The Atman Film Festival brings together the most creative storytellers from around the Globe and the most vibrant international audience for its 3rd annual program of narrative short films independent from the release date. The festival provides a platform for networking opportunities for the global filmmaking community.

Our goal is to create an inspiring environment where creators and audiences discover unique and innovative stories that unite humanity and uplift souls. The Festival will feature exhibitions, VR experiences, and live performances. The 2022 Atman Film Festival will take place on November 2nd, 2023.

The Festival will take place at the Chinese Theatre 6 in Los Angeles, California. The Atman Film Festival is sponsored by the City of West Hollywood.

Best Narrative Short Film
Atman Grand Prize. Awarded to the top Narrative Short Film of the festival. The winner receives a COLOR GRADING ON DaVINCI RESOLVE package from "Color Space Finishing" package for their next project. Films under 15 minutes.

Best Director
Awarded to the top Director of the festival. The winner receives a Sound design: a post audio sound package for a short film including: dialog edit; an FX package including backgrounds, hard effects, and foley; music editing; and mix. From AWARD-WINNING AMERICAN COMPOSER Hayden Clement

Best Actor
Awarded to the top Actor of the festival. The winner receives a headshot session with a professional photographer.

Best Actress
Awarded to the top Actress of the festival. The winner receives a headshot session with a professional photographer.

Best LGBTQ Narrative Short Film
Applicants are automatically considered for the Atman Grand Prize - Best Narrative Short Film. Films under 30 minutes.

Best Woman Filmmaker
Awarded to the top narrative short film made by a woman. The winner receives an origenal score composing for a short film from AWARD-WINNING AMERICAN COMPOSER Hayden Clement. Films under 30 minutes.

Best Young Filmmaker (Age 13-18)
Awarded to the top narrative short film by a young filmmaker age 13-18. Applicants are automatically considered for the Atman Grand Prize - Best Narrative Short Film. Films under 30 minutes.

Best Music Video
Awarded to the top Music Video of the festival. The winner receives a Medium G&E package to film their next project from Skylarkbliss Rentals.

Best Webisode Pilot or Episode
Awarded to the top Webisode Pilot or Episode of the festival.The winner receives an original score composing for thier next project from AWARD-WINNING AMERICAN COMPOSER Hayden Clement. Films under 30 minutes.

Best Cinematography
Awarded to the top Cinematographer of the festival. The winner receives a headshot session with a professional photographer.

Best Production Design
Awarded to the top Production Designer of the festival.

Best VFX
Awarded to the top VFX artist of the festival.

Best Editing
Awarded to the top Editor of the festival.

Best Original Score
Awarded to the top Original Score of the festival.

Best Original Song
Awarded to the top Original Song of the festival.

Best Documentary Short Film
Awarded to the top Documentary Short Film of the festival.The winner receives a Sound design: a post audio sound package for a short film including: dialog edit; an FX package including backgrounds, hard effects, and foley; music editing; and mix. From AWARD-WINNING AMERICAN COMPOSER Hayden Clement. Films under 20 minutes.

Best Feature Film Screenplay
Awarded to the top original Feature Screenplay.

Best TV Pilot Screenplay (One-Hour Drama)
Awarded to the top One-Hour Drama TV Pilot Screenplay.

Best TV Pilot Screenplay (Half-Hour Comedy)
Awarded to the top Half-Hour Comedy TV Pilot Screenplay.

Best Short Film Screenplay
Awarded to the top Short Film Screenplay.

Best Feature Film
Awarded to the top Narrative Feature Film

Best Documentary Feature Film
Awarded to the top Documentary Feature Film

Rules:

- Eligibility Requirements: Entrants must be at least 13 years of age at the time of submission.

- Only original works are accepted. Submitting parties must hold complete ownership and rights of submitted product.

- Submissions will be accepted through September 5, 2021, at 11:59 pm PST

- Supported video filetypes for short films: .mp4 or .mov.

- All projects that contain significant non-English dialogue MUST include on-screen English subtitles at the time of submission. A translated list of dialogue submitted digitally or on paper will not suffice. Please do not send us an un-subtitled foreign-language project with the intention of providing a subtitled version later. If your project is mostly in English and you wish to intentionally leave out subtitles for any non-English dialogue included as an artistic choice, you do not need to provide subtitles for those sections. Please ensure that all subtitles are hardcoded to your video file as opposed to including discreet subtitles that need to be turned on in order to display on the screen, such as utilizing the "CC" option on your Vimeo/YouTube upload.

