Welcome to the Glendale International Film Festival (GIFF), a premier event celebrating the art of filmmaking and screenwriting in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world! Based in Glendale, CA - the 4th largest city in Los Angeles, just minutes from Hollywood - GIFF provides a welcoming environment and artist-friendly platform for local-to-global creatives to showcase their talents within a vibrant community dedicated to artistic excellence and centered around building connections and fostering collaboration.

Each year, GIFF brings together diverse voices from around the globe, championing independent filmmakers and storytellers who push the boundaries of cinema. The six-day 2025 edition will take place in person from Thursday, September 25-Tuesday, September 30, 2025. From the golden hour rooftop Opening Night Party to feting the best of the fest on Awards Night, the fun-filled event will feature screenings at the iconic Laemmle Theatres, special events, Q&As, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with industry professionals.

The Glendale International Film Festival is presented by Glendale Arts, the city's premier arts organization, an award-winning non-profit dedicated to delivering dynamic, multidisciplinary arts and entertainment programming and generating opportunities to connect artists and audiences year-round.

We invite filmmakers and screenwriters from all around the world to submit your projects today and become part of the GIFF legacy. We look forward to seeing you in September!

PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST FEE WAIVERS. WE CANNOT GRANT WAIVERS AT THIS TIME.

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT:

1. The Glendale International Film Festival screens on DCP (Digital Cinema Package). Please do not submit to GIFF if you cannot provide the Festival with a DCP or convert through SimpleDCP.

2. Studios and Sales Agents: Please do not submit to GIFF if you require a fee for screening at the festival.

Awards Night for GIFF 2025 will be held on Monday, September 29. Awards will be given in the following categories (subject to change based on submitted and selected projects):
Best Feature
Best Horror/Thriller Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Drama Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Dramedy Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Short Short
Best Variety Musical Short
Best Student Film
Best Feature Screenplay
Best Short Screenplay
Best Student Animation Short
Best Student Screenplay
Velvet Award - Outstanding Female Filmmaker (Writer/Producer/Director)

1. All entries must be delivered by stated dates. Late entries cannot be considered.

2. Entrant must provide an email and phone number as contact information.

3. Entrant warrants that there are no disputes regarding the ownership of their submitted film. If there is a dispute, the film will be disqualified.

4. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

5. No project is definitively and officially accepted until the status is confirmed by GIFF organizers.

6. Entrant will allow usage of clips from the entry and all related publicity material submitted for promotional use on television, radio, print, web, and at live Festival events.

7. All decisions made by programmers, judges, and organizers will be final, and NO REFUND of entry fee will be granted.

8. The Glendale International Film Festival reserves the right to remove a film, project or screenplay from the festival program for any reason or for no reason, and shall not be liable for any refund or claims of any kind arising out of such removal. In case the film, project or screenplay in question is disqualified, or is unable to screen due to technical or operational difficulties, or if your film needs to be rescheduled, delayed, or removed from the program for any reason, the filmmaker (cast, crew or anyone involved with the project in question) are not entitled to any refund or damage claims of any kind.

9. Once accepted into the Glendale International Film Festival, a DCP version of your accepted film is required (date and details to be confirmed). If the DCP is not received by such date, entrant's project will not be screened and no extensions or refunds will be granted.

I hereby grant Glendale International Film Festival the unlimited right to utilize all production information, actor and key personnel likenesses, trailers, production photographs, posters, websites, etc., in any and all situations deemed necessary by the festival organizers, agents or promoters, for the expressed intention of publicizing the festival, without further license or permission from the filmmaker. All DCP formatted films are sent with no liability on the part of the Glendale International Film Festival as to damage to the DCP sled and if a replacement is needed, it is at entrant's cost.
Glendale International Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize footage and promotional materials supplied by the submitting agent from any film submitted and accepted film, video, or project for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. All accepted filmmakers agree that the Glendale International Film Festival may use footage from their projects in order to promote the festival, their film or the Festival event via print, radio, web, and broadcast television. 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 Glendale International Film Festival and its organizers, vendors, sponsors, and supporters 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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Carole Wagener

    I meet so many nice people at the GIFF, including helpful staff, sponsors, and excited contestants like myself. This was my first film festival and for that reason it will always be the BEST. Despite my not knowing how it operated, things were very well organized, and I was able to find my way around and meet new people. I'm 76 years old and felt intimated at first due to my age, but I found it to be my best asset! After all, if Clint Eastwood can still do film, so can I. I very much enjoyed my stay at a local Airbnb which was close to all the venues.

    December 2024
  • Faith Abraham

    GIFF was hands down my favorite festivals during my short run. The GIFF team was so helpful throughout the entire weekend and was so easy to get ahold of. My creative team really enjoyed their panel system as well as how they offered discounted tickets for the screenings. This is a must attend festival. I plan to reapply with all my future projects as well as recommend it to other filmmakers.

    October 2024
  • Yoav Goren

    The festival's screening theater, the Glendale Laemmle, was fantastic for both picture and sound. The staff extremely friendly! Thoroughly enjoyed the award evening at the festival's conclusion, where my film "Unforgiven" won Best Experimental Short. Great fest, will submit again!

    October 2024
  • H James Gilmore

    Glendale is a great little film festival that's totally worth entering. The selected films were terrific, not something I can say about all festivals, and a lot of the filmmakers showed up to participate. The folks running Glendale are also very nice and the venue for screenings is terrific. We had a nice turnout with an engaged and interested audience. Plus they hosted a great Q&A session with us afterwards. The closing party and awards ceremony was also very nice.

    October 2024
  • Gigi Grigorian

    A great festival with a great team behind it. Highly recommend attending all the events and taking advantage of all the great networking opportunities. Thank you Glendale!

    October 2024