ABOUT FOCUS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Every Story Deserves Recognition.
Celebrating Achievement. Inspiring Storytellers.
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LISTING BEFORE SUBMITTING
Focus International Film Festival is an ONLINE-ONLY festival. We do not host live screenings or a live awards ceremony.
Welcome to Focus
Every great film begins with a simple act of courage.
Someone chooses to tell a story.
From that moment forward, filmmakers devote countless hours to writing, planning, producing, directing, editing, and refining a vision that exists only because they refused to let it remain an idea.
Whether created with a smartphone, a student budget, or a professional production team, every completed film represents something extraordinary.
It represents commitment.
It represents perseverance.
It represents creativity.
Most importantly, it represents a storyteller willing to share a part of themselves with the world.
At Focus International Film Festival, we believe that achievement deserves recognition.
That belief is the foundation upon which our festival was built.
Our Philosophy
Many film festivals ask a single question:
"Why shouldn't this film be selected?"
At Focus, we ask something very different.
"What makes this film worth celebrating?"
No film is perfect.
No filmmaker ever stops learning.
Every project presents challenges.
Every project teaches lessons.
Every project has strengths.
Rather than searching for imperfections, we seek out artistic achievement, creative vision, technical accomplishment, emotional impact, and the unique qualities that make every project memorable.
Because perfection isn't the goal.
Creating something meaningful is.
Official Selection:
Every valid submission meeting our eligibility requirements receives Official Selection status.
Official Selection recognizes one of the most difficult accomplishments in filmmaking:
Finishing your film.
Every Official Selection receives an Official Selection Laurel that may be proudly displayed on posters, trailers, websites, social media, IMDb pages, press kits, and promotional materials.
The Focus Seven Recognition System:
Recognition should be meaningful.
Traditional festivals often recognize a single winner in each category while many outstanding projects receive only a nomination—or no recognition at all.
We believe artistic excellence exists across multiple levels.
To better celebrate exceptional filmmaking, Focus International Film Festival proudly created the Focus Seven Recognition System.
Within each award category, our judges recognize the strongest projects through one of seven award levels:
💎 Diamond Award — Masterwork Achievement
⬜ Platinum Award — Extraordinary Achievement
🥇 Gold Award — Exceptional Achievement
🥈 Silver Award — Outstanding Achievement
🥉 Bronze Award — Distinguished Achievement
♦ Ruby Award — Commended Achievement
🔷 Sapphire Award — Merit Achievement
Each award represents a significant accomplishment earned through the judging process.
While every eligible project receives Official Selection, award recognition is never automatic.
Each award reflects the judges' evaluation of the project's artistic, technical, and storytelling achievements within its category.
The Focus Seven Recognition System allows us to celebrate more deserving filmmakers while maintaining the prestige and integrity of every award presented.
Because recognition should never be limited to only one story.
Built on Respect:
Independent filmmaking thrives through collaboration, encouragement, and shared passion.
We believe festivals should inspire filmmakers—not discourage them.
We ask every participant to communicate with professionalism, courtesy, and respect toward fellow filmmakers and festival staff.
Abusive, defamatory, discriminatory, threatening, or hostile behavior may result in the revocation of Official Selection status, awards, or future eligibility.
Our goal is simple:
Create a festival where filmmakers feel respected, appreciated, and inspired.
Festival Information:
Focus International Film Festival is proud to be an IMDb Recognized Event celebrating independent filmmakers from around the world.
We welcome submissions including:
• Feature Films (All genres welcome)
• Short Films (All genres welcome)
• AI Films (All genres welcome)
• Music Videos (All genres welcome)
• Movie Trailers (All genres welcome)
English-language projects and non-English projects with English subtitles are welcome.
All genres are accepted except pornography or material created primarily to depict real-world graphic violence (snuff content).
Running Time Requirements:
Feature Films
45 minutes 1 second through 2 hours
(Including opening and closing credits.)
Short Films
Maximum 45 minutes
AI Films
Any length up to 2 hours
Music Videos
Any length up to 10 minutes
Trailers
Maximum 2 minutes
Projects that exceed these limits or fail to comply with the Festival Rules & Terms may be disqualified without refund.
Awards & Recognition
Every Official Selection receives:
✔ Official Selection Laurel
Award-winning projects receive:
✔ Official Focus Seven Award Laurel
✔ Official Award Certificate
Eligible winners may also purchase an official 10-inch Focus International Film Festival Trophy as a lasting keepsake of their achievement.
