SFFILM champions the world's finest films and filmmakers through programs anchored in and inspired by the spirit and values of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring and highly anticipated by its loyal and passionate audiences, the Festival is refreshingly intimate for a festival of its size and scope, and traditionally combines a range of marquee premieres, international competitions, compelling documentaries, live music performances, and star-studded red carpet events.
SFFILM is currently moving forward with planning its Festival for April 2022 with both in-person and online events, parties, talks and more. Exact dates, venue footprint, and in-person event structure are all subject to some change based on the realities of producing a safe and accessible film festival at that time.
🎥 Opportunities for Filmmakers
SFFILM's year-round Artist Development programs provide significant financial and creative resources to independent narrative and documentary filmmakers from around the world through grants, fellowships, residencies and more. Since 2009, over $8 million has been awarded to more than 250 film projects in various stages of production. Festival filmmakers are invited to a series of industry talks and pitch sessions, and can meet with the SFFILM Makers team to discuss future projects and funding opportunities.
Since 1991, SFFILM Education’s Schools at the Festival program has provided the Bay Area educational community with the opportunity to experience stories from around the world. Schools at the Festival annually introduces thousands of students ages 6–18 and their teachers to international film and the art of filmmaking while promoting media literacy, deepening insights into other cultures, enhancing foreign language aptitude, developing critical thinking skills, and inspiring a lifelong appreciation of cinema. Festival filmmakers can participate via student screenings, school visits, hands-on workshops, and more.
"Few festivals are more suited to their city than the SFFILM Festival. It’s clearly a festival programmed by those who love film for people who love film.” — Variety
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) recognizes SFFILM Festival as a qualifying festival for their short film (live action, documentary and animated) competitions. NOTE: In line with AMPAS rules regarding short films, Mid-Length Film winners over 40 minutes in length do not qualify for short film categories.
SFFILM Festival is a qualifying festival for Cinema Eye Honors for nonfiction filmmaking.
🏆 Golden Gate Awards
The Golden Gate Awards recognize the best of international and independent cinema by honoring excellence and superior innovation in narrative, documentary, shorts, experimental, animated, and youth-produced work. In 2022, a total of $30,000 in cash awards will be awarded in a dozen categories.
The juried Golden Gate Awards include the New Directors Prize for a first narrative feature with a $5,000 cash prize, Best Documentary Feature with a $5,000 cash prize, and Best Bay Area Documentary Feature with a $3,000 cash prize. This year we are excited for the continuation of two new Golden Gate Awards for a Best Mid-Length Film (31–50 minutes) with a cash prize of $1,500, and the Critics Jury Prize (features only) with a cash prize of $3,000.
Audience Awards for Best Narrative and Documentary Features, as well as the Audience Award for best Short will also be presented, decided by audience ballot.
For full details, please visit our site: sffilm.org/submit-your-film