* We are an AWARD-WINNING Queer Film Festival in the San Francisco Bay Area *

* Our Film Festivals are hosted by Drag Queens or Queer Filmmakers *

Each Season, we schedule multiple in-person film festivals in one or more of the following Bay Area locations: **San Jose, CA **Oakland, CA **Emeryville, CA

We are UNIQUE, INNOVATIVE, and FABULOUS. We COMBINE In-Person Film Screenings WITH Queer Performance Art (i.e. Drag). Each Season, we offer joyful, engaging, and personal screenings, in-person and online, and help build an audience base for our participating filmmakers.

+++OVERVIEW+++

(*) 'Fishnets and Film' is an IN-PERSON festival that combines QUEER CINEMA with QUEER PERFORMANCE ART. Hosted by local Drag Performers or Queer Artists.

(*) 'Fishnets and Film' is a QUEER FILM FESTIVAL, screening films at in-person events and during our [online] festivals.

(*) We seek independent LGBTQ+ projects (& projects with LGBTQ+ content) from all genres, from all countries.

+++ In-Person Screenings +++

ALL Official Selections will be screened at least one time, in person, during each Season. All participating filmmakers will be notified, in advance, when their films will be screened in-person.

+++ Online Screenings +++

ALL 'Official Selections' will be screened during each password-protected [online] film festival, per Season. All filmmakers will be notified, in advance, when their films will be screened during our online film festivals.

All participating films will be made available online via password-protected pages. All participating filmmakers will receive FREE access to their respective online screenings.

++ 2024 In-Person SUMMER FESTIVAL Schedule [subject to change] ++

July 21 ~ Oakland, CA (The New Parkway Theater)
August 25 ~ Oakland, CA (The New Parkway Theater)
September 29 ~ Emeryville, CA (The Bureau 510 restaurant)

+++ ON-LINE 2024 SPRING FESTIVAL* SCHEDULE +++

July 15 to July 30
August 15 to August 30
September 15 to September 30

*Once anyone receives a password to access the festival, they can stream films, at any time, from July 15 to September 30.

+++SUBMISSION/SCREENING/SELECTION DETAILS+++

Each Season (Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall), we officially 'Select' up to 40 total films.

** Up to TEN FILMS will screen, in full, during each "Fishnets and Film" in-person event.
** ALL selected films will screen, in full, during the online film festival period.

All Official Selections will be announced on/before the Notification date.

A Select number of Official Selections, per Season, will be announced and promoted through our social media channels (i.e. IG, FB, e-blasts).

All Submissions will be judged by credited filmmakers and film lovers.

Awards & Prizes

One (1) winner, and up to Four (4) finalists, will be awarded with:

Best Film*
Best Feature Film**

Awards will also be distributed in the following categories:

Best Original Story*
Best Director*
Best Performance*
Best Screenplay*

*Awards will be distributed, pending there are ten (10) total Official Selections in the current Season. Laurels will be made available to all Finalists & Winners.

**Best Feature Film award will be award, pending there are at least three (3) Official Selections in this category for the current season.

Rules & Terms

All films are eligible, regardless if they have distribution or not.
All films are eligible even if they have been accepted to other film festivals.
All films must have been completed on/after January 1, 2021.
All films must include English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English).

Short Films must not be longer than 31 minutes in length.

By submitting your film, you agree that:
1. Fishnets and Film can use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster) for promotional purpose.
2. Submission fees are non-refundable.
3. You own all the rights to the film and are legally responsible for your submission.
4. You cannot withdraw your submission after the official selection announcement of each round.

We accept .mp4 or .mov file. We do not accept DCP format at this time. Once Selected, we will contact you to acquire your film or request access through FilmFreeway.

Fishnets & Film, Inc. is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted for 'Fishnets and Film' and accepted for exhibition during our in-person events for promotional purposes throughout the current season.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that they are authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Fishnets & Film, Inc. from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening films entered.

Each submission is not guaranteed a Selection.

Any submitter provides consent to the following RELEASE: Fishnets and Film is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes. The individual, representative, or corporation submitting a film hereby warrants that they are authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Fishnets and Film from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including, but not limited to, attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and/or loss of/or damage to the submission.
12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Henry Baker

    The Festival staff and volunteers are exceptional. Great communication and outreach, wonderful networking and superb publicity of the festival and website presence. I highly recommend submitting to this gem of a festival.

    April 2024
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  • Tom Goss

    Wonderful festival full of energy, love, and queer joy. Would love to be a part of it again in the future!

    February 2024
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  • Brian Tognotti

    My film JUST ASK HIM appeared in the Festival and it was a great experience. Good audience and a fun atmosphere. Definitely recommend!

    October 2023
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  • Adam Enright

    We loved being a part of this lively, queer and unpretentious festival! Right from the beginning they were extremely welcoming and communicative. Highly recommend.

    February 2023
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  • Monty Wolfe

    Fishnets and Film is a unique and fun combination of film and drag that made for a fantastic evening. My film Treasure was part of the show in Portland, Oregon at the QCenter and it couldn't have been a nicer evening. There was great communication with the organizers - and the staff members at QCenter were congenial and welcoming.

    December 2022
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