Lady Filmmakers Festival

Venues

View Map Wilshire Screening Room
8670 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90211
United States
View Map Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90211
United States

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Lady Filmmakers Festival is a trend-setting and forward-thinking film festival known by veteran Hollywood insiders and rising indie filmmakers alike for screening outstanding films from around the world and having top notch speakers and networking events. Lady Filmmakers is dedicated to creating a fun and fulfilling festival experience. All festival events take place in the world-famous Beverly Hills, California.

In 2021, we hosted in-person screenings in Beverly Hills as well as virtual screenings available worldwide. We also launched the Lady Filmmakers Channel in Spring 2021 accessible online and through devices such as Apple TV, Roku, and more will be added to maximize availability to showcase alumni films from prior festivals. 2020 included virtual screenings and events as well as a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina drive-in.

Lady Filmmakers celebrates women in leadership roles and the men that hire, work with, and work for these talented female storytellers. The week long festival includes film screenings, script readings, musical performances, art exhibitions, industry panels, networking events and of course hosted parties with live entertainment! Online festival will take place over a minimum of 1 week with virtual events leading up to the festival and during.

Lady Filmmakers looks for great storytelling in any genre and length! At least one woman must fill the role of Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Production Designer and/or Editor to qualify to screen at our festival. Our main programming themes are:

*Ladies Illuminate- documentaries, social awareness, or family issue films
*Ladies Kick Butt- action, comedies, or experimental films
*Dance- music videos and dance films
*Family Friendly- films appropriate for families with children
*Halloween Teasers- horror, thrillers, scary, creepy, and/or freaky films

Short Screenplay finalists will get a staged reading in front of a live audience at the festival. One or more shorts may be optioned to participate in the Script 2 Screen Program.

Feature Screenplay finalists will be offered a taped table read of their script. The festival will provide the space and refreshments for the table read along with assisting the writer with finding a director for the reading and helping with casting.

Musician finalists are invited to perform at one of the parties during the festival. Art finalists are invited to exhibit art during one of the festival events.

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

Best of the Festival and Best Short Film receive Tiffany gifts. All actress/actor winners will receive Tiffany gifts if present to receive award at Sunday ceremony. For in person ceremonies only.

Online Distribution offers will be made to award winning films and more.
Top awards will receive a copy of Final Draft.

BEST OF THE FESTIVAL (Feature)
BEST SHORT FILM

FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Documentary
Best Foreign Film
Best Ladies Illuminate
Best Ladies Kick Butt

SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Ladies First
Best Ladies Illuminate
Best Ladies Kick Butt
Best Alumni
Best Animation
Best Comedy
Best Dance
Best Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Family Friendly
Best Foreign
Best Halloween Teaser
Best Music Video
Best Student
Best Webisode
Jury Awards

ACTRESS/ACTOR AWARDS
Best Actress (feature & short)
Best Actor (feature & short)
Best Supporting Actress (feature & short)
Best Supporting Actor (feature & short)

SCRIPTS
Feature Finalists
Short Script Finalists

FILM SUBMISSIONS- At least one woman must be credited in one of the following positions in each selected film: Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Production Designer, and/or Editor.

-Screeners: We only watch submissions visible through the FilmFreeway portal (no download files or Google Drive screeners.)

-Submission fee waivers: Lady Filmmakers does not offer any fee waivers at this time. Please submit during early deadlines for lowest fees.

-Selected Films: Official Selections will get a web page dedicated to their film and have an opportunity to participate in the online and theatrical festival trailer. Official Selections will also receive dedicated posts on social media prior to the festival

-Exhibition materials: All selected films must provide a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) or work with our sponsor Simple DCP to produce a DCP from their source files (for a fee).

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 at festival events. Performances are LIVE only. No recorded music will be played.

ART EXHIBIT SUBMISSIONS - Art Exhibits include Photography, Paintings, and Sculptures to be displayed at a party venue. 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.

*venue, screening theater and date subject to change to meet the needs of the festival

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Cate Jones

Awesome hosts and curators! Really appreciated.

October 2021

Helpful
Caleb King

We had a wonderful experience screening our short film Gardenia at this years Lady Filmmakers Festival! The sound quality at the Fine Arts Theater blew us away and we were very pleased with the overall viewing experience.
It was also a pleasure to get the opportunity to see as many films as possible through Festival Flix! What a luxury.
Thank you to Mike and the team at LFF!

