GENERAL RULES
Fee Waivers:
Fee waivers are not available, and requests for them will be ignored. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to submit your film within the standard submission guidelines.
Refund Policy:
Refunds are not given for submissions, and a money-back guarantee is not available.
Screening Room Changes:
The San Antonio Film Festival reserves the right to switch screening rooms for films to ensure available seating for attendees.
Trophy Purchase:
Award winners not in attendance at the Awards Ceremony can purchase their trophy through the award order form, available on our website at www.safilm.com.
Accepted FILM entries will be announced via the website www.safilm.com by the weekend of July 5, 2026 ***As the review process is quite extensive, please do not call our office regarding the status.
When you submit your film to San Antonio Film Festival, you agree to the following statement and SAFILM terms and conditions:
I represent and warrant that the materials represented as examples of my work are original with me, that I am the sole owner and author of the materials, and that I have the exclusive right and authority to submit the materials to SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and to grant all rights in and to the materials. In the event of an award shared by two people (ie director) then if a second award is requested then the second award must be ordered through safilm.com (Duplicate Award Order Form). Furthermore, I represent that I have the right to submit the materials in which I collaborated as defined in my application.
I have retained at least one copy of the materials, and I understand that the materials and sample works submitted WILL NOT BE RETURNED. I hereby release SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival of and from any and all liability and responsibility for loss of, damage to, preservation, or return of the copy submitted to SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival here under.
• More than one entry may be submitted. The official submission form and entry fee must accompany each entry.
• If your film is selected, you will be asked to provide stills from the film; press materials; headshot and filmography of the director; video trailer link. Please do not send in press materials until asked to do so by the festival.
• All film entries selected for the Festival grant SAFILM the rights to use footage, stills, and/or titles and information from the film for promotional purposes.
• All films submitted must be free from any legal disputes and the filmmaker must have cleared all rights for music and exhibition. I am the owner of this said entry and/or I grant permission to submit and/or screen this entry to SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival. I grant permission to use clips of my film if accepted, for promotional purposes of SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival. This is not a contract for distribution. All entries will be considered and judged by professionals. I have read, understand, and will comply with the guidelines of the festival. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
OWNERSHIP/RIGHTS
Does the writer maintain rights to the screenplay?
Yes, all screenwriters who submit to the SAFILM-San Antonio Screenplay Competition maintain the rights to their works.
Can anyone have access to the screenplay once submitted?
No, submitted screenplays are only accessible to the reader assigned to that specific screenplay and our staff. We do not own the rights to the submitted screenplays, so we do not distribute them publicly in any way.
Does my script have to be registered? No, however, we do recommend registering your work with the WGA and/or the Library of Congress Copyright Office.
ADAPTATIONS
Do you accept adapted screenplays?
Yes, we accept and welcome adapted screenplays. However, screenwriters who wish to submit an adapted screenplay must possess all rights to the source material or use source material in the public domain.
My screenplay is based off of a work in the public domain, may I still enter it in your competition?
Yes, we allow screenplays adapted from works in the public domain.
NOTE: All screenplays must be original works and the sole property of the applicant(s). Scripts containing fictional characters, settings, or other aspects gleaned from another author’s work are ineligible for our competition.
Must I provide documentation that I own all the rights to the source material?
We reserve the right to ask for verification that you own all the rights to the source material of an adapted work. Failure to provide verification if requested will result in the screenplay becoming ineligible for our competition.
Can I base my screenplay on historical events? Can my screenplay be based on a true story?
Yes!
MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS
Can one writer submit multiple scripts to the competition?
Yes, writers may submit as many different scripts as they'd like.
Can I submit both a feature-length script and a short script?
Yes, writers may submit to both categories.
Can I submit two versions of the same screenplay as two separate entries?
No. We will only accept one version of the script as a regular submission
OTHER ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS
Do you allow screenplays with multiple authors?
Yes, we allow screenplays with more than one author.
Can I submit a script that has previously been optioned?
No. If a submitted screenplay is optioned, produced, or purchased at any point before the end of the judging period, that screenplay is ineligible for our competition.
PEN NAMES are a no-no ...
Can I submit a screenplay under a pen name?
No, we do not accept pen names.
If I were to win the competition and do not want my real name publicized to protect my privacy, can I request that SAFILM use only my pen name in association with any publicizing of my winning script?
If your screenplay advances in the competition and appears published on our site, you may inform us of the name you would like to use. However, we stress that for our application process, we do not allow pen names under any circumstances – all screenwriters must use their legal name on all submitted materials and applications.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
Do you have to be over the age of 18 to submit a screenplay? No, writers of all ages are encouraged to enter our competition.
I am under the age of 18. Can I submit my screenplay to the competition for free?
No, all entrants must pay the entry fees for their screenplays.
Can beginners join the competition or is this just for experienced writers? We welcome submissions from screenwriters at all levels of experience – from beginner to veteran. Whether this is your first screenplay or your fifty-first, we look forward to reading your work.
SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
To submit your film for consideration to SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival, please follow the instructions below:
• Complete the FilmFreeway Submission Form (the “Submission Form”): https://www.FilmFreeway.com
• Successfully pay the submission fee.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND EXHIBITION FORMATS
I. To be eligible for consideration, all films must be available in one of the following theatrical presentation formats if selected to be screened at the Festival: DIGITAL COPY. ONLY NTSC is accepted and there is no recommendation or restriction on frame rate. Subtitles: All films must have English subtitles if not originally in English.
II. Films must not have been previously screened in San Antonio, Texas, or available on the Internet before JULY, 2026.
III. Films must be in their original language with English subtitles if the original language is not English.
SUBMISSION FORMATS
For programming consideration, SAFILM accepts Online Screeners submitted via FilmFreeway.
THE SELECTION
The Festival programming team selects and schedules all films presented at SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival. Filmmakers selected to participate will be notified during the weekend of July 3, 2025.
For more information regarding SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival, please visit safilm.com, contact Film Submissions by phone at 210-885-5888, or email us at safilm@gmail.com
ORGANIZERS
ADAM ROCHA (Festival Director), Jennifer Petrini (Managing Director),
Eric Vasquez (Programing Director), Lennon Maldonado (Film Programmer), Ryan Rocha (Conference Coordinator), Robert Samo (Production Coordinator), and Billie Herrera (Technical Manager).
Mailing Address:
SAFILM - San Antonio Film Festival
8452 Fredericksburg Rd., PMB #264
San Antonio, Texas 78229
GENERAL RULES
Feature Length Films
The San Antonio Film Festival is looking for narrative, animation, documentary, or experimental feature films and accepts feature-length submissions more than 40 minutes in length for consideration for inclusion in our 2026 program.
Short Films
The San Antonio Film Festival is looking for narrative, animation, documentary, or experimental feature films and accepts short film submissions less than 40 minutes in length for consideration for inclusion in our 2026 short film program.
College Films
San Antonio Film Festival seeks narrative, animation, documentary, or experimental features or shorts made by College Students.
High School Films
Films made by high school students.
Films made in San Antonio
San Antonio Film Festival seeks films made in Bexar County.
