“A caringly programmed festival that has rapidly become the event to yearly look forward to.”
- excited laptop-in-bed cinemagoer

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ABOUT RESTFEST

RestFest Film Festival is a virtual film & video art festival created by/for Crip, Disabled, Deaf, Chronically ill, Neurodivergent, and/or Mad folks worldwide.
RestFest is a festival entirely accessible from bed, embracing Crip Time.

RestFest is a community initiative, programmed & organized by a small team of Disabled, Neurodivergent, Chronically ill, Mad, and Queer artists.

To learn about the kind of work we program, visit: https://www.restfestfilmfestival.org/2026-film/video-programs

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Please review Rules & Terms below before submitting.

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ACCESSIBILITY

Accessibility is our priority. To review the access measures we have in place here, click here: https://www.restfestfilmfestival.org/accessibility

**** Submission fees are optional donations. Use code “RESTFEST27SUBMISSION” to opt-out.

Please reach out about any and all additional ways we can make this festival and submission process more accessible for you.
restfestfilmfestival@gmail.com

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REVIEWS

"THE festival for crip, MAD and/or neurodivergent filmmakers/artists. A vital community space and resource that I wish had always been available to me
— Georgia Kumari Bradburn, Filmmaker & Workshop Facilitator @ the 2026 Festival

“Scrumptious opportunity to feel, witness, and share in the beauty of crip art practices.” - Crip Storyteller & Attendee & Workshop Participant at RestFest Film Festival 2024

"A beautiful Festival that will open your film to a diverse audience, while simultaneous teaching you how to make your film all the more accessible." - RestFest Film Festival 2026 Filmmaker

“The event coordinators were amazing communicators and put the well-being of their filmmakers and audience at the top of their priority list. I've never felt so cared for as a participating artist in a program. I loved the films. I loved all the additional activities planned.”
- Filmmaker in the RestFest Film Festival 2024 program

"RestFest is genuinely one of the coolest things I've come across from the film world since it began in 2024. There's compelling programming, with film and video work at the cutting edge of disability art. The festival operates on radical accessibility and community solidarity." - Eric Suchyta, RestFest Film Festival Attendee

"It was one of my favourite things I think I have ever done. Such an amazing community and inclusive event. It was one of the first events where I felt that the event was made to fit me rather than me having to lessen myself and my experiences to fit into the event." - RestFest Film Festival Filmmaker

"RestFest is such a vital, unique community space where disabled artists and art-lovers can connect with each other from all over the world. During the isolation of the ongoing pandemic and so many other external forces that impact disabled people so harshly, we need each other more than ever, and the week of RestFest felt like a much needed medicine. I can't wait for next year, and haven't stopped thinking about the stories and artwork that I was able to share in during the festival. Thank you RestFest organizers for creating something that is so needed."
- Francis, Attendee & Workshop Participant at RestFest Film Festival 2024

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Learn more at: www.restfestfilmfestival.org and on our Instagram @restfestfilmfestival

Interested in facilitating a virtual event with RestFest? Send a proposal with a short bio to restfestfilmfestival@gmail.com.

Rules & Terms

*At least one director and/or screenwriter of your film must identify as Crip, Disabled, d/Deaf, Chronically ill, Neurodivergent, Mentally ill, and/or Mad.

*Short films of any genre and video art (30 min or less) are invited to be submitted. If you feel your work fits outside of these categories and you would like to submit, please reach out.

*Films do NOT have to be about Disability or illness, but they can be. Note: we are not interested in Super Crip narratives, such as stories about "overcoming" disability or being in the service of Inspiration Porn.

*No use of Generative AI.

*Submission fees are optional donations to help us make the festival happen. To opt out of this donation, please use code “RFF27SUBMISSION” at checkout. The use of this fee waiver will not impact the judging process.

IMPORTANT:
*Unless explicitly said in your submission form, if selected, you will be required to provide Captioning AND Audio Descriptions (a separate audio file created as an access measure for Blind and Low Vision audiences) for your film. If you need guidance or help with creating these access measures, we ask that you explicitly note this in your submission form and email for more information.

**Audio Descriptions (AD) / Descriptive Audio can be done either as:
- Synchronous AD (An audio file in which visuals are described as they are happening), or
- Asynchronous/Introductory AD (Generally white text on a black screen spoken aloud shown before the film begins)
If you have any questions or concerns about this, please do not hesitate to reach out.
More information provided on RestFest's website.
Information about synchronous AD: https://youtu.be/i_GrYOruY7w?si=MGVe5-jRMsmscLNR
Example of Asynchronous/Introductory AD: https://youtu.be/YDiCTLk-7tM
**Captioning must include descriptions of sounds in addition to any dialogue.

*Works in progress may be submitted, but it must be made clear that it is a work in progress and final versions must be submitted by the late deadline.

*A submission indicates that you understand and agree to all rules and regulations, and permission to exhibit your work virtually for the duration of the festival. All films will be taken down at the end of the festival.

*By submitting your film, you grant our festival the use of materials and images related to the project for the marketing purposes of our festival.

*You are duly authorized, on your behalf and on the behalf of any person or entity that has ownership rights in the work, to submit it to the Festival and you represent that this submission is not in violation of any law nor violates any right of said person or entity.

*Filmmakers certify they have the rights to music used in their films.

*Festival dates are subject to change.

*There is no restriction on completion date, premiere status, country, genre, subject matter, or public availability of your film.

*All film submissions must be of the highest technical quality possible for your film.

*Films of all languages are accepted, but if there is any dialogue in a language other than English, it must have English subtitles.

*No proof of Disability status will be required.
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Janne Elens

    It was a joy to be part of the festival and RestFest community and I will definitely stay in touch!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Troels Steenholdt Heiredal

    Rest Fest Filmfestival is a gem. The beautiful purpose of the festival of elevating diverse voices and making them entirely accessible from bed, reflecting the disability focused ethos at the core of the festival radiats through out. Not only have I been inspired, moved, educated, by the films, I've also learned additional measures for making my own work more accessible to a wider audience. There's a deep care at the core of this festival, for the filmmakers as well as the audience. I felt supported throughout the entire process.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Moya Bailey

    Loved this Fest! So much care and compassion into making sure we are creating work that is as accessible as possible!

    March 2026
    Helpful