Conch Shell International Film Fest

Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF) is an online film festival which promotes films and mixed media projects by artists from the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora. Presented by New York City-based, Conch Shell Productions, CSIFF champions and celebrate the unique voices of artists of the Caribbean Diaspora and in the Caribbean.

Our mission:
Conch Shell International Film Fest spotlights student and indie filmmakers and screenwriters of the Caribbean Diaspora and the Caribbean who create films that inspire social change.

Our film festival will create unique opportunities for this community of international film artists to be celebrated and recognized. Our goal is to advance artists careers with screenings, networking events, panels and workshops.

Film categories include: student & Indie shorts: narrative (all genres), documentary, animation, web series/pilots, music videos, experimental, and one-act recorded live theatre/"Zoom" theatre productions.

Conch Shell International Film Fest is a 3-day online event that takes place in late August 2022..

Our festival will feature film screenings, in-depth Artist Q&A with audience participation, panel discussions, and seminars, and afterparties. The industry panels we offer are wide-ranging, providing experienced insight into craft building, crowdfunding, and social issues in the film industry. CSIFF2022 Award Jurists include: Alain Bidard, Wally Fall, Maella Kancel, Javier Molina, Melanie Nicholls-King, Nadhege Ptah, JR Roache, David Velo Stewart and Marquis Smalls,

CSIFF2022 Award Ceremony will take place live on Sunday, August 28th at 7pm.

Submit your film, and come be a part of a fast-growing and friendly filmmaking community!

This year's theme: art that inspires change.

The Audience Choice Award winner will receive a $100 cash prize.

All Jury Award winners will receive a one year subscription to Previs Pro (IOS compatible only)

The following Jury Award Winners will receive a certificate for downloadable version of
Final Draft :
Audience Choice
Best Screenwriter
Best Director
Best Student Film
Best Film
Best Web Series/Pilot

CSIFF Jury Awards laurels include:
- Best Director
- Best Screenwriter
- Best Lead Performer
- Best Film
- Best Cinematographer
- Best Student Film
- Best Animation
- Best Documentary
- Best Music Video
- Best Web series/Pilot
- Best Micro Short

ELIGIBILITY
Films that have previously screened in other festivals are eligible for consideration.
Films completed from 2010-2022 are eligible for consideration.

Submitted works MUST satisfy ONE of the eligibility criteria below:

CARIBBEAN DIASPORA FILMS:
Films by indie or student screenwriters and/or directors of CARIBBEAN ancestry (living in North America, South America, Central, African, Europe, Asia, Africa, etc).

CARIBBEAN FILMS:
Films written or directed by indie and student filmmakers who are living in the Caribbean. Filmmakers working in all Caribbean regional languages are encouraged to apply. Subtitles or dubbing required for non-English language films.

SCREENERS: A Secure Online Screener

Online screener format: .mp4 or .mov (1080p) via FilmFreeway.com. The submission must be downloadable. Passwords must be provide for password protected submissions.

FILM PRESS KIT - Including: 4 Hi-Res publicity stills, film poster, synopsis, log line, writer and director picture & bio (bio must specify Caribbean ancestry of eligible filmmaker), Cast and Crew information.

If submitting as a student entry, some form of proof of being a student must be provided (student id or current transcript). Student filmmakers must be over eighteen years of age and competent to contract in their own name.

Entry forms and payment will not be processed without accompanying Preview Copies in one of the accepted formats for film applicants.

Non-English films must be SUBTITLED or DUBBED in English.

By submitting to General submissions you acknowledge that you agree to that if your film is selected to be screen in CSIFF 2022 the 15-60 second trailer of your film (including credits) will be streaming on our website for at least three years; stills for at least 10 years. If your film wins an award your trailer will be on our website for at least 10 years.

Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form, entry materials and entry fee.

Jury Awards and Official Selections are based on overall merits of the films and are at the sole discretion of the jury and programming committee.

SCREENING FEE - The festival does not offer screening fees for its films. By submitting through FilmFreeway you are agreeing to NOT request a screening fee as a requirement for your film's participation in the festival, should your film get selected for the program.

Filmmakers waive any right to inspect or approve the photograph, advertising copy, audio piece or printed matter that may be used or to the eventual use that it may be applied.

CSIFF reserves the right to refuse to consider any submission at our discretion.

All fees are nonrefundable.

Submission to the festival is not a guarantee that your film will be screened.

Participating in CSIFF implies understanding and acceptance of festival regulations.

(All featured filmmakers will receive a free All-Access Fest pass to attend all screenings, panel discussions, after parties and private events.)

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Azriel Bahadoor

I was so impressed by this festival's ability to create and nurture a community through online methods. Magaly and her entire team did a fantastic job. The different virtual rooms, parties, screenings were all top notch. I am honored to have had my first short film screened at Conch Shell and I plan to be there again next time!

December 2022

Helpful
Alicia Diaz

CSIFF2022 was fantastic! This festival is so thoughtfully organized with many opportunities for filmmakers to interact and engage virtually through Filmocracy in meaningful conversation. The podcast conversations were also a great feature. The focus and commitment to film as tool for social justice was exciting. The voices of the Caribbean diaspora represented in the festival is an invaluable contribution to the field. The organization, communication, and hospitality was impressive!

October 2022

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you for your review, Alicia. We value your powerful voice and look forward to your future work.
Gabri Christa

I am so very impressed by this festival, it's professionalism, curation, communication and staff. Everything ran smoothly. Magaly, Kyra, Natasha, Marquis did an amazing job, and although this was a virtual festival it was the most realistic festival to participate in, to panels, networking, parties, and more. The Filmocracy site was a true jam, the music while waiting at the beach club, so hot. Every little detail was thought of.

The films were also original, the truly Global Caribbean filmmakers community came together and I learned a lot from my fellow filmmakers.
I also appreciated the podcast and being interviewed, in other words, couldn't ask for more.
Another big thumbs up for me was the fact that the festival accepts some older films (about 10 years back) and for films from the Caribbean Diaspora that is such a huge service.
THANK YOU Conch Shell Film Festival. I definitely will submit again.

September 2022

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you, Gabri. We value your unique vision and voice. It was a pleasure sharing your work with our audiences. We look forward to your future submissions.
Mark Loquan

Excellent communication and follow up. So proud to be selected for the CSIFF2022 and featured. Thanks so much for the recognition of my project from Trinidad and Tobago.

September 2022

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you for your review Mark. It was a pleasure sharing your music video with our audiences. Congratulations on winning CSIFF2022 Best Music Video Award. May "A Better Tomorrow" be a source of inspiration for audiences for years to come.
Timothy Joseph

This was our first time at Conch Shell and it was a great experience. I love the interactive sessions with the experts and media. The quality of the films involved were high and we enjoyed watching them. I definitely recommend this festival for any filmmaker looking for a well organized and professional program. Looking forward attend more in the future.

September 2022

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you for your recommendation, Timothy. It was an honor sharing your film "Lifeline" with our audiences. We look forward to seeing you next year.