Lady Filmmakers Festival

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.

* Due to the pandemic we have pivoted to an exciting virtual festival and drive-in festival and will resume in-person activities when it is safe to do so. We are also launching the Lady Filmmakers Channel in 2021 accessible online and through devices such as Apple TV, Roku, and more will be added to maximize availability! Distribution will be offered to Official Selection Filmmakers.

Drive-In events will be in Myrtle Beach, SC and the Los Angeles area.

Now in its 13th year, Lady Filmmakers celebrates women in leadership roles and the men that hire, work with, and work for these talented female storytellers. The 5 day 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.)

-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

Bethany Liles

Lady Filmmakers Festival was absolutely worth it! Despite having to postpone the in person festival due to the pandemic, Mike and Patricia hosted an awesome virtual festival with several networking events and a wonderful variety of female driven films. I'm so grateful our film "Heartsick" was part of the 2020 festival.

March 2021

Helpful
Kate Mitchell

I was very honored that my film, GOLDEN, was included in the 2020 festival. As we all know, 2020 was a terrible year for film festivals because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so live festivals were almost impossible. But the LFF team worked hard to create informative discussions and fun parties via zoom, and the online screenings went smoothly. It was great that the many films were organized in blocks. Although I missed the opportunity to meet other artists and people in the community in person, on the other hand, the films were undoubtedly seen by more viewers. Thank you, LFF!

February 2021

Helpful
Fancy Alexandersson

Thank you Lady Filmmakers Festival for being supportive of women in film, for letting our film Fallen Dream be part this complicated pandemic year and for being absolutely 100% inclusive, encouraging and conversable. It really felt like being part of a festival family<3

January 2021

Helpful
Shruti veeramachineni

Honoured to have our film selected at Lady film makers festival. We are living in time when we are all learning new ways to communicate. The festival has done a beautiful job at making sure all the film makers were connected to the festival virtually. Thank you 🙏🏻

November 2020

Helpful
Yvonne Williams

Lady Filmmakers Festival was a fantastic festival to be a part of. I didn't know what to expect from a virtual festival, but this was truly well organized. We were honored to be selected to screen with all the talented filmmakers from around the globe! I really enjoyed seeing the wide range of films available and was touched by the breadth of women's social issues portrayed. Kudos to the Lady Filmmakers Festival!!!

November 2020

Helpful

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Dates & Deadlines

July 30, 2020
Opening Date
November 30, 2020
Early Deadline
January 25, 2021
Winter Deadline
March 22, 2021
Regular Deadline
April 26, 2021
Spring Deadline
May 31, 2021
Summer Deadline
July 12, 2021
Final Deadline
August 1, 2021
Extended Deadline
August 14, 2021
Notification Date
September 22 – 26, 2021
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: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $54
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $63
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $67.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $70
- 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: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $36
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $49.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $63
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $72
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $85
- 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: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $54
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $63
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $85
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $110
- Student: $100
- 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: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $72
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $81
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $105
- Student: $95
- Gold Members: $94.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $110
- Student: $100
- 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: $60
- Student: $55
- 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: $65
- Student: $61
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Student: $70
- Gold Members: $72
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $81
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $108
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $125
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $112.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $135
- 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: $60
- 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: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $54
- 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: $80
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $72
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $80
- 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: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40.50
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $75
- Gold Members: $76.50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $81
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $90
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $110
- Student: $100
- Gold Members: $99
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $115
- Student: $105
- 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: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Winter Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Student: $60
- Gold Members: $58.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $80
- Gold Members: $81
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $95
- Student: $90
- Gold Members: $85.50
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $110
- Student: $105
- Gold Members: $99
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $115
- Student: $110
- Gold Members: $103.50
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $115
- 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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Bethany Liles

Kate Mitchell

Fancy Alexandersson

Shruti veeramachineni

Yvonne Williams