(Updated 6/30/23)

Submissions 2024 are now OPEN!

For 2023 Results please find them here:
https://www.gofilmfestivals.com/2023socalawardnominationsandresults

2023 SoCAL Fest Trophies are available to order here:
https://www.gofilmfestivals.com/2023socalawardnominationsandresults
Deadline July 17th.

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Shine your talents in sunny SoCAL! The Southern California International Film Festival is a part of the GO Independent Film series of festivals in the FAME LLC family. Our goal is to give more opportunities for independent filmmakers and screenwriters to showcase and promote their art.

The SoCAL Fest is both virtual and live. We hold screenings, an Awards Ceremony, and after parties.

***COVID STATEMENT***
We are producing a hybrid, live and virtual film festival. HOWEVER, we are susceptible to country, state and local laws, which enforce specific, gathering guidelines. To that end, circumstances beyond our control include venue policy and protocol, and insurance limitations.

For the year 2024 and for the foreseeable future, we will be producing a live event. Please understand, before submitting, that with little to no notification, we may have to change presentation formats, venues, and/or dates in adherence to any local or national policies.

**** PLEASE READ OUR DCP POLICY BEFORE SUBMITTING ****

High Quality Trophies

We are accepting submissions for Feature & Short Narrative Films, Feature length & Short Documentaries, Web/TV Series, Screenplays, Teleplays, Music Videos, Trailers and Art & Design. All genres are welcome. The festival programming staff will place your film in the appropriate category.

All entries will be judged on content, creativity, imagery, story and skill of the filmmaker or screenwriter. Productions produced from June 2014 to June 2024 may be submitted. Works in progress will be accepted. All films must be submitted on DVD (Region 1), Blu-ray, external hard drive or online screener for consideration by our Jury.

All entries must be sent to FAME, LLC. Videos, discs and hard drives submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by SASE. Film and Video maybe also be submitted or shared via links online via YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google, WeTransfer, or similar. Submissions selected for The SoCAL Fest will be announced no later than June 10, 2024.

All presentation materials for The SoCAL Fest must arrive no later than March 25, 2024 (post marked by March 25, 2024). Please notify us by mail or email of any address changes.

**** PLEASE READ OUR DCP POLICY BEFORE SUBMITTING ****

GO-NOVA Film Festivals – Virtual & Live Screening Policy

As we resurface back into Live events, new screening policies have been instituted in terms of content delivery and platform presentation. Going forward, The NOVA and GO Independent Film Festivals will screen both Live and Virtually. Live screenings will take place in the best venues. Currently, we have selected the Angelika Film Centers and the Silverspot Cinemas. Both theaters require film content to be in DCP format.

In concert with both format upgrade and returning to accepted cultural norms (travel, attendance, etc.), the following are our policies for screening Live, Accepted film content going forward.

Virtual
1. We require a .mp4 or .mov file, saved as an H.254.

Live (WE MUST PRODUCE AND DELIVER DCPs).
1. We require a DCP File of your content.

2. DCP File MUST be produced by us from your submitted h.264 file for a fee. Fees cover encoding, quality check, film transfer to our venues, and delivery of drive containing content to you.
a. Fee (under 25 minutes): $150
b. Fee (between 25-55 minutes): $350
c. Fee (between 55 and 90 minutes): $450
d. Fee (over 90 minutes): $600

3. We handle all Quality Checks, Transfer and Communication with the venues.

4. The DCP file is yours to keep, after the festival. Please note that DCP files are notoriously fragile and corruptible. If using the files, we've produced for you, for other screenings, transfer the file in accordance with the venue protocols and technical specs. It is very strongly recommended to delver files via a hard drive, unless the venue has a solid reputation of receiving DCP files via internet transfer. And ALWAYS have them QC your film before live screenings. Have them green light all aspects of video and sound level quality.

5. If you have submitted, and are accepted to more than one of our festivals, only the One (1) DCP file, which we produced, is required. A 50% fee is still required for transfer and Quality Check with the theaters.

6. A minimum of 3, separate, DCP submissions are required per festival screening block. If the minimum requirement is not met, your DCP fee will be refunded. In other words, the film submitters are only responsible for any DCP fees, if their content screens Live, in our venue.

7. DCP files are OPTIONAL for those wishing to screen in theaters.

8. DCP orders are NOT required to be selected, nominated, or eligible to win awards at our festivals. Judgements are solely based on the quality of your submission(s).

Frequently Asked QUESTION. Why are DCPs so expensive?

Answer: Standard DCP encoding rates range from $125 -$30K, depending on its length and quality. (Please Google it).

Furthermore, DCP files are both massive AND can only be Quality Checked on site, and on the venues systems. Currently the technology to check DCP content anywhere else is unavailable, unlike an .mp4 file. Both producing and sending multiple, and extremely large files to and for the venues is laborious at best, daunting at worst. A transfer system has already been established with our theater partners.

Please understand that policies and protocols will adapt in accordance with factors within and beyond our control. We will do our best to share, with as much notice as possible, any changes in schedule, venue, or procedures.

Please stay tuned for any updates. We will do our best to maintain as much stability, as we have control over. Thank you for your patience and understanding. As always, we will make every decision based on what is best for our artists.

For further details, please visit the bottom or our website, submission page:
https://www.gofilmfestivals.com/submit

LIVE Screenings are dependent on 4 Criteria beyond our control.
1. State/City/Regional Restrictions
2. Venue Policy and Availability
3. Filmmaker Content Submission (by required Deadline)
4. A minimum of 2-3 hours of content submitted by participating filmmakers in DCP format, encoded by the festival. There is a fee for encoding services.

The Southern California International Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize footage and promotional materials supplied by the submitting agent from any film submitted, film accepted, video, or project for exhibition at the GO Independent Film Festivals for promotional purposes. All accepted filmmakers agree that The Southern California International Film Festival may use footage from their projects in order to promote the festival, their film or The Southern California International Film Festival Event and F.A.M.E. related promotion via print, web, theater and broadcast television. 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 submitters shall indemnify and hold harmless The Southern California International Film Festival and F.A.M.E. LLC related entities, it's vendors, sponsors and supporters 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. The submitter acknowledges that all content submitted is approved, licensed, owned, or otherwise authorized to exploit, under the jurisdiction of standing copyright and trademark law, as determined by regional, county, state, United States, and international law.

If 'Nominated', presence at the Awards Ceremony is NOT required to Win.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joyce Porter

    I did not attend, so can't comment on some categories, but they were very nice in their emails, and even though I did not pay for a dcp conversion, my film won several awards.

    July 2023
  • Joel Nuñez

    At DMM Films we will always be grateful for such understanding about the art of film making. The profound respect you show for films and creators.
    All the best.

    July 2023
  • I was thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic fest! Great experience.

    July 2023
  • BO TANAS

    Thank you for the Honorable Mention of my first film, THE RETURN. I am honored and encouraged.

    July 2023
  • Cherie Kerr

    What an incredible experience! Fernando Mico and his team are simply the best! They are so organized though extemely busy, but you would never know because they treat every filmmaker with such care. If you're looking for camaraderie and good vibes and tremendous encouragement and support, the Southern California International Film Festival has that and more!!!

    July 2023