The SPE (Society for Photographic Education) Media Festival (originally the SPE Women's Film Festival) has featured innovative and provocative short documentaries, animation, fiction, video art, and new media projects by, for and about women, POC, and members of the LGBTQIA community since 1995. The 2024 Media Fest will be held March 22 - 23, 2024 at Marriot St. Louis Grand, in St. Louis, Missouri.

The theme of the conference is ‘New Realities.' The photographic arts are increasingly diverse and dynamic fields, encompassing everything from traditional film to cutting-edge digital technologies, including: immersive virtual reality, image recognition, text-to-image artificial intelligence, and more. With the widespread availability of digital cameras and smartphones, photography has become more accessible and democratized than ever before, allowing people from all walks of life to capture, edit, and share images with ease. Rapid changes in technology have always played a significant role in shaping how photographs are made, consumed, and understood. Today, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning are bringing new tools and techniques to photographers, while introducing myriad ethical questions regarding truth, authorship, the potential for misinformation, and the nature of artmaking itself. At the same time, there is a growing resurgence in the medium's use for addressing social and environmental issues, as photographers make images to raise awareness and bring attention to important causes. The future of photography is being shaped simultaneously by technological innovation and a rekindled desire for a more personal and authentic approach to making pictures.

Narrative, documentary, animated, and experimental shorts under 30 minutes, that address issues of concern to people of color, women, global or LGBTQIA communities, human rights, or the conference theme are eligible. All rights must be cleared. Laurels for three awards, Best Women's Film, Best Multicultural Film, and Best LGBTQIA Film will be awarded. SPE membership is not required to enter the festival.

Awards & Prizes

Laurels for Best Women's Film
Laurels for Best Multi-Cultural Film
Laurels for Best LGBTQ Film

Rules & Terms

Video art, new media projects, narrative, documentary, animated and experimental shorts under 30 minutes, that address issues of concern to women, people of color, global, or LGBTQ communities, human rights, or the conference theme are eligible. We are looking for films that retell, reimagine, rewrite, and redefine more inclusive truths that will deeply affect our future as a global community. All rights must be cleared.

Entries must include the following information:
web link to the full video – If password protected, include password.
contact information (name, address, email and telephone number, website optional)
distributor information if different than filmmaker
short film synopsis (no more than 50 words)
short director’s bio (no more than 50 words)
awards and festival screenings if applicable
year of completion
exact running time (do not count color bars, black, etc.)

SPE membership is not required to enter the festival. Entry fee for submissions received by 11:59 PM, July 31. 31, 2023 is free for SPE members. SPE members must check off that they are members and enter the member's waiver code sent by SPE to members at checkout to receive the SPE early-bird free entry.

Films can only be entered in one category. Filmmakers can enter multiple films, but each film can only be entered in one category.
Films entered in previous years are not eligible.
All entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway

This is a juried festival with three awards: Best Women's Film, Best Multi Cultural Film, and Best LGBTQIA Film.

Accepted films will be screened March 22 - 23, 2024 at Marriot St. Louis Grand, in St. Louis, Missouri. Accepted filmmakers will be notified by December 8, 2023.

Accepted filmmakers must provide a Quicktime H.264 file at the original dimensions, up to 1920px x 1080px, by Jan. 15, 2023.

13 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • South Docs

    I wish there had been more opportunities to discuss films and hear from the other filmmakers. Unfortunately, there was no Q&A sessions and no way to network with other participants available.

    April 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Unfortunately the pandemic fest was downsized. We will be back in person next year in Denver!

  • Navid Nikkhah Azad

    I offer my gratitude and special thanks to the SPE Media Festival for selecting and screening my short film 'The Recess.'
    The experience was great and hope to participate at the upcoming editions of the festival with a more impressive short film.

    March 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you!

  • Lisa Molomot

    Wonderful festival. Thanks for supporting the film and helping to share this story.

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for a great film.

  • Alex Sangha

    Thank you for selecting My Name Was January.

    March 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you.

  • Shihyun Wang

    It is a festival with 24 years history and a major event attended by many. We are so happy and proud that our film "From Rooftop to Enchanted Land" was screened there. It is an event you don't want to miss.

    March 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you.