We are devoted to showcasing the art of making short films--and have been selecting and presenting the best to our community for 67 years! Audience members love our festival because they know they'll enjoy a variety of shorts that they won't see anywhere else: dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation. And filmmakers love attending because of the unique festival experience we offer: informative and enjoyable tours and activities, homestays, meals, local transportation, and lots of opportunities to network with other filmmakers from across the US and around the world. Just read their reviews on this site and you'll be convinced that this festival is one you want at the top of your list.

Movies On a Shoestring, a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1959, produces and presents the annual Rochester International Film Festival. It's one of the longest running, continually held short film festivals in the world. No wonder we've been voted "BEST Local Film Festival" by readers of City Magazine since 2014, despite stiff competition in our festival-rich region.

Selected entries are screened in four separate programs at the George Eastman Museum's historic Dryden Theatre in Rochester, NY. We foster a love of motion pictures by screening short films from around the globe that are rich in artistic expression. We also educate viewers in art and technique, resulting in an eager reception for your cinematic creations. Audience members and filmmakers enjoy a Q & A session following each screening.

Awards & Prizes

While the Rochester International Film Festival does not offer cash prizes, it delivers hospitality and recognition galore! To start with, every filmmaker who submits to our festival receives a detailed critique letter summarizing the impressions and suggestions of our preliminary screening committee. Filmmakers have consistently told us how much they value and appreciate this feedback.

During the fest we provide filmmaker homestays, meals, networking opportunities, local transportation, private tours, and parties. Depending on budgeted funds, a limited number of stipends may be available to help defray travel costs for selected filmmakers who might otherwise be unable to attend. All films screened at the fest receive our unique Shoestring Trophy and commemorative program book.

We issue Certificates of Merit to films not screened but of notable technical or thematic quality, and we list Honorable Mentions in the program book and on our website.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Participating filmmakers receive:
• Distinctive Shoestring Trophy and commemorative program
• Opportunities to network with filmmakers from around the globe
• Homestays or assistance locating accommodations, meals while in Rochester
• Tours of Eastman Kodak, the George Eastman Museum, RIT MAGIC Spell Studios
• Filmmaker hospitality bags
• Local press coverage

Films not selected for screening, but deemed notable:
• Honorable Mention or Certificate of Merit, listing in program book and on our website

EACH film submitted:
• Individualized critique letter summarizing the impressions and suggestions of our preliminary judging committee

Rules & Terms

GENERAL GUIDELINES & RULES

+ Entries: 30 minute MAXIMUM
+ We welcome all kinds of short films up to 30 minutes - drama, comedy, experimental, animation, documentary, and student projects. But--no promotions/commercials, music videos, or teasers/pilots for TV shows.
+ Standalone, self-contained works--no episodes or fragments of larger works
+ We love having a range of international submissions, but please make sure your film is subtitled in English or English CC that we can activate. We prefer large, bold, clear subtitles - they are most visible in borders or on black backgrounds.
+ NO fee waivers available (we're an all-volunteer nonprofit)
+Online submission recommended.
+ NO late entries accepted--must be submitted by deadline. If sending by postal mail, we recommend sending at least one week prior, longer for international post.

MAIL SUBMISSION

When mailing correspondence or submitting films, include a copy of your entry form (http://rochesterfilmfest.org/riff/wp-content/uploads/RIFF-Website-Entry-Form.doc) and use ONLY the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). We use a P.O. Box and CANNOT accept deliveries initiated through any other courier. While your entry is handled with care, we DO NOT accept responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged entries.
+ File format: DVD as data disc or USB Drive, see technical specs below
+ If submitted on DVD or USB drive, one entry only per device - do not place multiple entries on one device
+ Payee: "Movies On A Shoestring, Inc."
+ Payment (USD only): PayPal (WE NEED PAYPAL ADDRESS HERE), Check, International Money Order

Send DVD or USB Drive by Postal Mail to:
Movies On A Shoestring, Inc.
ATTN: Submissions
PO Box 17746
Rochester, NY 14617

Include
+ Entry form
+ Payment--or indicate how payment was made
+ A few film stills

SELECTION & SCREENINGS

Our selection process unfolds in two stages. First, each entry is viewed in its entirety by our screening committee. Members discuss the film's merits and vote on whether to advance it to final judging. Whatever the outcome, each filmmaker receives a detailed critique letter that sums up viewers' impressions. After preliminary judging ends, a select panel of final judges views the advanced entries to select those to be screened at the festival.

Films screen at the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman Museum in four distinct screenings over the course of three days. Our festival attracts large and enthusiastic crowds of film lovers who may attend screenings free of charge to give your film the widest possible exposure. Filmmakers submit their films time and again because of the special support and attention we give their work and the hospitality they experience here in Rochester. We hope you'll join them!

