SacFilmChallenge is "The Film Festival to Geek and Nerd Out!"

Films, music videos, and new media that express the best of things Drama, Comedy, Geeky, Nerdy, Anime, Cosplay, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Comics, and Sports will screen at a 3-Day Hybrid Event.

The Festival will start with a live Q&A with the filmmakers on Friday, September 19, 2025, followed by a screening of our first set of films.

Multiple screenings will happen on Saturday, September 20th, both Virtual and In-Person at a location in Sacramento.

The film festival concludes with the Virtual Award Ceremony on Sunday, September 21st.

LOCATION: In-Person Events are held at Futures Explored Film & Media Studio in Sacramento, a vocational training program that teaches the craft of filmmaking to approximately 40 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities while preparing adult students for real-world employment opportunities.

Photo Credit for 2024 Event: Kat Kingsley

The GEEK REEL MVP - Best of Festival Award, Cash Prize $250

Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Animation Short
Best New Media Project
Best Music Video
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
Best Editing
Best Actor
Best Actress

Submissions:

Short films, new media projects and music videos that are 20 minutes or less and feature films that are at least 72 minutes and made after January 1, 2022, are welcome. Premiere status is not required, but a premiere film will be prioritized in programming if the film is selected. All submissions not originally in English must be subtitled in English.

The Film Festival does not offer fee waivers.

Submission Materials:

1- Paid entry fee. Entry fees are non-refundable.
2- Private online screener via FilmFreeway.

Jury:

Jury is composed of film production, exhibition, press and audience community members.
Their decisions on official selections, award nominees and award winners are final.

Notification:

Filmmakers of selected films will be notified by email or phone.

Exhibition Deliverables:

Final File -Festival Programming Director will advise on file type to be submitted.
Film Poster
Trailer -MP4 File

What You Need to Know:

Festival Organizers and the Film Festival reserve the right to disqualify any submission without refund of submission fees.

All accepted films are scheduled at the discretion of the Film Festival staff.

SacFilmChallenge is hereby granted the right to use an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes. The festival is hereby also granted the right to use image(s) and/or biographical information of the filmmakers for promotional purposes. The festival reserves the right to fill in any information not supplied by the filmmaker from whatever source available and will not be responsible if incorrect information is entered.

It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to secure authorization for any copyrighted material that may be used in the film. The filmmaker submitting the film for exhibition and or consideration of awards and prizes, acknowledges that He/She/They/Them shall indemnify and hold harmless SacFilmChallenge 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.

SacFilmChallenge does not pay screening fees.

By submitting your film, you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of this agreement.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thank you so much for including Breaking Normal to the festival this year. We are very honored to have been part of it. Of note -- I think the online screening setup and format was especially pleasing, and easy to navigate. One of the best I've seen, so thank you!

    October 2024
  • I enjoyed the festival and the program. Although we couldn't attend in person, experiencing it virtually was still fun. Looking forward to next year!

    October 2024
  • Joann Perez-Moya

    I felt so honored to have been chosen to show my film INVASION in the SacFilmChallenge Festival. This festival was so organized and the filmmakers were all so talented. They were very professional and supportive. It was a great experience!

    September 2024
  • Parker Croft

    Participating in the SacFilmChallenge was a fantastic experience. Although we couldn’t attend due to scheduling conflicts, we were thoroughly impressed by the festival’s exceptional support and dedication to both the films and the filmmakers.

    September 2024
  • I've been selected into this festival twice and It is awesome! Samantha is very nice and professional. The only thing I would like to see a change in the future is more in person screenings and less online format. In person screenings are important to me because the best way to network with people is when people see your work in person.

    For example, when FX Simulator screened in person last year, People saw my work on the screen and approached me wanting to talk to me. This year when Aphrodite's Valentines screened online, I couldn't experience that. So hopefully in the future there can be more chances for in person screenings.

    September 2024