The following rules govern all film submissions made to the El Paso Film Festival.
Only films that are submitted will be considered for competition.
ELIGIBILITY
Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee PER ENTRY and a completed online entry form. All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.
Films must be submitted as an online streaming video via a participating submission platform (FilmFreeway), a password-protected streaming URL. DVDs & Blu-Rays will NOT be accepted as a form of submission.
If the submission link is found to be inactive or the password to be incorrect, the submission may be deemed ineligible. Please double check your links.
EPFF screens films as digital files for short/feature films and Blu-Ray Discs for feature films only, during the Festival. If you are unable or unwilling to provide us your short film as a digital file or your feature film as a digital file or Blu-Ray disc for exhibition, please DO NOT SUBMIT your film.
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2023 to be eligible for submission.
Films must be available for screening during the El Paso Film Festival, September 24-27, 2026.
Films that have been submitted to EPFF in previous years are eligible to be resubmitted, provided they are eligible according to all of EPFF’s current rules.
The El Paso Film Festival is a filmmaker-friendly festival. We accept films regardless of their World, North American, US, or Texas Premiere status. We award the hard work filmmakers have put into their projects, regardless of where it has already screened. Submit with confidence.
While we do not require a premiere, films that have already had a public screening in El Paso, TX may be given lower priority in programming. Final decisions are at the sole discretion of our programming team.
We do make exceptions for private Cast & Crew Screenings and Sneak Peeks, provided they are not ticketed and open to the public. Please notify us of these events in your cover letter.
We award the hard work filmmakers have put into their projects, regardless of where it has already screened. Submit with confidence.
EPFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.
ORIGINALITY & PERMISSIONS
Films must be the original work of the applicants.
By entering the competition, you represent that you have secured all necessary rights.
Films that are selected may be used in promotional materials for the El Paso Film Festival and may be selected to be part of the online screening library and streaming television channels for special guests, industry professionals, and audience members.
Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. EPFF expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DO NOT SUBMIT WORKS IN PROGRESS! We strongly advise filmmakers to submit their film only after it is fully finished. The film will judged as a completed work only.
STORY AND SOUND! That’s what we look for in our entries. Make sure your story can be heard. If your short or feature film is submitted with a bad sound mix, it will automatically be disqualified and the filmmaker will not receive a refund for their submission.
Once an entry payment has been received we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed by an entrant for any reason, the entrant may be subject to any transaction fees or similar amounts incurred by EPFF in connection with the dispute.
Online Debit/Credit Payment is the only method we accept for submission fees at this time. Mailed checks will be shredded and destroyed upon receipt.
Please include in your cover letter if your film was SHOT IN EL PASO (include locations) or if you are an EL PASO FILMMAKER. El Paso Filmmakers are eligible for the El Paso Filmmaker Award.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY
The El Paso Film Festival champions and celebrates the work of human artists. To be eligible for competition, films must be the original work of human creators. Submissions that are primarily generated by Artificial Intelligence (where AI is the principal author of the script, visuals, or direction) are ineligible for competition.
This policy does not disqualify films that use AI as a tool within the creative process (e.g., for visual effects, sound design, color grading, or other post-production tasks) so long as the core creative authorship remains human. The El Paso Film Festival reserves the right in its sole discretion to determine the eligibility of any project.
SELECTED FILMS AND WINNERS
EPFF has no obligation to disclose the identities of screeners or judges. Notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted project will not be provided, nor will the details regarding the submission review or selection process.
EPFF explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by EPFF or by its volunteers.
Winners will be announced during the film festival. The jury’s decision is final.
If winners receive cash prizes, they are solely responsible for payment of all applicable local, state, and federal taxes.
RETURNS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Press materials will not be returned under any circumstances.
COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. COMPETITION CERTIFICATION
I have read all of the rules, understand, and have complied with these rules and warrant the submission of my/our original work and that there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the project submission.
I also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead. To the best of my/our knowledge, all the statements herein are true and correct.
I understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee. I acknowledge that once an entry payment has been processed, EPFF will not provide a refund.
No revisions of materials will be accepted once entry has been submitted.
BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, I/WE HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
