Frameline’s mission is to change the world through the power of queer cinema. As a media arts non-profit, Frameline’s programs connect filmmakers and audiences in San Francisco and around the world.

Founded in 1977, the San Francisco International LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Film Festival is the longest-running, largest, and most widely recognized lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, and queer film exhibition event in the world. As a community event with an annual attendance of more than 63,000, the Festival is the most prominent and well-attended LGBTQ arts program in the Bay Area.

Frameline40: the 40th San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival returns to the Bay Area June 16-26, 2016, with its signature showcase of the world’s leading queer cinema. Frameline40 unites diverse communities for 11 days of innovative and socially relevant cinema. Discover emerging talents and embrace an unparalleled community of festival-goers at the world’s largest celebration of queer cinema. The Festival pays tribute to LGBTQ experiences through pioneering documentaries, gripping features, delightful shorts, cinematic classics, and more.

Each year, Frameline hosts 400 official Festival Guests, including directors, producers, actors, programmers, distributors, and buyers that range from small independent entities to major studios such as Strand Releasing, Wolfe Video, The Film Collaborative, TLA Releasing, HBO, Showtime, and Warner Brothers. The Festival is one of the largest annual business meeting places for theatrical and educational film and video buyers in Northern California.

Committed to showcasing the best and most diverse work by, about and of interest to the LGBTQ community, we strongly encourage applications from women and people of color. The Festival is produced by Frameline, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to the exhibition, distribution, funding and promotion of LGBTQ media arts.

Awards & Prizes

Since 1983 our audience has been responsible for selecting the Best Narrative Feature Film, Best Documentary Film and Best Short Film of the Festival. Putting the power in the audience's hands, the Frameline Audience Awards offer cash prizes to the favorite Feature ($1000), Documentary ($1000) and Short ($500) in the festival.

Outstanding First Feature
A juried award for the most Outstanding First Feature to be awarded to the Director. Submitted film must be a San Francisco Bay Area Premiere to qualify.
Sponsor: Frameline

Rules & Terms

Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, accepts films of any length and genre about LGBTQ+ people and their communities.

ENTRY FORM
Please completely fill out the Filmfreeway Entry Form. A separate Entry Form is required for each film being submitted. We accept online submissions through FilmFreeway.

PREVIEW FORMAT
Preview submissions must be submitted via secure online screener (e.g. vimeo.com with password), or through a secure online link via FilmFreeway. Online submissions are handled through FilmFreeway via a secure online link of your film (uploaded films must be in their entirety; trailers will not be considered).

ELIGIBLE EXHIBITION FORMATS
Frameline43 will exhibit all films via DCP. All non-English language entries must have English subtitles.

ROUGH CUTS & WORKS-IN-PROGRESS
Rough cuts and works-in-progress are eligible for submission only if completed by May 9, 2019.

NOTIFICATION
All FilmFreeway submissions will be marked "In Consideration" once payment, entry forms, and a DVD or online link of the film have all been received. If you would like hardcopy notification of receipt of your entry, please include a self addressed stamped postcard with your DVD entry. Entrants will be notified of festival selections by the end of April 2019.

PRESS MATERIALS
AFTER your film is accepted, please send high quality digital images from your film (minimum 300dpi in a tiff or jpeg format for MAC only) emailed to programming@frameline.org. Please also send along press-ready, password protected screener links, Electronic Press Kits, or any other publicity materials you may have (if available). High quality stills make a significant difference in press coverage for accepted films.

SHIPPING
Exhibition copies must be sent to the festival prepaid. The Festival will pay for return or forward shipping. The Festival cannot accept nor assume responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. In case of loss or damage during the Festival, the responsibility of the Festival is limited to the costs for repair or replacement of the print.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a juried cash award a film cannot have screened or been broadcast on television or on VOD in the San Francisco Bay Area prior to the Festival. All films selected are eligible for the Audience Awards.

PROGRAM SELECTION
All entries will be reviewed by the Festival Committee who will also determine a short list of nominees for the Festival juried awards. Once a film is submitted for entry, it may not be withdrawn.

RENTAL FEES
The Festival does not pay rental fees; instead we choose to invest our resources in producing the best possible showcase for your work and promoting your work as widely as possible.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
I permit Frameline to retain a DVD copy of this work for a non-circulating Festival archive.

I give Frameline permission to use up to 3 minutes of footage or photographic stills from the work for broadcast, web publication or other promotional purposes. Frameline must be notified in writing of any press or photo restrictions.

I give Frameline permission to make DVD copies of the work for press purposes. Frameline must be notified in writing of any press restrictions, including hold reviews.

If the film has been submitted digitally.

If accepted to the Festival I agree not to have a full copy of the film available online or thru VOD prior to the Frameline screening.

I am legally authorized to enter this film in the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival and agree that, if accepted, an acceptable exhibition format will be made available for screening during the Festival.

I hold the Festival harmless from damage to or loss of the print or tape during shipping to and from the Festival. I certify that I have read, understood and complied with all the festival regulations and terms of submission.