The Georgia Shorts Film Festival is a theatrical screening event in Atlanta for independent films of all genres. The Georgia Shorts Film Festival also recognizes exceptional filmmaking and screenwriting with awards and nominations by our judging panel.

Script writers, in addition to submitting your script to the festival we also provide optional script coverage. Script coverage with our festival includes the price of your submission fee. Your work will be analyzed by a Cinema Life filmmaker who’s produced award winning films, has extensive writing experience, and also understands the indie way of filmmaking.

Our panel of judges will give awards to filmmakers including:

Best Action Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Drama Film
Best Documentary Film
Best Comedy Film
Best Dark Comedy
Best International Film
Best Georgia Film
Best Horror Film
Best Music Video
Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Editing
Best Horror Film Screenplay
Best Feature Length Comedy Film Screenplay
Best Short Drama Film Screenplay
Best Short Comedy Film Screenplay
Best Feature Length Drama Film Screenplay
Best Science Fiction Screenplay
Best International Screenplay
Best Dark Comedy Film Screenplay

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

• Please fully fill out your submission profile to avoid hold-ups in the judging process. Points may be taken off of overall scores for incomplete profiles.

****Submission Fees are Non- Refundable****

• If you submit a Film in process and it gets selected, please notice we expect it to be completed within two weeks after the Notification Date. Otherwise, it will be disqualified. No exceptions. It is every submitter's responsibility to read the Rules and Terms of each Festival before submitting.

• If your film is selected you are not to submit any other updated, altered version of your film. If you send a film that is different from or longer than what was initially selected by the festival judging team, your film may be disqualified to the discretion of the festival director.

• If your film is selected, you are expected to provide a link to download your film so that we can project it at the festival. Only Google Drive and Dropbox are accepted. You can also make your film downloadable on FilmFreeway or Vimeo.

• All films must be under 4GB and 1080HD Max in either MP4 or MOV format.

• We do not accept DCP files.

• We do not screen 720p or SD Files.

• We do not stream from YouTube or Vimeo at the event.

• The Georgia Shorts Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival and for promotional purposes on our website, newsletter, and social media platforms. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless The Georgia Shorts Film Festival 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 videos entered.

• The Georgia Shorts Film Festival DOES NOT offer refunds on submissions.

• We reserve the right to deny entry or disqualify any project, at the discretion of festival leadership, for any reason.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • We were thrilled that our pilot Canton Abbey was selected for a table read at the Georgia Shorts Festival. We were also delighted to win the best screenplay award. Everything about this festival is well planned with lots of opportunity to network. The panel was super interesting and motivating. Caroline is a most excellent host with interesting questions for the filmmakers who were present to answer about their projects. A great day spent with this festival!

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your kind words, Sarah! We're thrilled you enjoyed your experience with us :)

  • Susan Gallagher

    The organizers of the Georgia Shorts Film Festival were awesome communicators who put on a marvelous festival. We were so thrilled to be accepted and will certainly be entering our next project.

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Susan! We're glad you enjoyed the festival!

  • I am writing this review with utmost delight to express my incredibly positive experience with the Georgia Shorts Film Festival. Although I was unable to attend in person, I was deeply impressed by the exceptional level of communication and professionalism that was extended to me throughout the process. They exceeded my expectations and set a high bar for other film festivals.
    This festival is not just an event; it's a resource hub that proves invaluable for anyone involved in the film industry. They provided additional resources, which is an uncommon but highly appreciated gesture. This level of commitment to support participants truly stands out and resonates with anyone trying to make their mark in the industry.
    Moreover, I am both humbled and thrilled to share that my screenplay, "Straw on The Camel," was honored as the Best Horror Screenplay. The recognition from a festival of this caliber has amplified my joy and pride tenfold. This win is profoundly meaningful for me, and I believe it reflects the festival's keen eye for recognizing and rewarding quality work. The spirit of the festival lies in its open communication, well-organized procedures, and, most importantly, in its commitment to nurturing talent and creativity.
    From the bottom of my heart, I can't recommend the Georgia Shorts Film Festival enough. It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned pro in the industry or just starting out on your creative journey, this festival is an amazing stage for you to strut your stuff and soak up knowledge from the cream of the crop. If you're toying with the idea of taking part, I say go for it. Trust me, it's an experience you'll cherish.
    -LAB

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with us, even though you couldn't attend in person. Congratulations on winning Best Horror Screenplay with "Straw on The Camel"! Kind words like yours motivate us to continue fostering talent and creativity within the industry. We look forward to seeing more of your work in the future!

  • John Thornton

    I had a fantastic time at festival. Thank you so much for including my short screenplay in the table read session.

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for sharing your experience!

  • First a “Finalist,” then a “Nominee.”
    I wish to thank all the good folks at the Georgia Shorts Film Festival. There is nothing in the world like having completely objective people tell me that the screenplay I put so much of my heart and soul into is well done and deserving of distinction and praise. While I am, of course, disappointed my screenplay did not win, I am still grateful for the recognition it received. Thank you!

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your kind words :)