Terms and Conditions:

I, the authorized representative of the project being submitted (hereafter called the "Project") to Atman Film Jury (hereafter called the “Jury”) for consideration for the 2021 Atman Film Festival (hereafter called the “Festival”), hereby acknowledge the following:

1. I represent and warrant to the Jury that: (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the Project (hereafter called the “Project’s Owners”), to exhibit this Project at the Festival, (b) exhibition of the Project at the Festival will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity; and (c) the Project is not subject to any litigation, arbitration, or other adversarial claim or proceeding, nor is the Project the subject of any threat of litigation, arbitration, or other adverse claim or proceeding.

2. I further represent and warrant, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that the exhibition of the Project at the Festival will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, and that the Project does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity. I have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Project at or in connection with the Festival.

3. In the event that the Project is accepted by the Jury for inclusion in the Festival, I acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that the Jury’s exhibition or presentation of the Project at the Festival does not and will not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the Jury on the one hand and myself and/or the Project’s Owners on the other. I further acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that I and we understand that neither I nor any of the Project’s Owners will receive any compensation for such exploitation, although some prizes at the Festival may include cash awards. I acknowledge that no obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against, the Jury or the Festival in the event of, by virtue of, or as a result of the Institute’s selection of the Project for the Festival. I and the Project’s Owners understand and acknowledge that the selection of the Project for inclusion in the Festival does not and will not in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by the Jury or the Festival of the content of the Project or any opinion expressed therein.

4. I agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify and hold harmless the Jury and the Festival, together with each of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, creative advisors, agents and representatives (collectively, “Atman Related Parties”), from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs) that may be asserted by any person or entity, or may be incurred by the Jury, the Festival, or any Atman Related Parties, at any time in connection with the Project or the Jury’s use, handling, consideration or exhibition thereof, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by me to the Jury, the Festival or any Atman Related Parties, including, without limitation, any express or implied representation in these Terms and Conditions.

5. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Project is being submitted to the Jury voluntarily and without promise or inducement, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the Jury, the Festival, or any Atman Related Parties to accept the Project for inclusion in the Festival, to exhibit the Project at the Festival, to acknowledge the submission of the Project, or to return the Project to me or others. I further agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Project’s Owners, that I and the Project’s Owners, and any other representative or person affiliated with the Project, in submitting the Project for consideration, are waiving, forfeiting, forgoing and relinquishing any right that I or we might otherwise have to assert any claim or commence any proceeding in any forum or tribunal against the Jury, the Festival, or any Atman Related Parties, based upon, arising out of or otherwise relating to the submission, exhibition or failure to exhibit the Project (including, without limitation, claims relating to any failure or refusal to exhibit the Project at the Festival, the exhibition or marketing of the Project at or in connection with the Festival, alleged oral or written representations by the Festival or its representatives relating to the submission or exhibition of the Project, and any other matters arising from or relating to the submission of the Project), whether such claims may be based on theories of contract, implied contract, tort, statute, or other legal theory (hereinafter, “Claim”). In the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or commenced, in violation of the agreement set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, I agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify the Jury and the Festival from any and all Claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs) that are incurred by the Jury, the Festival and any Atman Related Parties as a result of or in connection with any such Claim or any action, arbitration or other proceeding brought in violation of the representations and agreements set forth in this paragraph.

6. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above and paragraph 10 below, I further agree and accept that, in the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or commenced, by me, any of the Project’s Owners, or any other representative of or person affiliated with the Project, in violation of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above, and in the further event that an arbitrator or other tribunal should permit such Claim to proceed despite the waiver language set forth in paragraph 5 above, the sole and maximum remedy that could be awarded to me or any other person or entity asserting any Claim shall be a refund of the submission fee paid in connection with the submission of the Project to the Jury for consideration for the Festival. Under no circumstances shall any other remedy, including without limitation actual, expectancy, reliance, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages, or any other damages, or injunctive, declaratory, provisional or other relief, be available to me, the Project’s Owners, or any other person or entity representing or affiliated with the Project.

7. In the event that the Project is accepted by the Jury for inclusion in and exhibition at the Festival, I hereby grant, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, each of the following rights to the Jury, the Festival, and any Atman Related Parties without reservations, conditions or qualifications: (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Project for promotional purposes; and (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the filmmakers and the Project and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. I also agree to provide up-to-date contact information pertaining to the director(s) and producer(s) of the Project, and to grant the Institute and the Festival, at their sole and absolute discretion, the right to provide this information to film industry organizations that sponsor Festival events.