October 2021

Helpful
Ammi Media

Extremely grateful! Our film 'Sonsi'/'Shadow Bird' won Best Short Film & Best Supporting Actor - Jameel Khan, and a nomination in the Best Youth Actor/ Actress category for Aarohi Radhakrishnan. A Big Thank You to Lady Filmmakers Festival for the honour, and for hosting such a lovely event! (My Producer-Partner, Sharib, was all praise!) Congratulations to all the participants! Patricia, Mike and everybody involved, we look forward to keep coming back to you, to watch movies by filmmakers from across the globe, and to showcase some of our work!
- Khan & Kumar Media Pvt. Ltd.

October 2021

Helpful
Courtney Deelen

We were so excited to be part of this wonderful festival and are thrilled to bring home two awards! Amazing communication and hospitality. We hope to be able to attend in person in the future in order to take full advantage of all of the extra perks the festival has to offer

October 2021

Helpful
Delia Hou

So glad to have been part of this festival. I was only able to join in virtually, and really appreciated the effort the festival put in in organizing the Zoom meetings so that we got a chance to meet other filmmakers and the organizers from far away. I also loved the selection of films...some truly impactful documentaries that left me in tears in some moments. Hope to attend in person one day!

October 2021

Helpful

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

July 30, 2021
Opening Date
November 1, 2021
Early Deadline
January 25, 2022
Winter Deadline
March 22, 2022
Regular Deadline
April 26, 2022
Spring Deadline
May 31, 2022
Summer Deadline
July 12, 2022
Final Deadline
August 1, 2022
Extended Deadline
August 14, 2022
Notification Date
September 22 – 26, 2022
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Short Short under 5 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $53
- Student: $49
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $63
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $54
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $69
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $73
- Student: $68
- Gold Members: $63
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $79
- Gold Members: $72
Submit Now
Short 5 minutes up to 15 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $49.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $63
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $72
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $81
Submit Now
Short 15 minutes up to 29 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $63
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $110
- Student: $100
- Gold Members: $90
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $99
Submit Now
Long Short 29 minutes up to 50 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $72
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $81
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $105
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $110
- Student: $100
- Gold Members: $94.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $115
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $99
Submit Now
Feature Film 50 minutes up to 90 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $63
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $86
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $77.40
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $96
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $86.40
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $105
- Gold Members: $108
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $105
- Gold Members: $112.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $130
- Student: $115
- Gold Members: $117
Submit Now
Feature Film 90 minutes up to 110 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $72
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $81
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $95
- Gold Members: $90
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $115
- Gold Members: $108
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $120
- Gold Members: $112.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $135
- Student: $130
- Gold Members: $121.50
Submit Now
Feature Film over 110 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $54
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $81
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $112.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $130
- Student: $120
- Gold Members: $117
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $135
- Student: $125
- Gold Members: $121.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $140
- Student: $130
- Gold Members: $126
Submit Now
SHORT SCREENPLAY CONTEST
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $45
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $72
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $76.50
Submit Now
FEATURE SCREENPLAY CONTEST up to 90 pages
Have your feature script characters come to life at a table read at a Lady Filmmakers event. Winner gets a video taped table read and will get 1 filmmaker pass to the festival and will be announced at the Awards Ceremony. * May only be online due to Covid event changes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $81
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $105
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $99
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $120
- Gold Members: $103.50
Submit Now
FEATURE SCREENPLAY CONTEST from 91 pages up to 120 pages
Have your feature script characters come to life at a table read at a Lady Filmmakers event. Winner gets a video taped table read and will get 1 filmmaker pass to the festival and will be announced at the Awards Ceremony. * May only be online due to Covid event changes.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $81
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $95
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $115
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $99
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $115
- Gold Members: $103.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $120
- Gold Members: $108
Submit Now
Music Performance Submission
Submit a song with or without vocals with description about the piece and information about the musician(s). Also, please note whether you would be willing to perform at the festival.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $54
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
Submit Now
Art Submission
Original art and/or photography.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Webisode
(1) Single "web series" episode up to 10 minutes in length. Additional episodes will not be viewed.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $54
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $72
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $81
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $105
- Student: $100
- Gold Members: $94.50
Submit Now

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Venues

View Map Wilshire Screening Room
8670 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90211
United States
View Map Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90211
United States

And 1 Additional Venue Collapse Venues

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Cate Jones

Caleb King

Ammi Media

Courtney Deelen

Delia Hou