Hello there,

I hope you are keeping well and safe in these unpredictable times.

Due to the emergency situation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, we were not able to decide and plan on this year's festival sooner. The ongoing pandemic has roiled every layer of society, and with no end in sight in the foreseeable future, any public event has become infeasible.

We now have come to final decision, that we will be holding this year's festival online. We are currently working on finding an online platform to be able to hold the festival in the last week of October like every year. We are talking with two parties, and hoping to get the best suitable platform for us soon.

Submissions are now open, and hope you will join us in experiencing an innovative and exciting festival. Please provide all the information as required in the application for better review and chances of selection.

Please stay tuned, and stay safe, and let me know if you have any questions.

Yours,

Lobsang Wangyal
Festival Director

Awards & Prizes

There are 13 awards presented in the festival. A grand jury will decide the winners from the pool of films which are part of the festival. The Audience Award will be decided by festival-goers' ballots. Each winner will receive a certificate.

Awards are presented in the following categories:

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Documentary
Best Short Film
Best Editing
Best Music
Best Art Direction
Best Original Concept
Audience Award
Special Mention
Special Jury Prize

Rules & Terms

1. Films must have been completed after 30 June 2019.
2. Non-English language films must have subtitles in English.
3. Free Spirit Film Festival will not entertain entry fee waiver or reduction requests.
4. Once an entry payment has been made, no refund request will be accepted.
5. Films must be available for screening at the festival from 25 to 31 October 2020.
6. Winners chosen by the judges will be final and binding.
7. FSFF has no obligation to disclose judges, selection process, and other information related to the Festival that are not already made public.
15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Juhi Verma

    First of all thank you os much free spirit film festival for selecting my movie to be screened in your event and later to give the special mention award. I am really overwhelmed.
    About the Event..... it was great !!
    There is a propoer comminucation between organizers and filmmakers and they gave me ample time to submit all the required pictures and poster of my project.
    And I really appriciate their immidiate response of my emails , They are very understanding and softspoken people.
    Definitely, I am going to participate again.

    November 2019
    Helpful
  • Christopher McDonell

    This might be the "smallest film festival in the world" but it's run by people with big hearts who strive to make it the best that they can, year after year. Hats off to Lobsang, the festival director, for his tireless efforts, and for being easy to communicate with. I wasn't able to attend (I live in Canada) but my Indian composer made the long trek north and was there to represent us. He was introduced to applause, given an opportunity to speak to the audience, and humbly accepted 4 awards on our behalf - including Best Picture and Best Music. The local press published an article, so what more could we ask for. All in all just a wonderful experience!

    QUEEN OF THE BEACH | Christopher McDonell (Cleetche)

    November 2019
    Helpful
  • Emilie Peltier

    We were really proud to have our film 54 NORTH screened at Free Spirit Film Festival. Lobstang was the best and we'll submit again for sure!

    November 2019
    Helpful
  • Charlie Eads

    We loved that Free Spirit Film Festival chose our film. Lobsang Wangyal was very professional. Communication was easy with him. My only regret is, I wish I could have gone to the festival. I would submit another film again. Thanks Free Spirit Film Festival.

    November 2018
    Helpful
  • Thomas Nazario

    We were honored to have our film, "Living on a Dollar a Day" screened at this festival! We have been coming to McLeod Ganj for years and wish we could have attended in person. Thank you to the audiences for supporting the festival and thank you for awarding us the Special Jury Prize. It means a lot to us that the community liked our film. Deep gratitude to all and we wish continued success to the festival!

    November 2018
    Helpful