GI FILM FESTIVAL SAN DIEGO REQUIREMENTS
To be selected for the 2026 GI Film Festival San Diego, films must have been completed after January 1, 2023 and meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. A storyline or narrative arc that is about the military or the military experience during service or back home following service.
2. A film of any genre, military-themed or not, featuring above the line talent who are currently serving or have served in the military. Above the line talent includes: director, writer, producer and/or principal actor/actress.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
We accept films in the following categories: documentary shorts, documentary features, narrative shorts, narrative features, student narrative shorts and student documentary shorts. Please note that student made films submitted under Student categories will only be considered for Student Awards.
Films under 50 minutes (including final credits) are considered short films. Films 50 minutes and over (including final credits) are considered feature films.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept screenplays, music videos, marketing videos, PSAs and non-profit institutional videos or testimonials that are not independently produced.
GENERAL RULES
Competition is open to U.S. and international entries. There is no limit to the number of films you can submit. Each film must be submitted separately with a submission fee paid by the entry deadline via FilmFreeway. All submission fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
WORK-IN-PROGRESS/incomplete films (still in need of color correction, final credits, soundtrack, score, rights, etc.) may be submitted by the Early Bird or Regular Deadlines so long as they are clearly marked as incomplete and note which elements are still being worked on. Final Cuts MUST be submitted by the Late Deadline. Incomplete films WILL NOT be reviewed and WILL NOT be screened at the festival.
Non English-language films MUST be subtitled in English.
Entrants shall obtain all licenses, royalties, and permits necessary to present their work. Entrants will assume all costs arising from the use of patented, trademarked, franchised, or copyrighted music, materials, devices, processes, or dramatic rights used in production of work.
DEADLINES AND FEES
Submission fees must be paid by the deadline prior to being reviewed by festival programmers.
Festival will not pay exhibition/screening/rental fees for any accepted entries submitted through our general call for entries.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
STUDENT AWARDS: If you pay the student submission fee rate, you must provide a copy of your student ID. Your film -completed while in school (elementary, middle, high school, college, university, film school, or workshops)- will be considered as a student film entry and only be considered for Student awards.
MADE BY OR STARRING MILITARY OR VETERANS AWARDS: These awards are only awarded to a filmmaker (Director, Producer, Writer) that is a veteran or active duty filmmaker OR to a principal/lead-actor or principal/lead-actress that is a veteran or active duty. Please include a notation in your submission that indicates who the veteran and/or active duty above the line talent are and their military connection. This information can also be provided on the CUSTOM SUBMISSION FORM. If your film does not display an obvious military connection and you do not provide a notation with your submission regarding the connection, your film will be disqualified. Please note there are no refunds.
JUDGING AND SELECTION PROCESS:
Judging Round One:
The first round of judging consists of a technical review of the submissions. A volunteer group of industry professionals judge the films on their general Story/Plot, Production Value, and Sound Quality. Each criterion will be judged on a scale of 1-10. Top scoring films will move to round two.
Judging Round Two:
Round two consists of a panel of festival advisers who will watch the films, score them, and recommend for awards. KPBS will select films from the highest scoring films to be programmed for inclusion in the festival.
Judging Round Three:
Judges designated by KPBS will select the winners in each award category.
Selection:
Official selections will be notified of their status via email from GIFilmFestivalSD@kpbs.org (add to your contacts now) and FilmFreeway’s automated notification system on or around our notification date.
Selected films may be screened more than once during the course of the Festival at our discretion. They will alternately be screened securely online in the case that an in-person festival viewing experience is not possible.
FILM/VIDEO ENTRIES
All submissions will only be handled online via FilmFreeway.com and should include links to view your film along with passwords if password-protected. No physical screeners will be accepted or viewed. This ensures that your film receives proper attention and consideration by the Selection Committee.
If selected for the festival, filmmakers will be required, no later than February 22, 2026, to provide a 2K DCP for festival presentation and a stereo QuickTime file as a backup. In the situation that our festival chooses to go virtual if an in person festival is not a safe option, MP4 videos with h.264 codec will also be required. Hard drives, thumb drives and DCPs should be shipped in sturdy, reusable containers or bubble wrap envelopes with return shipping information enclosed. DCPs and drives provided will be returned after the festival run. The festival will incur the cost of the film's return. If available, direct links for download of files may also be provided.
Should your film be selected, we strongly encourage you to provide closed captioning for our audience members who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
LIABILITY
Although every possible care will be taken with drives and films while in our possession, we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage during shipping, handling, or screening. Do not send original prints or master drives. The festival reserves the right to pull any film from competition and screening for any reason whatsoever without incurring liability.
REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT
Submission of an entry gives the festival permission to have excerpts of accepted work, including trailers, shown at promotional activities related to the festival including on TV, Radio, and on Social Media unless otherwise requested in writing by the filmmaker. If selected, a signed release from the filmmaker will be required.
Any additional inquiries, please email: GIFilmFestivalSD@kpbs.org
