Movies, parties, fun. That's what we do!

Full digital projection and sound including an IMAX, epic parties at waterfront estates, VIP/filmmaker lounge during the festival, all in the unique waterfront town of Gig Harbor! Our goal is the make the Gig Harbor Film Festival a must-attend on the festival circuit promoting fun from the opening night screening to the final awards.

"This film festival is a first-class event on so many levels! It's truly a filmmakers' festival.” – Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke, Filmmaker

One of the fastest growing independent film events in the Northwest, the Gig Harbor Film Festival will run the last weekend in September. Located just south of Seattle on the South Puget Sound, Gig Harbor has rich heritage, culture and charm reflected in the warm and enthusiastic reception shown towards filmmakers and audiences.

The Gig Harbor Film Festival is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization as defined by the IRS.

Please visit www.gigharborfilm.org or call: 253-682-9585 for additional information.

All films submitted and exhibited are eligible within the category they were entered.
Awards include:
Directors Choice Award (Feature & Short)
The Gig Award (Given to a film that has challenged our thinking and broadened our social awareness. Gig Award nominees inspire hope and action and remind us of the persistent good of humankind.)
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress

Rules & Terms
Gig Harbor Film Festival (GHFF) - Gig Harbor, Washington September 21-24, 2023
All genres accepted.

Submission Categories:

Feature Film = 60 minutes or longer runtime
Short Film = 59 minutes or less runtime
Made in Washington (Film must be at least partially filmed in Washington, or at least one key member of the cast/crew must be from Washington State)

Submitters must provide a Preview Screener as a link on either FilmFreeway.com or Vimeo.com including passwords. DVD, Blu-ray, or hard-drive copies of Preview Screeners will not be accepted or viewed.

All entries must be in spoken English or English SUBTITLED.

It is the responsibility of the Entry Submitter to submit their film in the appropriate category. If a film is submitted to an incorrect category, additional costs for re-classifying by GHFF must be paid before the film will be Previewed.

Films selected for exhibition during the 2023 festival, and entered under the Student Fee pricing will be required to forward a copy of a Student I.D. (valid at the time the film was produced) of either an Executive Producer, Producer or Director as listed in the on-screen credits. If no valid Student I.D. is submitted, payment to cover additional costs will be required by the Final Deadline. If not received, the film will not be exhibited and any entry fees previously paid will be forfeited.

Submitters whose films are chosen as an Official Selection for the 2023 Festival will be notified via email by July 15, 2023.

Upon acceptance as an Official Selection, the Submitter must send an Exhibition Screener as either: one (1) professional quality DCP (hard-drive/USB thumb-drive) or two (2) Blu-Ray copies to the GHFF offices for delivery by August 15, 2023.

Costs associated with creating a DCP or Blu-ray Exhibition Screener and shipping to GHFF are the responsibility of the Submitter. GHFF will not accept electronic digital files of Exhibition Screeners without prior agreement and receipt of payment from the Submitter for the transfer of the electronic file to a required format.

Any Exhibition Screeners not received in the GHFF office by August 15, 2023 will be eliminated from the festival and all application fees will be forfeited. We suggest that all entries be shipped with internet tracking options i.e. FedEx, UPS or USPS Certified Mail. Please attach/write the FilmFreeway Tracking Number on all Exhibition Screeners.

Shipping costs for Exhibition Screeners must be paid by the Entry Submitter. Collect or C.O.D. shipments will not be accepted. All Entries originating outside of the United States must be sent "Free Domicile" to the GHFF office with all charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the Entry Submitter. Please include all proper customs documentation required by the shipping company and/or US Customs.

Upon the conclusion of the 2023 GHFF Festival, reasonable efforts will be utilized to return all DCP’s and/or one (1) copy of each Blu-Ray Exhibition Screener originating from the United States, to the Individual listed as the Entry Submitter on the FilmFreeway.com database. GHFF will use USPS First Class mail unless otherwise requested and paid for by the Entry Submitter. The GHFF will retain one (1) copy of each Blu-Ray Exhibition Screener for its archives. Unless previous arrangements and shipping costs have been paid, GHFF will not return any Exhibition Screeners submitted from International addresses.

GHFF accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of entries during shipment to or from the GHFF office.

The Official 2023 Gig Harbor Film Festival trademark and bug are the copyrighted property of GHFF and as such may not be used as a marketing or title card element without the express approval of the GHFF Executive Director. As such, any film accepted and exhibited during the 2023 Gig Harbor Film Festival has automatic approval for its use only when used to promote the submitted film in the edited form exhibited during the 2023 Festival.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Gig Harbor Film Festival is hereby granted the irrevocable right to utilize excerpts from any film submitted and accepted for Exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes in various forms of media, online or mobile formats or social media and in any and all other such formats that exist now or may exist in the future.

Individuals or Corporations submitting any film for consideration hereby warrant that they are legally authorized to commit the film for Previewing and possible Exhibition in the Festival and understand and accepts the requirements and regulations as listed above.

Individuals or Corporations submitting any film for consideration shall indemnify and hold harmless the Gig Harbor 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 Preview or Exhibition Screeners entered.

GHFF in no way guarantees the Exhibition of any Submitted film nor its placement in the festival schedule.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • This is a jewel of a festival in one of the most beautiful places in the world! Gig Harbor is a unique festival run by true film lovers. Exceptional communication. They really treated us like royalty and it was a memorable experience! Highly recommend! Submitting again!

    March 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Venita! We are truly grateful to host filmmakers of your caliber. We hope to see you again in September!

  • Rose Meza

    We really enjoyed being a part of the Gig Harbor Film Festival in 2022 with our film Joining Call. We had been accepted into the 2021 festival but unfortunately COVID caused them to cancel, but they were so wonderful in automatically including us in 2022. Unfortunately we couldn't attend, but two of our actresses did and had a fantastic time. Communication, hospitality, and overall friendliness of the staff are exceptional! I highly recommend it!

    March 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Rose. We were so fortunate that filmmakers like you stuck with us during that long intermission. We were honored to screen Joining Call and hope your team can join us again soon!

  • Sky Bergman

    I love the Gig Harbor film festival. Although I was not able to go in person this time around, I have in the past and it was a fabulous experience. Everyone at the festival goes out of their way to make the filmmakers feel very welcome. I can’t wait to go back in person again.

    February 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Sky, thank you for your kind comments. We always love having you at the Gig Harbor Film Festival. We are excited to see your next film!

  • Ted Grudowski

    The Gig Harbor Film Fest was a joy to participate in! Great to see all the films on a large screen from the most comfortable seating, and in a beautiful setting. The depth and breadth of the programming was at the highest level. Amazing hospitality! Truly worth all effort to submit to and to attend.

    October 2022
  • Jason Kartalian

    Spectacular film festival in a beautiful setting. A great selection of independent films screened in a state of the art venue. The whole community comes out to enjoy the films! The hospitality is off the charts, great parties, dedicated volunteers, truly a highlight of our film festival run.

    October 2022