For trophy information, please contact:
scanonball@gmail.com
Trophies ship only within the continental United States. No exceptions.
Our Promise:
Every submission represents months—or years—of dedication.
We never lose sight of that.
We promise to watch every eligible submission with professionalism.
We promise to recognize artistic achievement wherever we find it.
We promise to celebrate creativity with honesty, integrity, and respect.
Because independent cinema isn't built by massive studios.
It is built by dreamers.
By artists.
By collaborators.
By storytellers.
And storytellers deserve to know their work matters.
Welcome to Focus International Film Festival.
Every Story Deserves Recognition.
Celebrating Achievement. Inspiring Storytellers.
All submissions will receive OFFICIAL SELECTION and receive Official Selection laurels for their poster.
All awards listed below will include an Award Laurel Certificate which will be emailed to the film maker of record.
Awards & Prizes
At Focus International Film Festival, we believe that recognition should reflect achievement.
Every film represents countless hours of writing, planning, filming, editing, problem-solving, and perseverance. Behind every submission is a filmmaker who chose to bring an idea to life despite the challenges that independent filmmaking often presents.
That accomplishment deserves to be recognized.
Our festival was created to celebrate the strengths of every project while maintaining meaningful standards for award recognition.
Recognition isn't about overlooking imperfections. It's about celebrating achievements.
Official Selection
Every eligible submission that complies with the Festival Rules & Terms receives Official Selection status.
Official Selection recognizes one of the greatest accomplishments in filmmaking:
Completing a film and sharing it with an audience.
Every Official Selection project receives an official Focus International Film Festival Official Selection Laurel for use on posters, trailers, websites, social media, press kits, streaming platforms, and other promotional materials.
The Focus Seven Recognition System
Most film festivals recognize a single winner in each category.
We believe excellence deserves broader recognition.
For that reason, Focus International Film Festival evaluates every award category using our Focus Seven Recognition System, recognizing exceptional achievement across seven levels of excellence.
Awards are presented in the following order:
💎 Diamond Award - Masterwork Achievement
⬜ Platinum Award - Extraordinary Achievement
🥇 Gold Award - Exceptional Achievement
🥈 Silver Award - Outstanding Achievement
🥉 Bronze Award - Distinguished Achievement
♦ Ruby Award - Commended Achievement
🔷 Sapphire Award - Merit Achievement
Each award reflects the judges' evaluation of the project's artistic merit, storytelling, craftsmanship, technical execution, creativity, and overall impact.
Awards are earned through the judging process and are never automatically granted.
Not every category will present all seven award levels. Depending on the quality and number of submissions, judges may recognize anywhere from one to seven projects in a category.
This approach allows us to recognize exceptional filmmaking across multiple levels of achievement while preserving the integrity and prestige of every award presented.
Award Laurels & Certificates
Projects recognized through the Focus Seven Recognition System receive:
✔ Official Award Laurel identifying the award level earned
✔ Official Award Certificate
These materials may be used in posters, trailers, websites, social media, press kits, streaming platforms, and promotional materials.
IMDb Recognition
Following the conclusion of the festival, award recipients are invited to submit their Focus International Film Festival award to IMDb for inclusion on their project's IMDb page, subject to IMDb's submission policies and approval process.
IMDb submissions must be made by the filmmaker or an authorized representative.
Focus International Film Festival is unable to submit awards directly to IMDb on behalf of participants.
Official Festival Trophy
Every Official Selection recipient and every Award recipient is eligible to purchase the official 10-inch Focus International Film Festival Trophy.
Designed as a lasting keepsake of your achievement, the trophy may be ordered at any time following Official Selection or award recognition.
For ordering information, please contact:
scanonball@gmail.com
Trophies are currently available for shipment within the continental United States only.
Our Commitment
Every submission entrusted to Focus International Film Festival represents a personal journey.
Some films are created by experienced professionals.
Others mark the first step in a filmmaker's career.
Both deserve to be judged with fairness, integrity, and respect.
Our judges do not begin by asking,
"Why shouldn't this film win?"
Instead, we ask,
"What has this filmmaker accomplished?"
That question guides every decision we make.
It reminds us that every completed project reflects dedication, resilience, and the courage to share a story with the world.
Those achievements deserve recognition.
Because while perfection is impossible...
Achievement is worth celebrating.
And every story deserves the opportunity to be seen.
-
Kayser Foyz
August 2023 -
June 2023
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June 2023
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March 2023
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February 2023
