The 10th Anniversary San Diego Film Awards will be held in Spring of 2024.

Organized by the Film Consortium San Diego, this special event honors the achievements of filmmakers at all levels: students, independent creators, and seasoned professionals. Since its launch in 2014, it has become the only local awards show recognizing everyone involved in filmmaking, from actors and directors to crew members.

Held at the prestigious Museum of Photographic Arts at the Museum of Art, the ceremony is also broadcast on KPBS, making it accessible to a wider audience. This ensures that everyone, regardless of location, can experience the talent and dedication of San Diego's film community. The San Diego Film Awards is a special night where everyone comes together to celebrate the best of filmmaking in our city.

The San Diego Film Awards takes place in the spring and is open to submissions in categories such as documentary shorts, narrative shorts, narrative features, and documentary features. By accepting and awarding films across various genres, the event promotes diversity and showcases the diverse range of storytelling in the San Diego film industry.

All proceeds from the San Diego Film Awards benefit the Film Consortium and their year round efforts to build San Diego's film industry.

HIGHLIGHTS

26+ awards presented in 4 categories
Live ceremony at the Museum of Photographic Arts or other premium venue
VIP Reception with complimentary food and beverages
Red Carpet experience with photos and interviews
Guest Stars and Presenters
Televised Broadcast on KPBS and streamed nationally via PBS

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT
San Diego Film Awards nominations will be announced in late March. The 2024 San Diego Film Awards will premiere on KPBS (date TBD), and there will be an accompanying live event where the trophies will be handed out.

SCREENINGS
This is not a traditional film festival, and as such we do not hold public screenings of the nominated or winning films.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL

Narrative Features (over 45 minutes)
Narrative Shorts (under 45 minutes)
Documentary Features (over 45 minutes)
Documentary Shorts (under 45 minutes)

STUDENT
Narrative Shorts (under 45 minutes)
Documentary Shorts (under 45 minutes)

Note: If a STUDENT FILM wishes to compete in the range as INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL films they must submit under INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL films category and pay submission fees for that category.

Awards & Prizes

We love appreciating and rewarding talent! There are various opportunities to win awards and be recognized for your work.

SAN DIEGO FILM AWARDS TENTATIVE AWARDS

Categories: Narrative Feature and Narrative Short

Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Direction
Best Original Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Design
Best Musical Score
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup and Hair
Best Visual Effects
Best Production Design
Best Stunt Choreography
Best Actor (in a leading role)
Best Actress (in a leading role)
Best Actor (in a supporting role)
Best Actress (in a supporting role)
Best Ensemble Cast
Best Emerging Actor
Spirit of San Diego
Best Student Narrative Short

Category: Documentary Feature

Best Documentary Feature

Category: Documentary Shorts

Best Documentary Short

Note: If a STUDENT FILM wishes to compete in the range as INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL films they must submit under INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL films category and pay submission fees for that category.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

Films produced in San Diego AND released between January 1, 2022, and December 31st, 2023 are eligible for the 2024 San Diego Film Awards.

All films submitted for consideration for San Diego Film Awards must be at least 80% produced in San Diego County. If you have questions about your film’s eligibility, please email filmconsd@gmail.com prior to submitting it.

Film Consortium San Diego reserves the right to disqualify any films at any time in the awards process for violations or misconduct, plagiarism, etc.

San Diego Film Awards selection, nomination or awards does not include a screening of the film in a theater or other venue.

By submitting your film and receiving a nomination, you agree to allow us to use clips of your film in marketing, advertising and our broadcasted show on KPBS.

Films that are nominated for or win San Diego Film Awards are for consideration for other screening opportunities including broadcast on KPBS, inclusion in San Diego International Film Festival and more.

REFUNDS

All submission fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

MEDIA

We cannot guarantee that the media provided for the awards will be returned unless specific requests are made.

For questions please email filmconsd@gmail.com

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lisa Bruhn

    Very professional, entertaining and well organized awards ceremony in a beautiful location! Great presenters, enthusiastic audience, fun video segment and informative and helpful information on all that is going on in the San Diego Film community. Highly recommend!

    July 2023
  • Dark Gravity

    The San Diego Film Awards to a well produced, exciting, entertaining and first class event. They put on a extravagant award show with amazing network opportunities for San Diego film makers. The organizers are supportive and their communication is top notch! Very honored to be a part of the festival.

    September 2022
  • Anna Soliman

    OK. The SDFA is AWESOME. This is an Emmy-quality production. The live show. The red carpet. The reception. I am blown away. Couldn’t recommend this more!

    September 2022
  • Daniel Kennedy

    This is a must for all San Diego based filmmakers. Attending the events is a great way to connect to the San Diego filmmaking community. I completely enjoyed my experience and will be a part for years to come.

    September 2022
  • Floyd Strayer

    The SDFA 2022 was a class event! Photographic Museum at Balboa Park is the perfect backdrop for this event.

    September 2022