SDGFilmfest was founded in March 2018

The festival uses film and visual media to explore explore the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are open to submissions across a broad range of formats including documentary films, PSA and PR videos, animations, fictional pieces and many more.

The film festival is aimed at young creatives and university students, and offers workshops, a conference on sustainability, screenings (online and in person) and the awards evening itself.

Submissions are free to participating universities, but a small submission fee is required for additional entries from non-subscribing institutions or individuals. Fees generated are used to support the festival and are put back into the prizes allocated, and for guest speakers.

Our current list of partners includes the following:

American university of Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
Asia Pacific University (Malaysia)
Coventry University (UK)
De Montfort University (UK)
Far Eastern University (Philippines)
University of Derby (UK)
London School of Business and Communications Institute (Indonesia)
Nottingham Trent University (UK)
Nottingham College (UK)
UNIMAS (Malaysia)

Doc Media Centre
Media Discourse Centre
SkyBlue Studios

Do please note that if you are a student at one of the above institutions entry is free to the festival and for submissions. You will need to enter your film using your university or college email address on our website.

Submissions from non-university partners may be screened but will not be eligible for an award unless it is from a fee paying entry. You will need to register on FilmFreeway to enter from a non-subscribing organisation.

Awards & Prizes

On average we provide up to £1500 in awards each year in a combination of cash, vouchers, and goods, but these change on an annual basis depending on the providers sponsoring our awards and the amounts donated.

Please check in with the website for further details as these are updated on a weekly basis in the run up to the event in June.

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE POSTED ONLINE VIA YOUTUBE OR SIMILAR, AND ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.

By submitting content for this event you grant the organisers the right to host your work on the film festival’s YouTube channel. Should you wish to enter other festivals after SDGFilmfest has concluded, you can contact the team to substitute your film for a trailer on our website.

Theme:
One of the U.N Sustainable Development Goals, visit link for more information.

Format:
Micro documentary (factual, participatory, expository, poetic), short film, Public Service Announcements and PR, dramatisation, animation, stills (submitted as a timeline), timelapse, immersive and 360 video, and video-based podcasts!

Running Time:
3 to 15 min. maximum including titles and credits.

Copyright:
Audio, images, likeness rights and location permissions must be cleared prior to submission.

Specification and Codec:
1920x1080p HD, 16:9 Safety Frames and Graphics, MP4, H264.

Language:
All are welcome, English subtitles required for content/ indigenous language interviews.

Awards:
Please note, that should you win an award the event organisers will need an IBAN or SWIF Bank Account Number and a Registered Postal Address to match – through which to make a payment. Unclaimed prizes will be forfeit after two months.