Call for Entries
FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Fest 22
Opens March 14th in select categories for $22 Entry Fee
(Shorts Too, Web Series, Student, Music Video, Trailers)
All Categories OPEN March 22

One of the TOP RATED Film Festivals on FilmFreeway

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

Accepting Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Action and all genres from filmmakers of every gender, color, ethnicity, country and level.

FirstGlance is an all inclusive and diverse event. From 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 22nd Annual FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Fest 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.

Prize Package include production services, gear rentals and post production software.

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 VOD, theatrical and Pay Cable 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

The Best of Fest Award Winner prizes furnished by Red Giant, Boris FX, Glidecam, Jungle Software, Beachtek, ShotListerApp, InkTip 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.
26 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • 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
  • Sami Natsheh

    Very nice festival, high quality of movies and great hospitality.
    Hope to come back!!

    April 2019
    Helpful
  • Olicer Munoz

    FirstGlance Film Festival is a great venue in the Los Angeles spotlight to get the exposure your film deserves. The film festival website is very informative and built to market the films it's showcasing. This is HUGE because it gives the professional impression you need to market to the industry about your film.

    An other great feature is the theater location. The festival utilizes the Laemmle Theater (aka NoHo7) in North Hollywood. This theater is extremely well known in the Valley and is accessible.

    Networking is up to you and you need to have your list of people ready to invite, but the platform is there for them to experience the film.

    March 2019
    Helpful
  • Thiago Dadalt

    I always have a great time with FirstGlance and Bill is the best host, bringing amazing filmmakers together to celebrate great films. Can't wait to be back soon

    March 2019
    Helpful