Cinelounge has built a solid industry reputation for being a space where new filmmakers are discovered and begin careers in the business.

CINELOUNGE PRESENTS 2023 is our 2nd Year 4-day international film festival connecting the industry with new filmmakers who need to be known, whose work needs to be seen, and who literally blow our minds away and we can't wait to introduce them to everyone. All of our film selections are from FilmFreeway submissions, no direct solicitations. We do not follow other film festivals or play 'keeping up with the Joneses'.
We are highly selective and spend months reviewing all submissions with our programming team. Making films is about getting your stories seen. CINELOUNGE PRESENTS is about showing Hollywood the best we've discovered.

In addition to our Hollywood venue, CINELOUNGE PRESENTS 2023 will also be happening at our San Francisco venue in the stunningly gorgeous town of Tiburon, Ca. right on the San Francisco Bay.

Our priority is to provide our selected filmmakers with a career-launching platform, industry and media exposure, and new connections to our community.

Awards & Prizes

Jury and Audience Award winners will receive a one-week Academy Award-qualifying theatrical engagement in our flagship cinema in the heart of Hollywood, along with marketing for their film's release (value $10,000).

Jury Award and Audience Award Winners will get to take advantage of our contacts, marketing, and platform to help increase awareness of their films (value $2,500).

All winners will be eligible for consideration for theatrical and digital distribution through Cinelounge Presents.

The Carl Solomon Award for Best Breakout Performance will be presented with certificate with complimentary digital access to 10 films on Cinelounge Presents On-Demand, a case of acclaimed Cinelounge Popcorn and exclusive Cinelounge merchandise.

All accepted filmmakers will have the option to be featured on the Cinelounge Presents Podcast.

THE MINERVA AWARDS

Minerva Award for Feature Narrative
Minerva Award for Feature Documentary
Minerva Award for Short Narrative
Minerva Award for Short Documentary
Minerva Award for Short Animation
Minerva Award for Short Experimental
Audience Award for Narrative Feature
Audience Award for Documentary Feature
The Carl Solomon Award for Best Breakout Performance

Rules & Terms

By entering CINELOUNGE PRESENTS 2023, you agree to follow our policies, rules, and guidelines.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY:

• We consider films in any language, from anywhere on Planet Earth. Please ensure your film has English subtitles if in another language.
• We accept films no matter what year they were completed.
• We will not accept films that have had theatrical release in the US.
• We will not accept films that were self-distributed by filmmakers online.
We will not accept films that are streaming online.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS:

• Make sure the screener link URL remains the same, even if you update your screener for any reason.
• If there's anything wrong with the submission, we will contact you. If this occurs, applicants will be required to update the submission and adhere to deadlines.
• Our entry policy is no refunds or exchanges.

FILMMAKERS WHO ARE ACCEPTED:

• Will be notified via email, phone, or text. Filmmakers must confirm their participation by the given deadline, otherwise they might lose their spot in the line-up.
• Must be the authors of their submitted work and be ready to sign an agreement stating that they own all rights to their film and its components ahead of screening at Cinelounge Presents.
• Are responsible for delivering their festival exhibition copy, trailer, screener link, press stills, and press-kit on time.
• Are encouraged to attend our festival in Hollywood.

For pre-screening selection purposes, we ask for either:
a) Online screeners
b) DVDs or Blu-ray sent to our mailing address.