Inglewood Film Festival: Celebrating Diversity in Filmmaking.
Welcome to the Inglewood Film Festival, an exciting event dedicated to showcasing a rich variety of films and celebrating the creative achievements of filmmakers from all backgrounds. We are proud to offer substantial cash prizes to recognize and reward the hard work and talent of our participants. Our aim is to support the arts through a sustainable and inclusive model.
Festival Overview
The Inglewood Film Festival provides a platform for filmmakers to present their work to a diverse audience and gain valuable exposure. The festival features an array of genres and styles, emphasizing the importance of varied voices in cinema.
Annual Best Film Prizes
Grand Prize: $1,000
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250
Our Commitment to Filmmakers
The Inglewood Film Festival is looking for independent projects from all genres and countries, especially those from communities traditionally underrepresented in the global film industry. We embrace films that are transgressive, eccentric, or unconventional, balancing these with high-standard projects, whether linear or non-linear, that simply "don't fit" the mainstream mold.
All submitted projects are judged by a team of invited experts from academia and the film industry in the Los Angeles area, ensuring a high standard of merit.
From the pool of official selections, which boasts a highly competitive acceptance rate, the Inglewood Film Festival chooses the nominees and award winners of the season. Some of the award-winning projects are selected for public screenings in Inglewood, featuring special Q&A sessions with the cast and crew.
Festival Highlights
Audience Reach: Engage with a broad audience and connect with fellow filmmakers.
Networking Opportunities: Participate in panels, Q&A sessions, and networking events.
Hybrid Model: The 2025 festival will feature in-person screenings across various venues in Inglewood, complemented by virtual cinema options to reach an even wider audience.
Submission Guidelines
Categories: We welcome submissions across all genres, including narrative features, documentaries, shorts, and experimental films.
Eligibility: Films must have been completed after January 1, 2023.
Submission Platform: Submit your film through FilmFreeway.
Deadlines and Fees: Take advantage of our early bird discounts by submitting your film early. Detailed information on submission deadlines and fees is available on our FilmFreeway page.
Awards and Recognition
Our jury, composed of industry professionals and acclaimed filmmakers, will select the winners in various categories. In addition to the cash prizes, winners will receive recognition on our website and at the awards ceremony.
Contact Us
For more information, visit our website or contact us at info@inglewoodartcollective.org. Join us in celebrating the art of filmmaking and sharing your unique story with the world at the Inglewood Film Festival.
MONTHLY ROUNDS
All projects officially selected in each monthly round receive the Inglewood Film Festival official laurel and a custom certificate of achievement based on their final status in the competition.
A panel of judges evaluates each entry based on quality and creativity. The highest-rated entries are nominated for awards in their respective categories, with winners selected by the judges.
Announcement dates are specified on FilmFreeway. Special screenings, Q&As, and the annual awards timeline are announced on the festival's website and social media. Participants are notified in advance to prepare for attendance.
Award Categories:
Best Motion Picture
Best Director
Best Leading Role
Best Supporting Role
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Original Screenplay
Best Short Screenplay
Best Original Score
Best Visual Effects
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Best Production Design
Best Sound Mixing
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short
Best Drama Feature
Best Drama Short
Best Comedy Feature
Best Comedy Short
Best Horror Feature
Best Horror Short
Best Sci-Fi Feature
Best Sci-Fi Short
ANNUAL AWARDS
The top monthly award winners qualify for the annual awards.
Each annual event is based on a yearly cycle of 12 monthly rounds.
The judging team of the Inglewood Film Festival selects around 75/85 films to nominate for the best of the year.
EVENT DATES
The event date in FilmFreeway designates the day of the announcement of the award winners of each monthly round.
The inaugural Inglewood Film Festival will take place at the Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA, in July 2025. Within the festival program, there will be special screenings, Q&A sessions, and the annual awards ceremony. Specific dates for these components will be announced on the Inglewood Film Festival website and social media channels. Submitters will receive advance notice to prepare for participation.
Films are evaluated throughout the year, leading to the culminating moment of the prestigious annual awards ceremony, where exceptional contributions to cinema are honored at the Inglewood Film Festival.
