Imagine Rain Independent Film Awards

The IMAGINE RAIN INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS is a monthly, online, short-film competition in the heart of Silicon Valley, (just 8 quick minutes away from Netflix's main headquarters!) We are a group of Award-winning producers, screenwriters, and filmmakers that strive to recognize the talent both in front of, and behind the lens.

We know how important this project is to you, and we treat our festival with the same level of respect. When you submit to the IMAGINE RAIN INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS, you are in the hands of artists who dream alongside you. We are so excited to be a part of your journey!

At this time, our yearly in-person festival is closed due the restrictions of Covid-19.

CATEGORIES:

• BEST INDY SHORT
• BEST ANIMATION SHORT
• BEST CHARACTER DESIGN
• BEST COMEDY SHORT
• BEST DRAMA SHORT
• BEST STUDENT SHORT
• BEST ROMANCE SHORT
• BEST LGBTQ SHORT
• BEST HORROR SHORT
• BEST THRILLER SHORT
• BEST ACTION SHORT
• BEST SCI-FI SHORT
• BEST THRILLER SHORT
• BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
• BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT
• BEST CHILDREN’S / FAMILY FRIENDLY SHORT
• BEST WEB/TV SERIES
• BEST MUSIC VIDEO
• BEST ACTOR
• BEST ACTRESS
• BEST CHILD ACTOR
• BEST CHILD ACTRESS
• BEST DIRECTOR
• BEST FIRST TIME DIRECTOR
• BEST SCREENPLAY
• BEST FIRST TIME SCREENWRITER
• BEST FEMALE FILMMAKER
• BEST POSTER
• BEST SOUND DESIGN
• BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
• BEST TRAILER
• BEST VOICEOVER
• BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• BEST ORIGINAL STORY
• BEST SPOKEN WORD COMEDY / MONOLOGUE
• GUARANTEED RESPONSE WITHIN 48 HOURS

Some of the Best Short Films of our monthly competition will be chosen by the Jury to be screened during our once a year, public event at West Valley College Theater in the heart of Silicon Valley. Past winners may contact us for an exclusive FilmFreeway discount code @ imaginerainfilmawards@gmail.com

Maximum occupancy: 392
Tickets available at the box office.

What to Expect:
During our yearly event, participants can expect to enjoy the best of the seasons selections screened in front of a live audience of their peers. Following the event, an awards ceremony will commence, where winners may come on stage to receive their complementary, "Best of the Fest" trophy.

West Valley College Theater
14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070

* PLEASE NOTE: The Best Indie Short category also acts as a qualifier for our yearly, in-person festival. Please add this category along with your other submissions if you would like to be considered.

All projects officially selected each month will receive the IMAGINE RAIN INDEPENDENT FILM AWARD'S Official Laurel.

All WINNERS will additionally have the option to purchase one of our beautiful IMAGINE RAIN INDEPENDENT FILM AWARD trophies.

Additional categories may be added at the discretion of the festival.

- All foreign language submissions must be subtitled in English.

- Films must be submitted via online screener ONLY through FilmFreeway.

- Your film will be privately screened and evaluated by our team of filmmakers, artists, and producers, and is subject to multiple screenings based upon how many categories you have entered.

- We are not accepting screenplays over 35 pages at this time.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Billy Greer

We are honoured and super grateful to receive our first Grand Jury Award for Best Indie Film at the Imagine Rain Independent Film Awards in Saratoga, CA this past December 2021.

My heart races every time I scroll down the award list, then I noticed the win for Best Poster & Best Trailer - Congrats team! I remembered entering this festival (because it was a recent submission) and we were finished submitting to festivals in May. This was a US festival, 8 minutes from Netflix head office and we loved their overview. Most categories were for shorts (less than 35 minutes) but everything about Imagine Rain resonated with us and we submitted one more time.

Having only entered for poster and trailer I was more surprised to see the Best Director, LGBTQ Film and the Grand Jury Winner for Best Indie Short… and then my heart stopped! I had to contact Imagine Rain and clarify our win… we’re not a short (oh oh at the crossroads of uncertainty where excitement meets nervous - we weren’t under 35 minutes, did we break any rules?) … It was an exhilarating wait on the edge of our seats and they emailed to confirm they will change the category to Best Indie Film… they added us to the three categories at their own discretion and it was “very well deserved!” In that moment - we were speechless!! To be awarded in three additional categories, receive our first Grand Jury Award 🏆 appreciative and beyond grateful they made it ‘pour rain’! Congratulations to the whole iCOGITATE team and a huge Canadian 🇨🇦 Thank You to Imagine Rain Independent Film Awards 🇺🇸 we are honoured, humbled and cannot wait to return to your incredible film festival. Highest recommendations! All the best this festival season … be well ❤️🏆🎬🏆🎬🏆🎬🏆🎬🏆

November 2022

Helpful
Marcus Hamm

This was an incredible festival experience and it was a great honor to win Best Action Short for our film The Black League of Superheroes. We look forward to submitting our follow up projects as well!

April 2022

Helpful
Sybil Jatta

We are so humbled and honored to have been selected into your amazing film festival event! Our award-winning documentary feature film "AKWAABA The Awakening", is in God's hands touching the hearts 💕 of the world. Continued peace, prosperity, blessings and good health. Beautiful experience.

November 2021

Helpful
Aaron Pacentine

Imagine Rain has been so amazing, thank you for including me for the best documentary category for "Remembering Return to Oz", it was an honor!!

October 2021

Helpful
Andrew Walker

Sincerest thank you for voting best of award for our trailer/teaser "Sign of the Times". It feels so AWESOME to be acknowledged by people who appreciate films as well as film makers...Wishing "Imagine Independent Film Awards" much success in the years to come as a thriving film festival.

October 2021

Helpful