The 2023 Davis Feminist Film Festival (DFFF) will begin accepting admissions on October 20, 2022. Admissions will close on November 18, 2022. The 2023 festival will be held in-person on May 18–19, in Davis, California, USA.

The Davis Feminist Film Festival is an annual grassroots event that uses alternative media as a springboard for linking art to social issues. The festival aims to showcase independent film (including documentary, narrative, and experimental genres) in order to explore perspectives often missing from mainstream media and culture. Now, in its eighteenth year, the Davis Feminist Film Festival is increasingly international in scope and provides an inclusive public space for artists at the margins—particularly those with marginalized racial and/or gender identities—to raise consciousness about gender, race, class, sexuality, and many other dimensions of social inequality. The festival takes place each May in Davis, California, USA. It is a fun, inspiring, community-building event for artists and audiences alike.

The Davis Feminist Film Festival welcomes short films from local, national, and international creators, and from professionals, students, and community members alike. People whose identities are underrepresented in film/media are especially encouraged to submit a film for consideration. All films must not run longer than 25 minutes.

The Davis Feminist Film Festival began in 2005 as a fundraiser for international internships with grassroots feminist non-profit organizations. It was originally managed by the Gender and Global Issues (GGI) program as part of Women and Gender Studies at the University of California, Davis. In 2007, when funding for GGI ended, the Consortium for Women and Research partnered with other campus units to sustain and grow the festival until 2014. Since 2015, the Davis Feminist Film Festival has been managed by the UC Davis Women's Resources and Research Center.

For inquiries about the 2023 festival, please email femfilmfestdavis@gmail.com.

CRITERIA

To be eligible for consideration, a film must meet at least two of the following four criteria:

1) Film centers gender and social justice issues.
2) Film links local and global issues.
3) Film was created by people underrepresented in film/media, particularly those who identify as white womxn, womxn or men of color, queer, transgender, nonbinary, disabled.
4) Film was created by people from the Davis/Sacramento region.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1) Video file (minimum 1080p downloadable): please note that total runtime must not exceed 25 minutes
2) Synopsis (250-word maximum)
3) Cover letter: a 300-word statement that addresses how the film fits at least two of the four submission criteria
4) Captions or subtitles: to make the festival accessible to as many viewers as possible, films must include large-scale closed captions or subtitles in English, regardless of the language(s) spoken in the film

Audio descriptions: to make the festival as accessible to as many audiences as possible, we may request that filmmakers whose work is under consideration for the DFFF provide an additional file with audio descriptions (in English) of visual images.

A separate application must be completed for each film submitted. Although reasonable care will be taken to protect submissions from loss or damage, the Regents of the University of California does not assume responsibility for films submitted to the DFFF.

Films will be not considered for curation and exhibition unless all submission requirements are complete, including all questions on the submission form.

DAVIS FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL SUBMISSION AGREEMENT

Exhibition: Submitted works will be reviewed by the festival curation team before some are selected for public exhibition. By submitting a film, I understand that it may be screened for public exhibition as part of the 2023 Davis Feminist Film Festival and I authorize the UC Davis festival organizers to exhibit my film, should they choose to do so.

Permissions and Rights: I have obtained written permissions and rights to use all of the copyrighted material contained in my submitted work, including but not limited to consents from actors and music licenses for any commercial music. I will provide proof of such permissions upon request. I will be fully responsible for any problems, legal or otherwise, resulting from failure to obtain proper consents, releases, or licenses.

Post-Selection Procedures: At the discretion of festival organizers, exhibited works may be archived in a UC Davis campus library. The Regents of the University of California is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

Overall Rating
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Networking
  • Amazing Festival. Thank you to everyone at DAVIS Feminist FF for their vision !

    May 2023
  • Gisela Chicolino

    A festival on this topic is really a necessary one. Please keep working on generating this exquisite programming for the audiences.

    July 2022
  • Tatiany Furuse

    A HUGE honor to be part of this Festival. Gratitude for fighting for us women, minorities and vulnerable! Gratitude for all work, dedication and achievements. The world is much better with you!

    July 2022
  • Sarah Carlot Jaber

    Thank you so much ! <3

    May 2022
  • Fred MASCARAS

    Amazing selection of films ! Very honoured to be part of this festival, thank you very much, longue vie au Davis Feminist Film Festival!!

    May 2022