Lady Filmmakers Festival

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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

Emily Katter

Very warm, well-organized, and welcoming festival! Met so many amazing women!

October 2022

Helpful
Silvia Giambrone

They are great. Great quality and they really care for lady filmmakers. I am very happy with the festival and the people I have met there.

October 2022

Helpful
Kathleen Caprario-Ulrich

Lady Filmmakers is the festival for you! You need to apply to LFF if you are a filmmaker, writer or producer who either woman-identifies or creates women-driven stories. Bottom line, LFF is top-notch and demonstrates a sincere commitment to building community, promoting and giving voice to women-centered and created stories of quality and breadth.
This year, Lady Filmmakers presented an incredible in-person festival with—in addition to fantastic films—numerous opportunities and panels for connecting with other filmmakers and writers, and building community. My script, "UNLIMITED PLANS" was been awarded Best Short Screenplay by LFF and I couldn't be more excited or honored.
THANK YOU, LADY FILMMAKERS for all you do to support women creatives and stories!

October 2022

Helpful
Rosalee Yagihara

This festival goes above and beyond to create a positive experience. The events were truly memorable!

October 2022

Helpful
Meesh Cohen

Fun week-long festival with lots of great people and art! Was honored that my film "Not a Teacup" was selected for best music video ! Hosts are friendly and communicative, and I can't wait to do it again :)

October 2022

Helpful

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

July 30, 2022
Opening Date
November 1, 2022
Early Deadline
January 25, 2023
Winter Deadline
March 22, 2023
Regular Deadline
April 26, 2023
Spring Deadline
May 31, 2023
Summer Deadline
July 12, 2023
Final Deadline
August 1, 2023
Extended Deadline
August 14, 2023
Notification Date
September 20 – 26, 2023
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: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $81
Submit Now
Short 5 minutes up to 10 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $54
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $81
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $85.50
Submit Now
Shorts Over 10 minutes to 15 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $54
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $72
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $76.50
- 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
Short Over 15 minutes up to 29 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $63
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $110
- Student: $95
- Gold Members: $99
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $100
- Gold Members: $108
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $112.50
Submit Now
Long Short over 29 minutes up to 50 minutes
Any genre including documentary and animation. Student film submissions must provide current student ID.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $105
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $94.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $115
- Gold Members: $108
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $130
- Student: $125
- Gold Members: $117
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: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $72
- 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: $80
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $72
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $76.50
- 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: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $76.50
- 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
Short Screenplay up to 10 pages
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $72
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $81
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $85.50
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: $70
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $63
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $81
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $105
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $94.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $108
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $120
- Gold Members: $112.50
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: $75
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $72
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $95
- Gold Members: $90
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $115
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $103.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $115
- Gold Members: $108
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $120
- Gold Members: $112.50
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: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- 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: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Webisode
(1) Single "web series" episode up to 10 minutes in length. Additional episodes will not be viewed.
- Early Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $49.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- 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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Florida Film Festival
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CANNES INDIE SHORTS AWARDS
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Emily Katter

Silvia Giambrone

Kathleen Caprario-Ulrich

Rosalee Yagihara

Meesh Cohen