​Film has the unique ability to transport us and our imaginations to both familiar and unfamiliar places.

Beacon Hill Film Festival, is an online film showcase that celebrates the art of short film, and the filmmakers that make them.

Best of Fest
Audience Award
Next Gen Award
Best Screenplay

Artistic Achievement in Directing
Artistic Achievement in Story
Artistic Achievement in Acting
<Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Ensemble>

Technical Achievement in Cinematography
Technical Achievement in Editing
Technical Achievement in Production Design
Technical Achievement in Sound Design
Technical Achievement in Visual Effects

Representation in Film/Media Award
*Recognizes a focus on increasing and improving representation and diversity in storytelling in front of, and behind the camera, as well as in the stories being told.

DMV Hometown Award
*Beacon Hill is a neighborhood in Alexandria Virginia, that used to be home to the Beacon Hill Airfield. To honor the legacy of the namesake of the festival we created this award which recognizes films produced in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Award Winners can commemorate their win with one our amazing trophies.
Winners will be contacted with information on how to purchase.
Separate purchase necessary.

Please review the following guidelines and terms carefully prior to submitting your film to the Beacon Hill Film Festival (BHFF). By submitting your film for competition at BHFF, you explicitly acknowledge and agree to be bound by these regulations.

BHFF welcomes films of all genres, themes, and origins.

Please note that submitting your film does not guarantee its selection. All officially selected films, nominees, and winners will be permanently featured on our website, and we treat every filmmaker with equality.

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1. Films, Scripts or Projects in languages other than English must include English subtitles/translations; otherwise, they may be rejected outright.

2. BHFF retains the right to decline entries.

3. By submitting your film/project, you agree to indemnify and hold BHFF harmless from any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses, including attorney’s fees and court costs, related to copyright, trademark, credits, and publicity claims.

4. Once your film/project is officially selected, you will be notified, and it will be listed under Official Selections on our festival website. Being an Official Selection does not guarantee that your film will be screened at the festival; it signifies that your work was appreciated by our panel of judges, and you are entitled to use the festival logo on your promotional materials.

6. BHFF will not refund any fees in case of a submission placed in the wrong category. Films submitted without the appropriate fees or proper submission materials may be deemed ineligible at the discretion of the BHFF panel of judges. The festival does not cover any expenses incurred by the filmmaker.

7. Your submission should include an official trailer, poster, synopsis, and a link to your film. Please select the correct category during the submission process to avoid disqualification. We reserve the right to reassign films to the appropriate category.

8. Nominee films will be privately screened by the BHFF judging panel and will not be initially shown to the public.

9. Submission fees are non-refundable; thus, filmmakers are not eligible for a refund if they choose to withdraw their submission.

10. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the BHFF from any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses, including attorney’s fees and court costs, related to copyright, trademark, credits, and publicity.

11. BHFF reserves the right to modify these Rules & Terms without prior notice. Any such changes will take immediate effect. It is your responsibility to periodically check for updates to these Rules & Terms.

DISCLAIMER

By submitting a film to the BHFF (Beacon Hill Film Festival), filmmakers acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. Screening Permission:
Filmmakers understand and consent that if their film is accepted for presentation and screening at the film festival, they grant BHFF full and unrestricted permission to screen the film or video at times of the festival’s choosing. Additionally, BHFF may charge an admission fee for the presentation of the digital video program.

2. Box-Office  Proceeds:
Filmmakers understand and accept that they will not receive any funds from the box-office proceeds. All box-office earnings are retained by the festival to support the overall costs of the festival presentation. It should be noted that box-office proceeds rarely cover the expenses of presenting the Features and Short Film Programs. BHFF is a non-profit cultural organization with federal, state, country, and city tax exemptions.

3. Liability Release:
The filmmaker understands that the entered film will be securely stored by the festival, with every effort made to protect and control its viewing. The festival assumes no liability for the entry’s theft, copyright violations, or piracy.

4. Technical Standards:
BSFF uses Vimeo as its hosting platform for the festival. All entries undergo careful pre-screening before public showings to ensure compliance with industry standards. The festival accepts no responsibility for technical difficulties that may arise during the actual video presentation at the event.

5. ​Program Changes:
The Film Festival (BHFF) reserves the complete right to make changes in the program dates and times and may choose not to screen a video, even if it has been selected for screening.

6. Submission of Materials:
The filmmaker will make every effort to provide BHFF with a new and pre-checked downloadable link to their film and supporting materials (poster, trailer, etc...). Your work will be hosted for the duration of the festival, after which time​​ the film itself will be taken down. BHFF will continue to use supporting materials such as posters and trailers to highlight

By submitting a film to BHFF, you confirm your acceptance of these terms. Carefully review this disclaimer before entering your film in the festival.