CURRENTLY ACCEPTING FILMS FOR FILMGATE FESTIVAL 2025 + SEEKING FEATURE FILM FELLOWS FOR 2025
FilmGate Festival is the longest-running monthly short film series in Florida, created to celebrate local culture, diversity and regional creativity. Every month, FilmGate Miami highlights Florida's community of actors, filmmakers, and video + audio production studios. We accept short films, documentaries, music videos and web series from Florida or made by a Florida citizen, 20 minutes or less.
This Festival will be takes place at the Silverspot Cinema in Downtown Miami located at 300 SE 3rd St #100, Miami, FL 33131.
THE RULES:
- For Florida Filmmakers only or Florida-based short films (at least for now)
- 20 minutes or less
- Free submissions/waivers for Filmgate Miami members and students, email info@film-gate.org for a waver
- Florida producer or Director needs to be present at the screening of their film and for the Q&A
The screening takes place on the last Wednesday of each month (unless noted otherwise).
OFFICIAL FESTIVAL DATES (2025):
FilmGate Free-For-All Festival - January 29
FilmGate Untold Stories Festival (formerly Social Justice) - February 26 Deadline: January 31
FilmGate Femme Directors Festival - March 26 Deadline: February 28
FilmGate Comedy Festival - April 30 Deadline: April 4
FilmGate Documentary Festival - May 28 Deadline: May 2
FilmGate Free-For-All Festival - June 25 Deadline: May 30
FilmGate Films With Subtitles Festival - July 30 Deadline: July 4
FilmGate Free-For-All Festival - August 27 Deadline: August 1
FilmGate Music Videos Festival - September 24 Deadline: August 29
FilmGate Horror Festival - October 29 Deadline: October 3
FilmGate Best-of-Fest - November 26
FILM COMMUNITY NETWORKER B4 AND AFTER
Enjoy meeting other creatives and film geeks during our film community networker before the screening. Grab some drinks, some grub, and start mingling!
We will also have networking at the end of the event so feel free to gush about the cool films afterwards too.
PERCOLATOR
Starting off the night, we have our Percolator. Sign up and tell the audience your skills or if you are looking for a professional in particular! You will have 1 minute to pitch. You can meet Florida's film scene face-to-face and pitch your film ideas to the broad community of talent!
FILMMAKER Q & A
After the screening, as our jury judges discuss the night's award-winning film, we will invite our featured filmmakers for a Q&A session about their creative process and inspirations in creating their films.
AWARDS CEREMONY
At the end of the screening, we will present the jury's choice in the best film of the night! Our jury is a team of industry professionals that use their expertise to judge the techincal and artistic qualities of each film screened.
Submit your short film, documentary, music video, pilot, or web series today and see your work on the biggest screen in Miami.
Please note that we select our films as they arrive, to allow us more time to promote this festival. Submit your films as early as possible to improve your chances of being selected. If your film has not been accepted for the month you submitted for, it stands the chance to be programmed for another month.
If you have any trouble with entering your film or using a waiver code, please contact us at michi@film-gate.org or info@film-gate.org
FILMGATE FELLOWSHIP 2025
FilmGate Miami is excited to launch the FilmGate Fellowship 2025, a transformative 5-month program aimed at supporting emerging Florida filmmakers in developing and refining their feature film projects.
Participants: Up to 10 Film Fellows will be selected.
Program Features:
- Mentorship from industry professionals.
- Hands-on training and intensive bootcamps.
- Access to FilmGate membership and production insurance during the required shooting period.
- Culmination: A live pitch event where fellows will present their projects to a panel of executive producers, distributors, and financiers.
- Awards: Two fellows will receive film grants to support their productions.
Requirements:
Applicants must:
- Be Florida residents.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Submit projects that will shoot at least 50% of their production days in Downtown Miami, Brickell, Edgewater, AND Miami Beach.
- Ensure a minimum of 3 shooting days in Miami Beach city limits.
Submission Materials:
- A feature-length script (60–130 pages, final draft or near finish).
- If the script is in Spanish, Creole, Portuguese, or Spanglish, an English translation is required.
- A mood board.
- A pitch deck, including a business plan.
- Shooting dates must fall between November 2025 and November 2026 (failure to meet these dates will result in forfeiting the grant).
Program Timeline:
- Orientation Day: Selected fellows will participate in an extensive one-day orientation at DMC.
- Application Deadline: February 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
Selection Process:
Applicants will undergo an initial interview with the FilmGate team before final selections are made.
Submission of an application does not guarantee a fellowship spot.
For more information, email michi@film-gate.org.
Monthly Awards include Best Film Award (which is a 1 year FilmGate membership) and Best Audience Award!
Occasionally, jurors bring awards as well (i.e. equipment rental or sound stage rental)
We also have our FilmGate Staff Awards which include:
-Best Actor
-Best Screenplay
-Best Sound Edit
-Best Edit
-Best Photography
-Best Director
Best Film Winner will automatically go into November's Best of Competition!!!
Grand winner will be taking the Crystal Kraken Award!
FILMGATE FEATURE FILM FELLOWSHIP 2025
- 10 fellows will be selected for the program and after live-pitching, 2 fellows will receive film grants to assist in producing their feature film