SCAD Savannah Film Festival

PREMIERE STATUS & DISTRIBUTION
While the festival always considers films that have screened at other film festivals, or are in the process of being picked up for distribution, the festival will not program films for competition that have already been released theatrically, have online digital downloads or are publicly streaming prior to the completion of the 2026 SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

FILM COMPLETION DATE: ALL films submitted for consideration must have been completed AFTER August 1, 2025.

WORKS IN PROGRESS ARE CONSIDERED, however, a second, FINAL screener can only be submitted ONCE, after the initial submission, and ONLY at the request of the festival, by July 31st. Please submit films in their most final, complete state, regardless of status. All films selected for competition MUST PROVIDE a direct, password-protected VIMEO LINK upon acceptance for judging purposes.

All entries must be submitted as an online screener. If password protected, please make sure password is typed correctly. We will notify you if your password does not work. We will not consider the film if we do not receive an updated password within the allotted time frame.

All entries must either be in the English language or be subtitled in the English language. Closed Captioning options are greatly appreciated on screeners as well.

Third parties submitting films on behalf of their clients must include the filmmaker's contact information within the submission, including a phone number. If selected, the festival will contact the filmmaker directly.

DEADLINES
All film submissions must be uploaded by the particular discount deadline. Online screeners MUST be uploaded ON or BEFORE the deadline, or the entry will be disqualified and required to submit with the proper submission fees.

Waivers are granted via invitation ONLY. NO UNSOLICITED WAIVER REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED. (SCAD students, SCAD alums, and festival alums, see below)

SCAD Students and SCAD and Festival alums must request waiver codes via sbolda@scad.edu prior to submitting their film through Film Freeway.

NO REFUNDS will be granted to any submission.

Film presentations are scheduled at the discretion of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and are subject to change.

EXHIBITION
Regardless of original format, all competition films screen on DCP for festival presentation. DCPs with subtitles must have the subtitles embedded in the film file. Filmmakers are responsible for providing their own DCP to the festival by uploading the file to our secure server. DCP is the only accepted format. No other formats will be considered.

JUDGING
Films chosen for the competition are judged by a select panel of jurors who are active industry professionals from various filmmaking fields. Awards are left to the sole discretion of the judges, and a committee selected by the director of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival will make any necessary rulings. Awards are announced at the awards brunch during the closing weekend of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

ALL FILMMAKERS will be notified on or around September 14, 2026. This is subject to change, we ask for your patience and understanding. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS before Sept. 14 to "check the status of your film." If your request is contingent on premiere status, we will do what we can to keep you informed as to our decision. Everyone will be notified in a timely fashion. Thank you!