We're a FILMMAKER-CENTRIC festival. Are you looking for an event that actually is what a film festival should be?

You found it!

While the majority of modern festivals are now award contests, online events, or limited screenings, we've kept our event fun and traditional. Lots of movies, in-person attendance, and inside an actual theater, it's still the truest and most rewarding way to enjoy cinema.

Our event is five days and we're rolling into our 10th year. We offer single-venue-screenings, a catered opening gala, a catered filmmaker networking event, our catered Saturday party, panel discussions, workshops, and a grand finale' award ceremony, that is catered!

The BSFF takes place in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, Borrego Springs, CA. Our vibe is desert eclectic. Vintage trailers, refined mid-century modern neighborhoods, primitive pup-tent camping, or even world class resort living, Borrego Springs showcases it all.

If you're making your first film or your twentieth, we want you here. Our selection committee embraces a mix of film making talent. Everything from highly crafted films to sentimental favorites are part of our programming.

Our community loves the BSFF. Lively Q&A are all part of the event.

We’re an old-school film festival. In the crowded marketplace of film festivals we excel simply because we truly offer a great time, remarkable attendance, and we go out of our way to accommodate our filmmaker guests.

You’ll meet and greet your audience, lounge with other filmmakers, and interact with everyone. We even have homemade cookies. Do you know about our homemade cookies? You need to find out about our homemade cookies.

“Best fest ever and we've been to many. These folks really appreciate the filmmakers…If you only enter one festival this year, make it BSFF. — Ronn Kilby, Director, “Dog Star”

We welcome your creativity to our film festival and invite you to join us in celebrating film making.

Awards & Prizes

Award trophies will be presented for Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best Latino Film, and Grand People’s Choice.

We will be resuming the fan favorite competition across all genres in 2022. Top votes for each category will win the BSFF "PEOPLE'S CHOICE" award.

We have expanded our BSFF COMMITTEE awards and will offer winning certificates for films we believe resonate with the attitudes and sentiments of the Borrego Springs audience.

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Films completed on or after Jan 1, 2020 are eligible.

• Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

• All films must be in English or subtitled in English.

CATEGORIES
All films may be submitted into only one category:

• Narrative Feature – any narrative film 40 minutes or longer

• Narrative Short – any narrative short film under 40 minutes

• Documentary – a documentary of any length

• Latino – a film of any length made by, featuring, about and/or for the Latino community

• Animation – any form of animation, any length

PAYMENT
Pay entry fees online during the online application process.

DIGITAL PR:
If your film is accepted, you must be able to provide: a hi-res film still, a digital hi-res poster of your movie, a digital high-res image of the director and/or producer, and a synopsis of your film in 140 characters or less.

FILM TRAILERS:
The BSFF features trailers of selected films during our screenings, as well as showcasing the trailers on our website and social media. Accepted films will provide a trailer no less than :30 and no longer than 2:15.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES
More than one entry may be submitted. However, each entry must be submitted as a new film with a separate online entry form, a unique registration number, an additional entry fee.

NOTIFICATION
If your film is selected to be part of the BSFF, you will be notified via email on or about November 5. You will also be notified by email if your film is not selected. Please make sure that you notify us if email changes, and add borregospringsfilmfestival@gmail.com to your safe sender email list.

FEEDBACK
We are unable to respond with feedback or explanations if your film is not accepted. The popularity of the expanding BSFF means we receive many more worthy films than we have programming space to screen. Don’t be discouraged if your film is not accepted.

EXHIBITION FILM REQUIREMENTS

• All accepted film will submit screeners uploaded via the internet. mp4, prores, or DNxHD.

• The exhibition copy of your film must be received no later than December 5th. Accepted films that miss the deadline will be removed from the program and replaced.

RELEASE & LICENSING AGREEMENT
By submitting your film: you acknowledge and agree that to the best of my knowledge, I am duly authorized to submit this film to Borrego Springs Film Festival (BSFF) and to grant permissions related to its use. Submitting a film to BSFF constitutes an agreement by and between the filmmaker/representative and BSFF.

You grant permission to BSFF to use film clips/stills for promotional use. You allow BSFF and any third parties at the festival the right to film, videotape and photograph your appearance and voice for any and all marketing and promotion of Borrego Springs Film Festival and Borrego Festivals Foundation.

You indemnify and hold harmless BSFF, its judges, affiliates, staff, sponsors and partners, individually and collectively, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims, or third party claims based on stories or films submitted to BSFF.

If your film is accepted into the BSFF, you grant BSFF the non-exclusive right to right to show and market my film in its entirety as BSFF sees fit at the festival. BSFF does not take any copyright or ownership of your film.

By submitting, you agree to all of these rules, terms and conditions. You acknowledge that no submission fee refunds are given once this application has been submitted. You also acknowledge that you will not receive any compensation for the use of your film by BSFF in accordance with the rules, terms and conditions.

You understand and acknowledge that, if you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian must agree to the terms of this Filmmaker Release on your behalf. As a Parent or Guardian of a minor filmmaker, if applicable, you understand and acknowledge that you are agreeing to the terms of this Filmmaker/Guardian/Representative Release on behalf of your child or a child for whom you are a legally designated Guardian.

62 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Emma Randall

    Thank-you for helping our film "Earl's Town" find its audience, we are thrilled to have screened with you. Communication on all levels was excellent, friendly and supportive. Much appreciated Borrego Springs!

    April 2022
    Helpful
  • Harri James

    Our whole family had an absolute blast attending this festival. We felt so acknowledged by the organizers and by the community, and we loved meeting the other filmmakers. The festival was really well organized, with great screenings and fun events. Plus, Borrego Springs is an amazing, beautiful place. Just a great group of people coming together to celebrate filmmaking and filmmakers. We loved it!

    April 2022
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks for helping us make our festival special. We had patrons telling us how your film resonated profoundly with them and was the highlight of the event. You guys should rightly be proud and excited at the difference you’ve made for viewers of your film!

  • Jim Ford

    This festival is great! Its looks like its in a really interesting area too. I was planning on going but work changed last minute and I couldn't. It was wonderful chatting with these guys and I hope to go next year.

    April 2022
    Helpful
  • Maureen Giblin

    I’m so grateful to have been a part of the Borrego Spring Film Festival! Communication was excellent from the moment my film was accepted, and the festival organizers, volunteers and audience members were so engaged and welcoming. So much love and effort was put into making this a special event - beautiful festival brochures, posters, swag bags, homemade cookies and scones - we appreciated it all!

    We had big plans to explore the Borrego Springs area, but ended up spending all of our time at the festival screenings and events because it was so fun! Thank you Fred, Matt, Alicia, Pam, and everyone else who made this event so memorable. Can’t wait to return!

    April 2022
    Helpful
  • Rony TANIOS

    Excellent Festival.
    Friendly and professional.

    April 2022
    Helpful