HELPFUL TIPS

• $35 entry fee applies if submitted/postmarked by December 24, 2023
• $60 entry fee applies December 25, 2024 through February 21, 2025
• Entries MUST be submitted/postmarked by February 21, 2025
• Entries CANNOT exceed 30 minutes in length.
• Online submissions preferred.
• DVD entries as data disc only, or USB Drive. Submit ONE (1) entry per disc, USB drive, or digital download.
• Mail via USPS (NOT FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.)

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

+ It is important that we see your best cut and quality from the beginning - it improves your chances to advance to final judging.
+ Please make your file downloadable to us so we can do our screening offline, and so we can check file size and video quality.
+ Please do not submit "screeners" of lower quality, rough cuts, or watermarked films. We want to start our judging process on the film as it is meant to be seen!
+ We promise to protect your film and any files we download.
+ Filmmakers selected to advance to final judging will receive instructions from our projectionist regarding the formatting requirements for your official festival screening copy, which MUST be received by the specified deadline. If the indicated format is not provided, your entry may not be shown--so follow all guidelines and contact us with any questions. If you have already provided the best copy possible, just tell us this when contacted.
+ Our shows are presented on the big screen at the Dryden Theatre - please make a high-quality file available to us early. Film files are typically H.264/MPEG-4 and can be variable bitrate. They need to be a high enough resolution to project on a theater screen.

HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED MORE INFO? CONTACT US!

president@RochesterFilmFest.org
film-critiques@RochesterFIlmFest.org
submissions@RochesterFilmFest.org
41 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Patrick Curran

    We were delighted to be included in the 2025 Rochester International Film Festival. Though we ultimately were unable to attend, Marilyn and her team were filmmaker-focused and communicative, and it sounds like we missed an incredible weekend of film. We're adding RIFF as a must-submit moving forward. Thanks so much Rochester for including us! We won't miss the next one!

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • BirdMine Stories

    I could honestly write a novel about how incredible my experience was at the Rochester International Film Festival (and I think I am about to) — it was, without question, one of the best festival experiences I’ve ever had.

    From the moment I arrived, RIFF rolled out the red carpet for filmmakers. They offer a travel stipend (I flew in from LA), free homestays with generous RIFF volunteers, and daily meals and transportation — making the festival genuinely accessible for artists, especially those navigating financial constraints.

    And that’s just the beginning.

    For three days, RIFF organizes immersive tours and local experiences at places like Kodak and the George Eastman Mansion. You’ll come away knowing every filmmaker by name — it’s intimate, personal, and community-driven in a way that few festivals are.

    And then there's the Dryden Theatre — a stunning, historic venue that elevates the entire experience. The screenings are magical, complete with a rising curtain, and every seat filled with engaged, enthusiastic Rochester locals. The energy in the room was seriously electric at every screening.

    For me, returning to Rochester — where I once worked as a news reporter — made this feel like a true homecoming. Having THIRTEEN screen here was deeply meaningful, and I will carry the memories of this weekend with me forever.

    Thank you to Marilyn and the entire RIFF team for your warmth, care, and unwavering support for storytellers. I’ll never forget it.

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • Gabrielle Kardon

    Lovely film festival. Each of the 4 blocks of short films were screened in a beautiful theater with a packed audience. The organizers (all volunteers) provided home stays, all meals, tours of Eastman Kodak factory and museum as well as RIT, and multiple filmmaker networking events. They really show their love of film and filmmakers! A truly unique festival!

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • Mason Beck

    Spectacular from start to finish! The only thing wrong with this festival is that it didn't go for another three days because I never wanted it to end! The hard work, long hours, and passion for film can be felt and seen through every volunteer, the curated events, and lengths to which RIFF went for hospitality towards its selected filmmakers. Truly a one-of-a-kind experience, especially for up and comers that should not be missed when given the chance. I could write a novel, but I think the other reviewers are already doing that, so I'll leave mine brief; one of the best film festival experiences ever, without question.

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • David Gelb

    Attending the Rochester International Film Festival was an absolute joy from start to finish. The organizers and volunteers truly went out of their way to create an unforgettable experience for the filmmakers. You can feel the deep respect this community has for the history of art and film. From the audience members to the festival's board to the volunteers, everyone fostered an incredibly welcoming and inspiring environment.

    The weekend of the festival was packed with thoughtfully planned events, all run by a passionate and dedicated volunteer staff. Whether it was a curated visit to a film archive, a panel discussion, or mingling at a local spot, every moment felt meaningful.

    The screenings were very well-attended, and the audience brought such energy and thoughtful questions—it was clear the local community truly values this festival. Rochester itself is charming, especially in the spring, adding a beautiful backdrop to the whole experience.

    More than just a screening opportunity, this festival is a great opportunity for connection and inspiration. Highly recommended to any filmmaker looking for a warm, film-loving community that truly shows up.

    May 2025
    Helpful