Lady Filmmakers Festival is a trend-setting and forward-thinking film festival known by Hollywood insiders and indie filmmakers alike for screening outstanding films from around the world and having world-class industry speakers at events. Lady Filmmakers is under the umbrella of the Lady Filmmakers Foundation, a 501c3 tax exempt charity. We screen excellent visual stories from women and men student filmmakers and seasoned award-winning professionals. Lady Filmmakers Festival is in its 11th year and celebrates women in leadership roles in the entertainment industry. Our Film Festival celebrates women filmmakers, artists, and musicians and the men who collaborate with them. We have an entire weekend of films, music, art, mentoring workshops/panels and of course parties! We promote and support opportunities for artistic and career growth through our many different workshops, panels and networking events. We look for extraordinary visual storytellers for our programming. The festival encourages collaboration between men and women currently in the industry and to instill this idea within future filmmakers. Our speaker series and events are designed to help our filmmakers expand their network and further career goals. Lady Filmmakers is a safe environment to exhibit works and to find future collaborators and mentors. The festival promotes diversity and strong female lead driven content. We wish to INSPIRE & ENTERTAIN!

Screenings and majority of festival events take place at the Wilshire Screening Room in Beverly Hills, CA.

One Woman has to fill the role of Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Production Designer or Editor to qualify to screen at our festival!

Short Screenplay finalists will get a staged reading in front of a live audience at the film festival. Festival will assist with casting call announcements and help find a director for it. The Staged Reading will be filmed for the writer. One or more films may be optioned to participate in the Script 2 Screen Program.

Feature Screenplay finalists can have a taped table read of their script. The festival will host the space and refreshments along with assisting the writer with finding a director for the reading or the writer can direct their own table read. Festival will assist with casting call announcements. The Festival will film the reading for the writer.

Enjoy our Music and Art Programs this year too featuring men & women artists and musicians!

Long after the festival is complete we continue to promote our "Alumni" filmmakers, cast, and crew throughout the year!

Our main programming themes are:
Ladies Illuminate - films that bring social awareness
Ladies Kick Butt - films that appeal to a broad audience
Ladies First - films that are World, US, West Coast, or Los Angeles Premieres
Young Ladies & Gentlemen - films made by students/youth
Family Friendly- films appropriate for families with children
Halloween Teasers- films that are horror, psychological thrillers, scary, creepy, and freaky!

* dates and venue subject to change to meet the needs of the festival.

Awards & Prizes

Below are the awards categories. Prizes vary from year to year. Please see web site for more details

Best of the Festival
Best Feature
Best Feature Documentary
Best Narrative Feature
Best Short Film
Best Short Documentary
Best Ladies Illuminate - films that bring social awareness
Best Ladies Kick Butt - films that appeal to a broad audience
Best Ladies First - films that are World, US, West Coast, or Los Angeles Premieres
Best Young Ladies & Gentlemen - films made by students/youth
Best Family Friendly- films appropriate for families with children
Best Halloween Teasers- films that are horror, psychological thrillers, scary, creepy, and freaky!
Best Alumni Film
Festival Director's Awards
Artistic Directors Awards
Best Staged Reading
Screenplay Winner Finalists
Best Web Series

Rules & Terms

FILM SUBMISSIONS- Women must fill the role of at least one of the following positions in the films: Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Production Designer, and/or Editor. SELECTED FILMS, ART, SCREENPLAY FINALISTS, & MUSIC WILL BE NOTIFIED ON OR BEFORE August 2019.

-Screeners:

Films must be in English or have English subtitles
Go Green! We will gladly accept a quality online screener to view but you must submit dvds if requested. If you do not use an online screener you MUST send two dvd screeners (2 DVDs- NTSC region 0 or 1) within four business days of entry to ensure your film is watched promptly.

Screeners will not be returned.

-Selected Films:
Films accepted will get a web page dedicated to film
Films accepted must provide 1-3 production stills for web and 1 high resolution still, 30 second clip for festival trailer, should provide promotional web site, social media, film trailer for promotional purposes.

One DVD or BluRay will be kept by the festival.

-Exhibition materials:
Will only be returned upon request and at the expense of the filmmaker.
Arrangements with self address, pre-paid envelopes must be made PRIOR to the festival. Posters and Collateral must be picked up by the close of the festival.
Exhibition Formats: 35 mm, DCP, or BluRay

-Location: Beverly Hills, CA in September 2019

MUSIC SUBMISSIONS - Send a maximum of ten minutes of a musical performance. Must be the actual selection that would be performed live and acoustically at the festival. Musical performances will be before film programs. Also, one act will be selected to perform at one festival party. Only microphones will be provided at the theatre. Must have at least half of the performers as women. Performances are LIVE only. No recorded music will be played.

