Philadelphia's ONLY Physical Indie Film Festival of 2020!!
Call for Entries
23rd Annual FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival
October 2-4 2020 at the Philadelphia Film Center
Have your film screened on an amazing screen!

Philadelphia's Independent Film Festival since 1996
Horror, SciFi, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy...Everything INDIE!

If you are an OFFICIAL SELECTION of SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes, Palm Springs Shorts Fest, Garden State, Overlook, or Fantasia, please direct message us for a discount code.
(Must provide Official Notification of your film's selection to be eligible)

$1000 CASH PRIZE in every category that reaches 200 entries!
One of the 100 TOP RATED Film Festivals on FilmFreeway

Tweet when you enter your film so we can share your news with our almost 50K Followers ALL Official Selections receive social media marketing unlike any film festival on EARTH!

Accepting Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Action and all genres.

FirstGlance is an all inclusive diverse event open to all genres, from filmmakers of every gender, color, race, ethnicity, country, religion and skill level.

First time filmmakers to Professionals, from down the street to across the globe!
INDIE FILMMAKERS WANTED!!
Features, Shorts, Documentary, Animation, Live Action, Web Series, Music Videos, Original Concept Trailers, Student Films

The 23rd Annual FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival screens local and international professional, first time, and student filmmakers, celebrating the best in indie film making from across the globe and locally produced Philadelphia Filmmakers

Screenings, Red Carpet, Live Awards Presentation and Nominations in over 25 categories and Audience Choice in ALL Categories! Over 25 nominating categories for Official Selections, plus Best of Audience awards for each category, and BEST OF FEST award winners.

FirstGlance Film Festivals are the longest running international bi-coastal indie film festivals in the United States. FirstGlance has theatrically screened over 2000 films to over 190,000 attendees and has the most active Short Online Contest, having screened over 700 short films to over 200,000 online viewers and voters over the past 10 years.

FirstGlance Film Fests have a 98% track record with feature films (Narrative and Documentary) acquiring Theatrical, Cable, VOD and Streaming Distribution.

FirstGlance has a deal to license science fiction and horror shorts and webseries for an amazing online streaming network, offering filmmakers a non exclusive, cash up front short term licensing deal.

Named 5 times as a Best Film Festival Investment by Moviemaker Magazine and named by Time Magazine as, "One of the Festivals for the Rest of Us" And Named One of FilmFreeway's Top 100 Film Festivals!

Semi-Finalists in our Shorts Categories are invited to take part in our very successful Short Online Contest, that has been running twice yearly for over 12 years alongside our physical festival for the opportunity to win over $2000 in prizes and a place in our next FirstGlance Film Festival.

Awards & Prizes

Best of Fest Award Winner prizes furnished by Red Giant, Boris FX, Glidecam, Final Draft, Jungle Software, Beachtek, Shot Lister, Ink Tip, Storyblocks, Zacuto and more.

Short Online Contest- Over $2000 in prizes and premiere at our next film festival, FirstGlance Film Fest Los Angeles (Spring 2020)

BONUS PRIZES: EVERY category that receives over 200 submissions, category winner will be awarded a CASH PRIZE

Rules & Terms

Student entries must include copy of current semester bill and copy of student ID by email. All official selections will be notified of acceptance by E-mail. (Make sure your address is current) Accepted projects cannot be publicly exhibited in the Philadelphia area at any time within a one-month period of the festival start date. If this occurs, FirstGlance has the right to refuse exhibition. After acceptance of projects, the entrant is free to publicize his/her work to any and all media she/he deems necessary. Please notify FirstGlance of any media support you receive. The undersigned entrant shall release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless FirstGlance Films, and its agents, respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, contractors, partners, sponsors, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, attorneys' fees). The undersigned entrant authorizes FirstGlance Film Festival, to promote the entry for any publicity purpose prior to, during, and after the competition. You agree to be bound by these guidelines and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects and to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the contest or the rules. The signature of applicant constitutes that the entrants information is true and correct and agrees to all competition rules and guidelines. Disclaimer: If any categories submissions does not receive high enough scores from our screening committee, FirstGlance has the right to discontinue the category for a particular festival.
29 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Purpose Productions

    This was a wonder experience and top notch organization.

    April 2020
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  • David Vincent Bobb

    I had a great time at this reputable Festival. Best Communication of any Festival I've been involved with.

    November 2019
    Helpful
  • Marco Kyris

    Just want to thank Bill and his team for executing a fine film fest. Though I couldn't make it, my short doc was screened there, and correspondence with First Glance team was quick and accommodating. Thanks guys.

    November 2019
    Helpful
  • Owen Korb

    We had our Los Angeles Premiere for my documentary Pull Up LA at First Glance Fim Festival 2019. This festival is very well organnized with great communication, it made this event function so smoothly. This year the event was held at the Laemmle theater in North Hollywood it was an amazing experience to see my documentary up on the big screen being shown to a sold out theater. The festivals events include red carpet photos interviews and even an award show on the last night! This festival also got me really focused on my social media advertising and really helped get me the exposure I needed online. I would like to thank Bill and his team who run the festival for all there hard work and congratulate them on 20 years of keeping First Glance Film Festival on top.

    Hope to submit more films to them in the future,

    Owen Korb

    April 2019
    Helpful
  • Sara Martins

    FirstGlance Film Festival was great in terms of communication from the moment we were selected to screen at their Festival in Los Angeles. They were also very helpful in terms of supporting us on our social media channels in order to reach a wider audience. Our main actress was able to attend the Festival and had an amazing time! Would definitely recommend this festival to others and looking forward to resubmitting future projects for consideration. Congratulations to the team behind FirstGlance!

    April 2019
    Helpful