8. In the event that the Project is accepted by the Jury for inclusion in and exhibition at the Festival, and I or the Project’s Owners have contractual obligations to any producers, distributors, creators, cast or crew regarding "festival benefits" (which may include but are not limited to production credits, screening tickets, Festival credentials or monetary compensation), I agree and accept that those “festival benefits” must be administered and distributed by myself and/or the Project’s Owners, and do not impact the nature or quantity of benefits provided by Jury.

9. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Jury has made no claims, representations or guarantees, and has provided no assurances, in relation to the internal process utilized by the Jury with respect to selection of projects for inclusion in the Festival, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the Jury, the Festival, or any Atman Related Parties to provide me, the Project’s Owners, or my or their related parties with comments, feedback or other information pertaining to the viewing or consideration of the Project by the Jury for possible inclusion in the Festival.

10. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that by submitting the Project to the Jury, I hereby grant the Jury and all persons employed by, contracted by, or otherwise directly associated with the Jury the irrevocable right to view and/or download all digital assets associated with the Project, including, but not limited to, any representation of the Project in the form of video files, still images, assets streamed via the Internet, and/or all other assets and information provided by the Applicant on the application. All digital assets referenced above shall remain active and accessible by the Jury until the conclusion of the Festival on October 2nd, 2021. Any dissemination of these materials, incidental or otherwise, shall not be the responsibility of the Jury or any Atman Related Parties.

11. I represent that I am 18 years of age or older, or that, if I am younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in my state, I have provided the Jury with signed, written consent from my parent or legal guardian.

12. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above, I further agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise related to the Project, the Festival, or these Terms and Conditions, including, without limitation, any Claim (as this term is defined above) and any other claim or cause of action of any nature arising from the actual or alleged breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of these Terms and Conditions, as well as the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be governed by the internal, substantive laws of the State of California and will be subject to and submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in Los Angeles, California, which shall be the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such claim, dispute or controversy. Such arbitration will be administered by JAMS pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect. The arbitrator will be selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator, will be appointed by JAMS pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect. The arbitrator shall issue a written award and, subject to the terms of paragraph 6 hereof, shall have the right to award monetary relief. I specifically agree and acknowledge, however, that the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive or exemplary damages, nor shall the arbitrator have the power to order the Jury to include the Project in the Festival or to award other injunctive or non-monetary relief. The arbitrator shall have the power to award, and shall be required to award, to the substantially prevailing party in any such arbitration, its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration (including, without limitation, reimbursement of that party’s share of the arbitrator’s fees and JAMS administrative charges). The arbitrator’s award shall be final, binding and non-appealable. Judgment on the arbitrator’s award may be entered in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. In agreeing to this exclusive arbitration provision, I hereby waive, forfeit and relinquish, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, any right or entitlement that I or the Project’s Owners might otherwise have had to bring or litigate any claim or claims encompassed by this paragraph in any federal or state court against the Jury, the Festival, or any Atman Related Party, and further waive, forfeit and relinquish any right to a trial by jury with respect to such claim or claims.

13. I hereby acknowledge that I have the right to consult with an attorney of my own choosing with respect to these Terms and Conditions and with respect to the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival, located at filmfreeway.com/AtmanFilmFest. By completing my submission application for 2021 Atman Film Festival consideration, I agree that I am doing so after having consulted with an attorney or after I freely or voluntarily elected not to do so without coercion or duress.

14. I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understood the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival, located at filmfreeway.com/AtmanFilmFest, and that the information contained in said Rules and Regulations does and shall supersede any information obtained elsewhere, including, but not limited to, information contained in any current Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents and/or rules and regulations documents from prior years.

15. By completing my submission application for 2021 Atman Film Festival consideration via FilmFreeway, I freely and voluntarily give and express my full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions. I acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind, and no representations, inducements, promises or assurances not set forth in these Terms and Conditions, have been made to me or the Project’s Owners by the Festival, the Jury, or any Atman Related Parties.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thank you for the Official Selection of my frantic witty absurd surreal comedy script/screenplay Loonatoona
    https://filmfreeway.com/projects/813691

    October 2021
  • What a delightful festival!

    We’ll definitely be back with future projects.

    Highly recommend.

    October 2021
  • The Atman Film Festival was truly amazing! They have a real amazing knack for recognizing remarkable art work - so proud to have participated, highly suggest entering! Great experience!

    October 2020
  • Very friendly festival! The idea of Atman is show movies which can lift up your soul (especially actual in 2020). Thank you so much for choosing our movie for screening and the reward! Look forward for next program (of 2021)

    October 2020
  • Daniel Donoghue

    Awesome festival / great experience. A great Los Angeles festival for quality work and meeting some great LA industry people.

    October 2020