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

The BSFF is part of a 501(c)(3) organization with the goal to celebrate the cinematic arts in our community. We love the atmosphere of an old-fashioned film festival, and do our best to create that traditional community experience.

We feature single-venue-screenings, great local attendance, a catered opening gala (free for filmmakers), a filmmaker networking event (free for filmmakers), our catered Saturday party (free for filmmakers), panel discussions, workshops, hang-outs, (yes, free for filmmakers) and a catered grand award ceremony. (Did we mention, free for filmmakers?)

We also offer the $1,000 cash prize "Laara Award" for most inspirational film.

Numerous local Borregans will consider your film upon submission. Since we're a non-profit independent film festival run by citizen volunteers, films that also embrace that indy-attitude have a great chance at being programmed!

Our festival week will showcase 80-90 films and we typically receive around 400 submissions.

Even more encouraging, 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, it's all here.

If you're making your first film or your twentieth, come and be a part of our celebration. Our selection committee embraces a wide scope of productions. Everything from highly crafted films to sentimental favorites are part of our programming.

We excel simply because we truly offer a great time, remarkable local 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 Pam's homemade cookies. Cookies!

Our submission categories are also our main competition for awards.

Best Short Under 20 Minutes
Best Short 20 to 50 Minutes
Best Feature Film
Best Animation
Best Documentary Over 30 Minutes
Best Documentary Under 30 Minutes
Best International Film
Best Youth Film Under 18
Best Student Film 18+

Various sub categories of competition are also awarded:

Best Comedy
Best Director Feature
Best Director Short
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Music Score
Best Performance Comedy
Best Performance Drama

Additionally, top audience votes for will win the BSFF "PEOPLE'S CHOICE" award(s).

The BSFF committee will also offer "THE GOLDEN COOKIE" awards for films we believe resonate with the attitudes and sentiments of the Borrego Springs audience.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

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.

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 3:15.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES

A film can be submitted into multiple categories. Each category requires it's own individual submission.

NOTIFICATION

If your film is selected to be part of the BSFF, you will be notified, via the email listed on your FilmFreeway profile, on or about November 5. You will also be notified by email if your film is not selected.

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.

EXHIBITION FILM REQUIREMENTS

All accepted film will submit screeners uploaded via the internet. mp4, prores, or DNxHD with a stereo audio. We do not accept DCP or 5.1 surround sound tracks at this time.

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 supplied 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.

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 my 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 during festival week. 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.

PROGRAMMING

The BSFF reserves the right to arrange accepted submissions into any category at our discretion.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Eric Frost-Barnes

    BSFF was fabulous! They really take great care of their filmmakers and curate a terrific array of movies. The area and the people are charming and spending time at the festival is a wonderful experience. We look forward to submitting to BSFF our next project. xoxo

    May 2025
  • Absolutely loved the festival! Hope to attend again.

    February 2025
  • Christian Loubek

    This is a well organized festival in a vibrant, rich artistic community. Thank you for hosting BELIEF!

    February 2025
  • Arthur Helterbran Jr.

    I can't say enough positive things about this festival. The screenings were great, there were networking/catered events everyday, and a wide-array of panels to attend. I met a ton of amazing filmmakers and the community comes out in droves to attend the screenings. Such a wonderful experience. I really hope I have the opportunity to screen with them again.

    February 2025
  • Michelle Fenn

    Thank you for awarding my film, "Beyond the Herd" with best Short Doc! This is a lovely festival tucked in the desert, with a vibrant and warm community. Probably the largest screening we've had to date. Hope to be back soon!

    February 2025