FilmOut San Diego will be presenting the 24th Annual FILMOUT SAN DIEGO LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL September 12-15, 2024.

We are one of the longest-running film festivals in Southern California and the only LGBTQ film festival in the San Diego area. Our festival is well-respected in the film community and often have World and U.S. premieres. People from around the world attend the festival as we offer filmmakers Q&A sessions after most films. Interviews with filmmakers and talent are uploaded to social media platforms for maximum exposure. We also have a fantastic Opening Night gala and Closing Night reception each year.

This year our annual San Diego LGBTQ Film Festival will be a four-day event that includes international, documentary, short and feature films shown in two different locations. As always, we strive to show the newest LGBTQ-themed film selections available.

FilmOut San Diego annually affirms the ongoing integrity and boundless imagination of our community and the artists who tell our stories. We believe our work is part of an ongoing effort to build a vibrant, affirming and sustainable LGBTQ community in San Diego County. We hope you will join us and submit your project!

• Best Narrative Feature
• Best (First) Narrative Feature
• Best International Feature
• Best Documentary
• Best U.S. Short
• Best International Short
• Best Direction
• Best Actor in a Feature Film
• Best Actress in a Feature Film
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Best Screenplay

...plus Festival Awards and Special Programming Awards including:

• Freedom Award
• Outstanding Emerging Talent
• Outstanding Artistic Achievement

The mission of FilmOut San Diego is to enlighten, educate, and entertain San Diego, California and its outlying communities through the exhibition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer-themed films. FilmOut San Diego seeks to recognize, promote, celebrate and support the important diverse artistic contributions LGBTQ filmmakers make to our community.

• FilmOut San Diego is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) film festival. All submissions must be relevant to that community or your entry will be disqualified. Please do not submit any films without clear LGBTQ content.
• Film screeners are only accepted digitally through FilmFreeway.
• There are screening fees required to submit to FilmOut San Diego paid through FilmFreeway.
• Our submission period is from March 1, 2024 – May 31, 2024.
• If you are unable to submit via FilmFreeway, please contact either michael@filmoutsandiego.com (or) jeff@filmoutsandiego.com
• There will be no refunds once a project has been submitted.
• If your film is selected to the festival, you will be notified by July 5, 2024 and expected to provide your film (format to be determined by Program Director) by July 14, 2024.
• Films that are available to the public via streaming, VOD, or have played in San Diego (theatrically or featured at another San Diego film festival prior to our festival dates) are not eligible.
• Additional materials will be requested once your film has been selected: jpegs, synopsis, posters, film clips, etc. We request all items (including films) be transmitted via Dropbox.

All selected entries do hereby grant FilmOut San Diego the right to use footage, stills, and/or titles and information from the film for promotional purposes to include, but not limited to, cable, TV, Internet, radio and print sources.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Cameron Thrower

    Wow! FilmOut San Diego knows how to throw a festival! The best of the best. Thank you for making the WORST DATE, BEST DATE team feel like family. From the red-carpet interviews to the packed house at the beautiful MOPA. Michael and his team are professional, fun, and one-of-a-kind. Thank you for the memories FilmOut San Diego <3

    September 2023
  • Benjamin Howard

    We always love screening at FilmOut. There is a true sense of community at this festival, and the team works so hard on presenting a warm and welcoming environment to the filmmakers. Thanks, FilmOut! I'll see you again!

    September 2022
  • Kelly Walker

    Michael and the FilmOut team were so helpful, communicative and welcoming. Our filmmakers had a great time at the festival and were inspired and grateful for the community.

    October 2021
  • They did everything they can to be up this year, really enjoyed their updates, hope they could come back next year

    September 2020
  • January Jones

    Although I wasn't able to attend, I was so honoured to be included in the FilmOut San Diego LGBTQ ShortFest. Michael and Jeff were wonderful to deal with and I highly recommend this festival.

    May 2019