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Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival (SFFSFF) is an annual film festival hosted by MoPOP and SIFF to celebrate new and innovative additions to the science fiction and fantasy cinematic arts.

Now in its 18th year, SFFSFF screens animated and live-action science fiction and fantasy films from around the world, which are then judged by nationally recognized film critics.

Films screened at SFFSFF have gone on to receive international distribution and sparked the interest of a vast network of film fans — even receiving Academy Awards nominations, museum exhibition features, and more.

SFFSFF is now collecting submissions for the 2023 film festival.
MoPOP knows the importance of diversity in representation, especially in the film community. We continue to learn and grow every year, making sure that our festival reflects the values and breadth of communities that haven’t been seen or heard.

To keep that promise, we offer a “pay-what-you-can” submission fee model for BIPOC-identifying and disabled filmmakers. For more information, please email Kasi (KasiG@MoPOP.org) and we can provide you with a waiver for 5–100 percent off the entry fee.

Youth Track
SFFSFF Youth Track is now in its third year, highlighting filmmakers ages 24. The top films will be screened in a Youth Track showcase, and the winner — chosen by our Youth Advisory Board — will have their film screened in the main festival programming. The winning filmmaker will participate in a Q+A session, meet industry professionals, and receive a free masterclass of their choosing.

*Films that exceed 15 minutes may still be considered for the festival, but will not be eligible for awards.

Important Dates:
• August 1–August 31: $20 Early Bird Entry
• September 1–October 31: $25 Regular Entry
• November 1–December 1: $35 Late Entry
• December 2–January 16: $40 Extended Entry
• March 6 2023: Notification of Acceptance
• March 2023: Film Print Due
• June 3 & 4 2023: Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Film Festival

Awards & Prizes

Grand Prize
Second Place
Third Place
Audience Award
Douglas Trumbull Award for Best Special Effects

Rules & Terms

Completion Date:

Films must have been completed no earlier than January 2018.

Film Length and Genre:

Films must be no longer than 15 minutes.* Films are selected on the basis of quality and originality, and preference is given to original premieres.

*Films that exceed 15 minutes may still be considered for the festival, but will not be eligible for awards.

Can be animated or live-action

Science fiction or fantasy (examples: futuristic stories, space adventure, technological speculation, social experiments, utopia and dystopia, sword and sorcery, folklore, urban fantasy, magic, and mythic adventure)

Presentation:

Selected films must be made available for presentation as high-resolution digital files (2k or 1080p resolution [.mov file encoded using Apple ProRes 422 or equivalent pro codec] or hi-res mpeg-4 file). Accepted films must arrive as high-resolution digital files. Failure to provide the film in the specified format will result in the film being dropped from the festival. To ensure the wide variance of frame rates and resolutions conform properly to our system we convert the high quality files to DCP in house.

Language:

Foreign language films must be made available with the original language soundtrack and English subtitles.

Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Science Fiction + Fantasy Short 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. By signing your name below, you authorize that you have read and understood and hereby agree to the general festival rules.

2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Adetinpo Thomas

    Really excited to have won third place in this festival!! Can't wait to attend next time.

    July 2022
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  • sam dawes

    I really enjoyed this festival. It was obviously a strange year with having to join in remotely, but it was organised very well. It was very tidy and easy to follow, and the films were all of a great quality. Would definitely recommend entering this festival!

    March 2021
    Helpful