ART EXHIBIT SUBMISSIONS - Art Exhibits include Photography, Paintings, and Sculptures to be displayed in the theatre gallery.

The Artist must be a woman OR the subject matter must include women.
Artwork will be provided to the festival at the artists expense. Artwork will only be returned to the artist by request at expense of artist.

ALL SUBMISSIONS
-Submitter grants Lady Filmmakers Foundation, its directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants, and agents a non-exclusive license to use any trailer, movie clips, photographs, music, and information on the websites (www.ladyfilmmakers.com and www.ladyfilmmakers.org) and in any related promotional materials. Additionally, should submitter's film, music, or art be selected for the festival submitter grants Lady Filmmakers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, a license to screen the film, play the music, or display the art at the festival.

-Submitter represents and warrants that it is authorized to submit the film, music, or art. Submitter agrees to defend and indemnify Lady Filmmakers Foundation, its directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants, and agents against any and all claims, demands, actions, or lawsuits arising out of or related to the screening of the submitted film, performance of the music, or displaying of the art.

-Lady Filmmakers Foundation has the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to change the festival date or location if necessary to ensure a successful festival.

Attention Writers: Submit Your Short Script Today!
Ready to hear your words read by actors in front of a live audience! Or even better, how about seeing your script brought to life on the big screen! Submit your short film script (5 pages maximum) today! The contest is open to male and female writers. At least the top finalist and possibly more will have their scripts read by actors at the upcoming 11th Annual Lady Filmmakers Film Festival in Beverly Hills, California and at least one winner will have production services and camera package (canon 7d with zeiss primes or higher) towards the production of the script with possibility of being optioned and produced by Lady Filmmakers Foundation. Rules & Restrictions Apply.

General Rules for Screenplay Submissions
Screenplay must not be optioned or sold at the time of submission and must remain available through the entire period from submission until notified by Lady Filmmakers Festival of decision regarding whether the script has been selected as a finalist; if selected as a finalist, the screenplay must remain available for 30 days after the Festival.
Screenplay must be the original work of the Submitter. If based upon another's life story, Submitter must attach a statement attesting to right to make such adaptation.

If selected as a finalist, Lady Filmmakers Foundation, in its sole and absolute discretion, may option the screenplay.

Feature Length Scripts must be at least 70 pages long.

Applicant may submit more than one Screenplay. Each entry requires an separate submission form, payment, and script in PDF format. Scripts submitted without complete submission form or payment will not be considered.
Submitter represents and warrants that it is authorized to submit the script. Submitter agrees to defend and indemnify Lady Filmmakers Foundation, its directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants, and agents against any and all claims, demands, actions, or lawsuits arising out of or related to the live reading of the submission and/or production of any selected Screenplay.
See Fees and Deadline Schedule online at www.ladyfilmmakers.com
Must provide PDF File of the script
Film Submission Page Music and Art Submission Page
ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT US
info@ladyfilmmakers.com

311 N Robertson Blvd #902
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

*venue and date subject to change to meet the needs of the festival
38 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Steffi Hill

    Great festival with an amazing lineup of talented female filmmakers. I felt very supported by the community of women and loved our screening in a beautiful state of the art theater! I attended the writers and casting panel and both were extremely beneficial and informative.

    I loved that every patron who bought a ticket had access to complimentary cocktails (a wide variety) and spread of food before the screening. This was a classy touch that made atmosphere warm and inviting for everyone involved!! Highly recommend this festival!!

    November 2018
    Helpful
  • Gemma Paul

    The Lady Filmmakers Festival is a great, well run and personal festival. Mike and Patricia know their selected filmmakers when they arrive making you feel immediately welcomed.

    November 2018
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  • Cris Graves

    Patricia & Mike run a fantastic film festival! Our screening block “Bad A** Shorts” was just that full of badassery... and it was a full theatre. Super cool. They are great at communicating with filmmakers and give pleanty of opportunities for networking. They are also attended by distribution scouts... my short Bozonova was offered a deal with ShortsTV, pretty cool. Thanks Patricia & Mike for rocking it!

    October 2018
    Helpful
  • Francesca Nobili

    I attended all 4 days, and the quality of the films was so high that I felt flattered and honored to be part of such selection.

    October 2018
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  • Lea-Beth Shapiro

    Mike and Patricia created an intimate, warm, enthusiastic festival showcasing great films! Everything was easy and organized and Mike was a lovely host! The filmmakers were supportive of each other and a great audience. We look forward to next year!

    October 2018
    Helpful