the Festival + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-Best Cast of the Festival + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-Best Cinematography of the Festival + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions
-Best Editing of the Festival + 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions

One of the 10 will also win AUDIENCE CHOICE (+ 1 free entry waiver to future AltFF Editions) as voted for by our event audience *if the live screening is cancelled due to COVID restrictions then there is no Audience Choice Award*

Examples of our IMDb-eligible awards for Semi-Finalists (*these will be known as Nominees beginning with our Spring 2022 Edition):

BEST DRAMA
BEST COMEDY
BEST ANIMATION
BEST EXPERIMENTAL
BEST DOCUMENTARY
BEST HORROR
BEST SCI-FI
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST CAST
BEST WRITER
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST MUSIC

BEST POSTER - photography contest

Printable PDF certificates as well as the winners' laurels will be emailed to award winners the day following our event.

Rules & Terms

We screen the 10 Best Film of the Festival Finalists for each edition; all other films marked Nominees are eligible for IMDb-approved awards.

AltFF accepts all genres in narrative, documentary, animation and experimental films.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
All films must be in English or have English subtitles.
No limit on number of submissions or production date.
All films must have an online screener.
AltFF does not pay screening fees for chosen films (chosen films includes Nominees, Finalists, Award Winners) at this time.
Filmmakers retain the rights to their films.
Filmmakers are responsible for acquiring copyrights, licenses and releases for media used in their films.
Judges' decisions are final.

Submission categories are as follows:

Feature Films (45 minutes and over)
Long Short Films (20 to 45 minutes)
Short Films (5 to 20 minutes)
Super Short Films (1 to 5 minutes)
Ultra Short Films (15 to 59 seconds) - *This category is NOT eligible for the Best Film of the Festival Award. However, submissions remains eligible for IMDb Awards*
Posters

NOTIFICATION STATUS:
***FINALIST - means your film has been chosen as 1 of the 10 Best Film of the Festival Finalists
***NOMINEES - means your film is in the running for an award or awards in your submitted category (Ultra Short, Super Short, Short, Long Short, Feature, Poster)
826 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Fumitaka Otoguro

    ALTFF was the first to recognize both the film’s genre strength and my performance. For a micro-budget psychological thriller, these wins were powerful validation of the risks we took.

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • Vahid Salehizadeh

    Thanks for having me! Great festival!

    April 2025
    Helpful
  • Sean Gunnell

    Thank you very much for nominating our film, "In Sunshine and in Shadow," for Best Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Short Film at your festival last year! I admire your festival greatly, and the nomination meant the world to the team and I. :) Cheers!

    April 2025
    Helpful
  • Bruno Sereno

    Very clear all the way

    April 2025
    Helpful
  • Jason Davenport

    They were on top of everything and a joy to have a film in the fest and win Best Stunt Design.

    April 2025
    Helpful